Today’s passage: 1 Chronicles 8:1-40
Helpful thoughts:
- Today’s genealogy turns back to the tribe of Benjamin in order to point to the first king of Israel, King Saul.
- This tribe would have also been taken captive along with Judah. The returning remnant from exile would have been primarily from the tribes of Levi, Judah and Benjamin.
- The name for Saul’s son in verse 33, “Eshbaal” is the same son as “Ishbosheth” from 2 Samuel 2:8.
- He was named, Son of Baal or Son of Shame and was crowned king after Saul died. He was David’s adversary until the uniting of Israel under David’s reign.
- All of these sons with “Baal” in their name convey an unfaithfulness of Saul’s family to the Lord.
Questions to consider:
- What would the chronicler want Israel to remember as they read these details about Saul’s family as they reenter the Promised Land? What mistake had they made (1 Samuel 8:4-9) and how would that error continue to bring consequences should they continue in it?
- In what way do we see this desire to be “Just like all the other nations” coming to pass in their names? (Remember, Baal was a pagan god worshipped by the people groups in and around Israel).
- Should the church desire to be just like the nations (John 17:14-19)? Why should we not concern ourselves with trying to “fit in”? What have we been called to do? (Matthew 5:13-16)