This verse demonstrates that God’s plan for Israel emerges through both prominent and lesser-known figures.
We observe here that “Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Esh-baal” (v.39). This genealogical note places Saul, the first king of Israel, within a family lineage that stretches back through his grandfather Kish to his great-grandfather Ner. Kish likely lived around the 11th century BC, making Saul’s birth and eventual reign as king fall roughly between 1050-1010 BC. In this verse, we witness the Chronicler’s intent to establish a precise ancestral record, a practice consistent with the broader purpose of 1 Chronicles: to highlight Israel’s heritage and connect it to God’s covenant dealings.
Saul, as “became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Esh-baal” (v.39), stands out because his rule initially united the fragmented tribes of Israel under one monarchy. His oldest son Jonathan is well-known for his unwavering friendship with David (1 Samuel 18:1-3), the future king who would continue the monarchy and link it ultimately to the Messianic lineage culminating in Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17). Jonathan’s presence in this verse underscores the familial bonds that so often shaped the narrative of Israel’s leadership.
Also included are Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal, who is often referred to as Ish-bosheth in other biblical texts (2 Samuel 2:8). Esh-baal temporarily assumed some of the royal duties after Saul’s death, indicating this verse’s function as more than a genealogical footnote: it outlines the immediate successors in Saul’s house and their place in Israel’s history. These individuals, though lesser-known than Saul or Jonathan, remind us that the monarchy in Israel was tethered to real families and real succession lines, each part of God’s unfolding plan.
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1 Chronicles 9:39 meaning
We observe here that “Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Esh-baal” (v.39). This genealogical note places Saul, the first king of Israel, within a family lineage that stretches back through his grandfather Kish to his great-grandfather Ner. Kish likely lived around the 11th century BC, making Saul’s birth and eventual reign as king fall roughly between 1050-1010 BC. In this verse, we witness the Chronicler’s intent to establish a precise ancestral record, a practice consistent with the broader purpose of 1 Chronicles: to highlight Israel’s heritage and connect it to God’s covenant dealings.
Saul, as “became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Esh-baal” (v.39), stands out because his rule initially united the fragmented tribes of Israel under one monarchy. His oldest son Jonathan is well-known for his unwavering friendship with David (1 Samuel 18:1-3), the future king who would continue the monarchy and link it ultimately to the Messianic lineage culminating in Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17). Jonathan’s presence in this verse underscores the familial bonds that so often shaped the narrative of Israel’s leadership.
Also included are Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal, who is often referred to as Ish-bosheth in other biblical texts (2 Samuel 2:8). Esh-baal temporarily assumed some of the royal duties after Saul’s death, indicating this verse’s function as more than a genealogical footnote: it outlines the immediate successors in Saul’s house and their place in Israel’s history. These individuals, though lesser-known than Saul or Jonathan, remind us that the monarchy in Israel was tethered to real families and real succession lines, each part of God’s unfolding plan.