1 Chronicles 7:6-1

(cp. ch. 1 Chronicles 8:1-40). The Genealogy of Benjamin

6. The sons of Benjamin The Heb. word for the sons ofbeing just like the beginning of the word Benjaminhas fallen out through an error of transcription. The names of these are also given in 1 Chronicles 8:1-5; Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:38-41. There are variations of reading and probably also variations of tradition in the different lists; e.g. here the sons of Benjamin are reckoned to be threein number, but in 1 Chronicles 8:2 to be five.

Bela, and Becher, and Jediael These three names come from Genesis 46:21, Jediael("Known to God") being substituted for the heathen-sounding Ashbel(Ishbaal, "Man of Baal"). The Chronicler in this case conforms literally to the principle laid down in Hosea 2:17. (See note on Eshbaal, 1 Chronicles 8:33.) In 1 Chronicles 8:1 on the contrary the three names Bela, Ashbel, Aharah(Ahiram) are taken from Numbers 26:38 without misgiving.