1 Chronicles 9:36 demonstrates the continued genealogical record of the tribe of Benjamin, which would eventually lead to King Saul’s lineage.
“His firstborn was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab” (v.36). This verse appears in a genealogical listing of Benjamin’s descendants, tracing the lineage that will later be attached to the family of Israel’s first king—Saul. In Hebrew custom, genealogies often serve not only to record family ties but also to point to a larger narrative of God’s ongoing work through each generation. First Chronicles was written to remind the returning exiles of their spiritual heritage, and in 1 Chronicles 9, the Chronicler emphasizes that “all Israel was recorded by genealogies” (1 Chronicles 9:1), highlighting the covenant relationship that God extended to them and their ancestors.
Within this genealogy, Abdon, Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, and Nadab are all linked to Jeiel, the father of Gibeon (together with his wife Maacah). The city of Gibeon lay a few miles northwest of Jerusalem, marking a notable location in Israel’s tribal landscape. These individuals appear as part of the lineage that would ultimately connect to Ner, who would father Kish, from whom Saul descended (1 Chronicles 9:39). Kish, in particular, appears later in Israel’s history as the father of King Saul (c. 1050 BC-1010 BC). By listing these men, 1 Chronicles 9:36 underscores how the tribe of Benjamin’s line continued through the Babylonian exile and returned, reinforcing that despite Israel’s scattering and captivity, the genealogical record functioned as a testament to God’s ongoing purposes.
“His firstborn was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab” (v.36) also reminds readers that even the smallest details of biblical genealogies can serve as beacons of God’s faithfulness. While many of these names do not appear in larger narrative arcs, their presence demonstrates the vast tapestry of individuals woven into God’s redemptive story. Each name is a touchstone echoing the continuity of the covenant people, eventually culminating in the line that produces the first king of Israel, and later, the ultimate King and Messiah.
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1 Chronicles 9:36 meaning
“His firstborn was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab” (v.36). This verse appears in a genealogical listing of Benjamin’s descendants, tracing the lineage that will later be attached to the family of Israel’s first king—Saul. In Hebrew custom, genealogies often serve not only to record family ties but also to point to a larger narrative of God’s ongoing work through each generation. First Chronicles was written to remind the returning exiles of their spiritual heritage, and in 1 Chronicles 9, the Chronicler emphasizes that “all Israel was recorded by genealogies” (1 Chronicles 9:1), highlighting the covenant relationship that God extended to them and their ancestors.
Within this genealogy, Abdon, Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, and Nadab are all linked to Jeiel, the father of Gibeon (together with his wife Maacah). The city of Gibeon lay a few miles northwest of Jerusalem, marking a notable location in Israel’s tribal landscape. These individuals appear as part of the lineage that would ultimately connect to Ner, who would father Kish, from whom Saul descended (1 Chronicles 9:39). Kish, in particular, appears later in Israel’s history as the father of King Saul (c. 1050 BC-1010 BC). By listing these men, 1 Chronicles 9:36 underscores how the tribe of Benjamin’s line continued through the Babylonian exile and returned, reinforcing that despite Israel’s scattering and captivity, the genealogical record functioned as a testament to God’s ongoing purposes.
“His firstborn was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab” (v.36) also reminds readers that even the smallest details of biblical genealogies can serve as beacons of God’s faithfulness. While many of these names do not appear in larger narrative arcs, their presence demonstrates the vast tapestry of individuals woven into God’s redemptive story. Each name is a touchstone echoing the continuity of the covenant people, eventually culminating in the line that produces the first king of Israel, and later, the ultimate King and Messiah.