Commentary - 1 Chronicles 9:35-44

Bird's-eye view

At first glance, this passage appears to be little more than a dry list of names, a genealogical appendix that many modern readers are tempted to skim. But in the economy of Scripture, there are no throwaway lines. This section, which largely repeats the genealogy found in the previous chapter (1 Chron. 8:29-38), serves a crucial purpose for the Chronicler's post-exilic audience. It is a detailed accounting of the family line of King Saul, Israel's first monarch. By placing this genealogy here, right after listing the inhabitants of restored Jerusalem and just before narrating Saul's catastrophic failure and death in the next chapter, the author is setting a very deliberate stage. He is reminding his readers of the first great covenantal failure in Israel's monarchy. Saul's story is a cautionary tale, a ghost that haunts the history of Israel. This list of names is not just about who begat whom; it is about the tragic trajectory of a failed kingdom, a reminder that royal blood and a good start are no substitute for covenant faithfulness. It stands as a stark contrast to the line of David, which, for all its sins, was the line of God's promise.

The Chronicler is doing theology through genealogy. For a people rebuilding their nation and their temple, struggling to understand their identity after the judgment of exile, this list was a powerful sermon. It reminded them of where things went wrong. The kingdom project did not fail because God's promises were weak, but because men are weak and sinful. Saul's line, with all its names, ultimately leads to a dead end. It is a family tree chopped down. This prepares the reader for the great hope that the Chronicler will develop: the indestructible promise attached to the house of David, which ultimately finds its fulfillment in the Son of David, Jesus Christ.

Outline

Context In 1 Chronicles

This genealogy appears at a crucial pivot point in the Chronicler's narrative. The first nine chapters of the book are a massive genealogical project, tracing the family lines of Israel from Adam down to the post-exilic community. The purpose is to establish continuity; God did not abandon His people in exile. They are the same people of God, with the same history. Chapter 9 brings this to a head by listing the first families to return and resettle Jerusalem. Immediately after establishing this hopeful present, the Chronicler inserts this genealogy of Saul. This is no accident. The very next verse (10:1) will launch into the story of Saul's final battle and his shameful death. Thus, 1 Chronicles 9:35-44 serves as the immediate backdrop for the great transition of the kingdom from the house of Saul to the house of David. It is the final word on the failed dynasty before the Chronicler turns his full attention to the chosen dynasty. For the original readers, this was a reminder that the foundation of their restored community must not be like the foundation Saul laid, but rather must be built on the sure promises of God given to David.

Key Issues

The Ghost of a Failed Kingdom

Why does the Holy Spirit inspire the Chronicler to give us this list of names twice in short order? We find a nearly identical list in the previous chapter. The reason is emphasis. When something is repeated in Scripture, we are meant to sit up and pay attention. The Chronicler is about to tell the story of the transfer of the kingdom from Saul to David, and he wants the ghost of Saul's failure to be looming large in our minds. This isn't just a list; it's an obituary for a dynasty. It is the family tree of the man who was "head and shoulders" above everyone else, the man who looked the part, the man the people wanted. And it all came to nothing.

This genealogy functions as a covenantal court record. Here are the descendants of the man who was given the kingdom and who, through disobedience, forfeited it for himself and for his children. The list is long, with many names, showing that Saul's failure had multi-generational consequences. It wasn't just a personal failing; it was a dynastic catastrophe. For the people returning from exile, this was a potent lesson. Their hope was not in having a king who looked impressive, or in having a large and established family, or in political strength. Their only hope was in the covenant-keeping God who had made a promise to David, a promise that could not be broken by human sin. This list of Saul's sons and grandsons is the backdrop of black velvet against which the diamond of the Davidic promise will shine all the more brightly.

Verse by Verse Commentary

35 Now in Gibeon, Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived, and his wife’s name was Maacah,

The Chronicler anchors the genealogy in a specific place: Gibeon. This was a significant town in the territory of Benjamin. By naming the patriarch and matriarch of this clan, Jeiel and Maacah, he gives the line a concrete, historical starting point. These are real people in a real place. Genealogies in Scripture are not myths; they are the skeletal structure of history, reminding us that God works out His purposes through the messy, tangible generations of men.

36-38 and his firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. And they also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem opposite their other relatives.

Here we have the proliferation of the clan. A list of sons is given, showing the family's growth and establishment. The key names to watch are Kish and Ner, as they will be central to the royal line. The note that they "lived with their relatives in Jerusalem" is significant for the Chronicler's audience. It connects this pre-monarchic clan to the central city of worship and government, and it shows that the tribe of Benjamin, Saul's tribe, had an important place in the capital city alongside Judah. This makes Saul's later conflict with David, a man of Judah, all the more tragic. It was an internal conflict, a civil strife.

39 Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

This is the heart of the matter. The Chronicler narrows the focus from the wider clan to the direct royal line. Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul. This is the man. And immediately, we are introduced to his sons. Jonathan, the noble and faithful friend of David. The other two, Malchi-shua and Abinadab, will die with their father on the battlefield at Mount Gilboa. And Eshbaal, also known as Ish-bosheth in 2 Samuel, will make a pathetic attempt to cling to the throne after his father's death, only to be murdered. In one verse, we have the king and the tragic fate of his heirs. The promise of a dynasty died with them.

40 The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal, and Merib-baal became the father of Micah.

Here is a flicker of grace in the midst of the ruin. Jonathan's line continues through his son Merib-baal, who is the same person as Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel. He was the crippled son whom David showed extraordinary kindness to for the sake of his covenant with Jonathan. While the royal authority was cut off, God, through David, preserved a remnant of Saul's house. This preservation, however, was not due to Saul's merit, but to Jonathan's faithfulness and David's covenant-keeping. It is a picture of the gospel: we, who belong to the failed line of Adam, are shown mercy for the sake of the true Son, Jesus Christ.

41 The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.

The line of Jonathan continues to branch out. Micah, the grandson of Jonathan, has four sons. The family is not extinguished. This demonstrates God's common grace. Even in a family line under a covenantal judgment regarding the throne, the ordinary blessings of life and children continue for a time. God did not wipe the family from the face of the earth, but He did remove them from the throne of Israel.

42-43 Ahaz became the father of Jarah, and Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza. Moza became the father of Binea and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.

The genealogy continues to spool out, generation after generation. The names become more obscure to us, but they were real men, heads of families. The Chronicler is meticulous. He is showing that this was a substantial lineage. The point is to emphasize what was lost. This was not a minor chieftain's family; it was a great clan with the potential for a lasting dynasty, and it was all squandered through Saul's rebellion against the word of the Lord.

44 Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

The genealogy ends here with the six sons of Azel. It simply stops. There is no concluding statement of greatness, no summary of their accomplishments. It is just a list that peters out. This is the end of the line, as far as the Chronicler is concerned. He has made his point. He has laid out the extensive family tree of the rejected king, and now he is ready to tell the story of that rejection in the next chapter. The finality of the verse, "These were the sons of Azel," serves as a quiet, final nail in the coffin of the house of Saul.

Application

We are not members of the tribe of Benjamin, and we are not trying to sort out land rights in post-exilic Jerusalem. So what is the application for us? First, these genealogies remind us that history matters. Our faith is not a collection of abstract principles; it is rooted in the real history of God's dealings with real people. God is the Lord of history, and He weaves His purposes through generations, both faithful and unfaithful.

Second, the story of Saul is a perpetual warning against a religion of external appearances. Saul looked like a king. He was tall, impressive, and chosen. But his heart was not right with God. He valued the approval of the people more than the command of God. We are constantly tempted to do the same, to build our lives and our churches on what looks impressive to the world rather than on simple, humble obedience to the Word of God. This passage reminds us that such projects, no matter how many descendants they have, are destined to become historical footnotes.

Finally, the dead end of Saul's line forces us to look for a better King and a better kingdom. Saul failed. David, for all his greatness, also sinned grievously. The entire history of Israel's monarchy demonstrates that no son of Adam is capable of ruling with perfect righteousness. These lists, with their stories of failure and fleeting glory, are meant to create in us a longing for the true King. The ghost of Saul's failed kingdom should make us profoundly grateful for the unshakable kingdom of Jesus Christ. His is the throne that will last forever, and His are the descendants, born not of blood but of the Spirit, who will never be cut off.