1 Chronicles 8:33 - Meaning and Application

It is worth noticing that among all the family records of the tribes, there is no mention of the kings of Israel after the split from David’s house, and even less of their families. We do not read a word about Jeroboam’s family, Baasha’s family, Omri’s family, or Jehu’s family, because they were all idolaters.

But the family of Saul, the royal family before David was raised up, is given a careful account here. Before Saul, only Kish and Ner are named, his father and grandfather (1 Chronicles 8:33). His family line is traced farther back in 1 Samuel 9:1, where Kish is called the son of Abiel. Here Kish is said to be the son of Ner. In fact, he was the son of Ner and the grandson of Abiel, as 1 Samuel 14:51 shows. There it says that Ner was the son of Abiel, and that Abner, Ner’s son, was Saul’s uncle, that is, his father’s brother. So Saul’s father was also the son of Ner.

This kind of wording is common in every language, where sons can be used to mean grandsons and other descendants. It is especially common in Hebrew, which has fewer words for family relationships than many other languages. After Saul, several of his sons are named, but we are given the descendants of only one of them, Jonathan.

Jonathan, Saul’s son, was blessed with many children, and they were honored with a place in the sacred family records because of his sincere kindness to David. Here Jonathan’s line is traced for about ten generations. Perhaps David was especially careful to preserve it and give it a place of its own because of the covenant made between his own family and Jonathan’s family forever (1 Samuel 20:15, 1 Samuel 20:23, 1 Samuel 20:42).

This genealogy ends with Ulam, whose family later became known in the tribe of Benjamin for the number of its brave men. It seems that from his descendants, 150 archers were once brought into battle, mighty men of courage (1 Chronicles 8:40). That is the best thing said of them, more honorable than wealth or outward display, that they were fitted to serve their country.