CHAP. VIII.
Vers. 1. NOw Benjamin begat Bela his first-born, &c.] Some thing was be∣fore said concerning three of Benjamins sonnes, chap. 7.6. but here the genealogie of Benjamin is more fully expressed. 1. Because the tribe of Benja∣min did alwayes most constantly adhere to the house and kingdome of David. And secondly to discover the stock of Saul the first king of Israel. Indeed Gen. 46.21. there are ten sonnes of Benjamin named, but the genealogie of five of them onely is here recorded; because happely of the others there were no men of any great re∣nown, or perhaps because their genealogies were lest, Ashbel the second, is called also Jediael, chap. 7.6. and Aharah Ahiram. Numb. 26.38. and Ehi, Gen. 46.21. and Nohah Naaman, Gen. 46.21. and Rapha Rosh, Gen. 46.21.
Vers. 3. And the sonnes of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, &c.] Five other sonnes of Bela are mentioned, chap. 7.7. to which here are added nine more, nei∣ther is it necessary that we should think that all these were the immediate sonnes of Bela; (for here we see are two Geraes mentioned, and men do not use to call two sonnes by one name) but onely that they were men of renown of his posterity.
Vers. 6. And these are the sonnes of Ehud, &c.] The meaning of this place (I conceive) is, that some of these before mentioned that were of the posterity of Be∣la, were more immediately the sonnes of Ehud, chief of the fathers of the inhabi∣tants of Geba, who finding that place too strait for them, removed themselves to Manahath, together with Naaman, and Ahiah called Ahoah vers. 4. and Gera, and dwelt there.
Vers. 7. He removed them, and begat Ʋzza, and Ahihud.] That is, Ehud or Gera removed them, and being seated in Manahath, he begat Uzza and Ahihud.
Vers. 8. And Shaharaim begat children in the countrey of Moab, after he had sent them away.] That is, after Ehud or Gera had sent away this colony from Ge∣ba to Manahath, Shaharaim (who was it seems one of them) begat children in the land of Moab, whither it seems upon some occasion he was removed.
Hushim and Baara were his wives.] Hushim called also Hodesh, vers. 9.
Vers. 12. The sonnes of Elpaal; Eber, &c.] To wit, besides those that dwelt in Jerusalem mentioned, vers. 17, 18, 28.
Vers. 13. Beriah also and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabi∣tants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath.] To wit, that they might dwell in their room; yet some understand it, that they came upon the men of Gath, when they had slain the sonnes of Ephraim, and put them to flight, so re∣venging the death of their brethren.