I Chronicles 8:6-7 · Bible study
1 Chronicles 8:6-7 Commentary: Ehud's Sons and Relocation
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the genealogy of Ehud's sons, their move to Manahath, and whether this Ehud is the judge. Addresses textual difficulties and tribal history.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Record of Ehud’s sons, their status in Geba, relocation to Manahath, and continuation of the family line.
- Key words: Ehud (possibly the judge), Geba (Benjamite town), Manahath (unidentified location), Hiphil verbs for “carried captive” and “fathered.”
- Main debate: Whether Ehud is the judge Ehud; also the nature of the relocation (forced exile or voluntary move).
- Theological theme: God values and preserves even obscure branches of His people; He is present in displacement and transition.
- Best use: Background study for Benjamin’s tribal history; also as a pastoral model for seeing significance in small records.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
6These were the descendants of Ehud who were the heads of the families living in Geba and were exiled to Manahath:
7Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who carried them into exile and who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
WEB World English Bible 2000
6These are the sons of Ehud. These are the heads of fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Geba, who were carried captive to Manahath:
7Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who carried them captive; and he became the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
KJV King James Version 1769
6And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they removed them to Manahath:
7And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
6And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and they carried them captive to Manahath:
7and Naaman, and Ahijah, and Gera, he carried them captive; and he begat Uzza and Ahihud.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
6And these are sons of Ehud: they are heads of fathers to the inhabitants of Geba, and they remove them unto Manahath;
7and Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza and Ahihud.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
6— And these are the sons of Ehud (these were the chief fathers of the inhabitants of Geba; and they carried them away to Manahath;
7even Naaman, and Ahijah, and Gera; he removed them), and he begot Uzza and Ahihud.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
6These are the sons of Abed, heads of families that dwelt in Gabaa, who were removed into Manahath.
7And Naaman, and Achia, and Gera he removed them, and begot Oza, and Ahiud.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Chronicles 8:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that I Chronicles 8:6-7 records a genealogical note about the sons of Ehud, who were heads of fathers' households in the Benjamite city of Geba. The passage describes their relocation to Manahath and the birth of Uzza and Ahihud. Barnes, the Cambridge Bible, and Gill all note significant textual difficulties, likely due to missing words or corruption. The pronoun 'he' in verse 7 refers most naturally to Gera, who appears to have directed the move, though Keil & Delitzsch suggest the verb forms indicate he led them into exile. The identity of Ehud himself remains debated: Jamieson-Fausset-Brown identifies him with the judge from Judges 3, while Gill distinguishes him, noting the name in Bela's line (I Chronicles 8:5). The consensus is that these verses preserve a fragment of Benjamin's tribal history, involving forced or voluntary migration to Manahath, a location possibly within Judah's territory.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Ehud the judge: Leans on the strong parallel in name and the fact that Ehud (father of Gera) appears in Judges 3:15. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and some early commentators support this, noting the genealogical continuity would make sense for a prominent figure.
- Different Ehud: Gill and others separate this Ehud from the judge, noting that the list in I Chronicles 8:5 includes a Gera as Bela's son, which would make Ehud a descendant, not the same person. The judge's lineage is not independently attested.
- Textual corruption: Barnes, Cambridge Bible, and Keil & Delitzsch all suggest the text is corrupt, missing an antecedent or entire clause. This view holds that the passage cannot be definitively interpreted without emendation.
What is clear: The passage preserves a genealogical record of Ehud’s sons, their status as chiefs in Geba, their relocation to Manahath, and the birth of Uzza and Ahihud through Gera’s agency.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of Ehud | Ehud is a Benjamite ancestor named in the genealogy of I Chronicles 8. | Church leaders differ: some (e.g., Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) identify him with the judge Ehud of Judges 3; others (Gill, Keil) see him as a different man, possibly a son of Huram or Bela. Both positions rely on the limited name matches in the text. |
| Nature of the relocation | The sons of Ehud were moved to Manahath from Geba, whether by force or choice. | Some read the Hiphil verb 'heglam' as 'carried captive' (forced exile), others as 'led' or 'removed' with family initiative. The subject (Gera or Ehud) also varies in interpretation. |
| Textual condition of the passage | Most commentators agree the Hebrew text is difficult, possibly with words lost or corrupted. | Barnes and the Cambridge Bible propose a textual corruption; Keil & Delitzsch try to make sense of the existing text. There is no consensus on what the original may have said. |
| Location of Manahath | Manahath is a place in the southern tribal areas, possibly within Judah. | I Chronicles 2:52, 54 links Manahathites to Judah, but Keil notes the site has not been identified. The Targum connects it to Edom, a view most modern scholars reject. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The city of Geba, listed in Joshua 18:24 as a Benjamite town, was later assigned as a Levitical city (I Chronicles 6:60). It stood on a hill six miles northeast of Jerusalem, now the village of Jeba. The tribe of Benjamin had suffered near annihilation after the civil war with Israel (Judges 20, 21), so the genealogies in I Chronicles 8 serve to reconstruct the tribe's lineage in the post-exilic period. The relocation to Manahath, mentioned also in I Chronicles 2:52, 54 in a different tribal context, suggests movement within the land. Whether forced captivity or voluntary migration, the passage reflects the shifting settlement patterns of Benjaminite families.
Chronicles was likely compiled after the Babylonian exile, when the returning community needed to establish authentic ties to land and heritage. These genealogies legitimized families for leadership and land ownership. The mention of captivity (the Hebrew root glh in the Hiphil) indicates a forced transfer, but the lack of historical context leaves its cause unknown. The Targum references Edom, though most scholars reject this. What emerges is the Chronicler's care to record even obscure lineages, showing that every family line mattered to God's unfolding story.
For readers today, this passage invites reflection on how God preserves people through displacement and obscurity. It reminds us that our own histories, even the complicated chapters, are known and valued by Him.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentators (Barnes, Cambridge Bible, Keil & Delitzsch) note significant textual difficulties in verses 6, 7. The pronoun 'they' in 'they carried them captive' has no clear antecedent, and the repeated verbs create an awkward syntax. The Hebrew text may have lost one or more words. No significant manuscript variants are recorded in the consulted sources, but the Masoretic text as it stands is widely considered corrupt or laconic. The passage requires interpretive caution; it likely preserves authentic historical memory in compressed form.
Reception History
Throughout church history, I Chronicles 8:6, 7 received little attention in liturgy or doctrine. Early Jewish and Christian interpreters focused on the more dramatic narratives of the judges. The passage was used primarily by biblical historians and commentators to reconstruct the tribal settlement of Benjamin. Reformers like Matthew Henry and Wesley noted its difficulty, seeing it as evidence of the Chronicler’s faithfulness to record even obscure family lines. The text continues to interest scholars of the Old Testament historical books, particularly for its possible connection to the judge Ehud and its witness to the mobility of Israelite clans. It stands as a reminder that Scripture includes the small threads of history that, together, weave God’s story.
Preaching This Verse
Three‑Point Outline
- The Value of Obscure Records. These verses list names and places that appear nowhere else. They teach that God does not waste details. Every person and family matters to Him, even when they leave no other mark on history.
- Movement as Part of God’s Plan. The relocation from Geba to Manahath, whether forced or voluntary, shows that changes in location and circumstance are not outside God’s purposes. The Chronicler records the event without explanation, trusting that God’s hand was at work.
- Leadership Among Ordinary People. Gera stands out as the one who directs the move and fathers new sons. He is not a judge or king, yet his role is preserved. God raises up leaders in everyday settings, families, neighborhoods, small communities.
Five‑Point Outline
- The sons of Ehud are named, anchoring them in Israel’s genealogy.
- They are described as ‘heads of fathers of the inhabitants of Geba,’ indicating local leadership.
- The relocation to Manahath introduces trauma or transition, but the Chronicler records it factually.
- Gera emerges as the key figure, taking action and continuing the family line.
- Uzza and Ahihud are born, showing that God’s story goes forward through ordinary generations.
Illustration Hooks
- A family photo album with only a few names and dates: those sparse entries represent real lives, griefs, moves, and hopes.
- An employee directory of a large company, most names are unknown, but each person has a story and contribution.
- A church directory from fifty years ago: few names are remembered, yet those families built the foundation of the congregation.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Why does the Bible include hard‑to‑understand genealogies? Are they still important?
- How can I trust God’s plan when my family history has disruptions and moves?
- What does it mean that God knows every person, even those mentioned only once in Scripture?
Leading a Discussion
This passage is a small window into the life of an ancient family. It reminds us that God’s people have always faced displacement and change, yet He continues their story. As you study, notice the emphasis on names, each one a real person known to God.
Discussion Questions
- What do you notice about the structure of these verses? Why might the Chronicler include such specific details?
- Who is Ehud? Read Judges 3:15, 30 and discuss if he could be the same person. What clues support or oppose that identification?
- The relocation to Manahath is described as a captivity. How does this fit with other movements of families in the Old Testament (e.g., Ruth, Abraham)?
- How does the role of Gera (v. 7) challenge or affirm your view of leadership within a family or community?
- What does the textual difficulty (likely missing words) tell us about the transmission of Scripture? How should we handle uncertain passages?
- Why do you think the Chronicler preserved this obscure record? What purpose does it serve in the larger story of Israel?
- How does this passage speak to people today who feel overlooked or whose family history has painful chapters?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 46:21 | The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. |
| Judges 3:20 | Ehud came to him; and he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. Ehud said, “I have a message from God to you.” He arose out of his seat. |
| Judges 3:30 | So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. Then the land had rest eighty years. |
| Judges 4:1 | The children of Israel again did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, when Ehud was dead. |
| I Chronicles 2:25 | The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were Ram the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. |
| I Chronicles 2:52 | Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim had sons: Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth. |
| I Chronicles 2:54 | The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites. |
| I Chronicles 6:60 | and out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its pasture lands, Allemeth with its pasture lands, and Anathoth with its pasture lands. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights a textual puzzle: the word "they" in this verse has no clear antecedent, suggesting possible corruption in the original. Most commentators infer that the sons of Ehud, originally settled at Geba, later moved to a nearby town called Manahath, with Gera directing the relocation.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary draws attention to textual difficulties in the passage, noting that the phrase about removal or captivity is ambiguous. The meaning is unclear because the text may have dropped words, and it is impossible to tell who carried whom captive. The reference back to Ehud also yields no satisfactory sense.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
I Chronicles 8:6 And these are the sonnes of Ehud: these were the chiefe fathers of those that inhabited Geba: and they were caryed away captiues to Monahath, I Chronicles 8:7 And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he caryed them away captiues: and he begate Vzza, and Ahihud.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill distinguishes this Ehud from the judge in Judges, identifying him instead as a descendant of Huram. He explains that Ehud's sons became leading men in Geba but later relocated to Manahath, either by choice or by being moved, possibly for better land.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB identifies the Ehud here as the judge who delivered Israel, and traces his descendants' move from Geba in Benjamin to Manahath in Judah. This relocation, led by Gera, was driven by the need for more space as the family grew.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch observe that the genealogy leaves Ehud's own descent unrecorded, naming only his sons after a gap filled with historical notes. These notes mention Benjamite family leaders in Geba and a captivity led by Gera to Manahath, a place now unknown, with no further details preserved.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees this chapter as a separate, more detailed genealogical document supplementing the shorter Benjamin list in chapter 7. He argues that the line of Saul's descendants reaches down nearly to the exile, not beyond it, as some scholars claim.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that the genealogical record for Benjamin lists places of residence instead of parents' names. This unusual pattern reflects how the tribe's family lines were broken by the near-total destruction described in Judges 20, making a normal genealogy impossible.