1 Chronicles 9:35-44 Meaning: The Genealogy That Bridges to History
35Jeiel the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah, lived in Gibeon.
36His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. They also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem, near their relatives.
39Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
40The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal. Merib-baal became the father of Micah.
41The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42Ahaz became the father of Jarah. Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri became the father of Moza.
43Moza became the father of Binea, Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.
44Azel had six sons, whose names are Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.
35And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife’s name was Maachah:
36And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,
37And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.
39And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi–shua, and Abinadab, and Esh–baal.
40And the son of Jonathan was Merib–baal: and Merib–baal begat Micah.
41And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;
43And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
44And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.
35And in Gibeon there dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, whose wife’s name was Maacah;
36and his first-born son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,
37and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against their brethren.
39And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
40And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal begat Micah.
41And the sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;
43and Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
44And Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.
35And in Gibeon dwelt hath the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, and the name of his wife is Maachah;
36and his son, the first-born, is Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,
37and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38And Mikloth begat Shimeam, and they also, over-against their brethren, have dwelt in Jerusalem with their brethren.
39And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-Shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-Baal.
40And a son of Jonathan is Merib-Baal, and Merib-Baal begat Micah.
41And sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea,
42and Ahaz--he begat Jaarah, and Jaarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri, and Zimri begat Moza,
43and Moza begat Binea, and Rephaiah is his son. Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
44And to Azel are six sons, and these their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these are sons of Azel.
35And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, and his wife's name was Maachah.
36And his son, the firstborn, was Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,
37and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth;
38and Mikloth begot Shimeam. And they also dwelt beside their brethren in Jerusalem, with their brethren.
39And Ner begot Kish; and Kish begot Saul; and Saul begot Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
40And the son of Jonathan was Merib-Baal; and Merib-Baal begot Micah.
41And the sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea.
42And Ahaz begot Jarah: and Jarah begot Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza;
43and Moza begot Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
44And Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bochru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel.
Meaning in one sentence
Why does the Chronicler repeat Saul's genealogy from chapter 8? This passage bridges the genealogical lists to the story of Saul's death and David's rise.
Context
After listing the heads of families who settled in Jerusalem after the exile, the Chronicler returns to a genealogy we have already seen. These verses repeat almost word for word the Benjamite line from 1 Chronicles 8:29-38. The repetition is not a mistake. It is a deliberate hinge between two sections of the book. The long genealogies that fill chapters 1 through 9 are now over. What comes next is history: the story of Saul, David, and the kings of Judah. By placing Saul's family tree again at this exact spot, the writer sets the stage for the narrative of Saul's death in chapter 10. It is like turning a page, pausing to remember where everyone came from, before the drama begins.
Key Words
Three ordinary Hebrew words carry the weight of this passage. The verb behind every “became the father of” is yalad, meaning to beget or bring forth. It appears over and over, linking one generation to the next. This word does not just list facts. It says that God’s story moves forward through real families, real births, real people who lived and died. The verb “dwelt,” yashav, pictures a settled life: these families made their home in Gibeon and later in Jerusalem. They were not wanderers; they belonged somewhere. And the word for “name,” shem, is more than a label. It carries the idea of reputation, memory, and identity. The Chronicler is saying that God knows each of these people by name. He has not forgotten a single one.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian commentators across traditions agree on why this genealogy appears again. Matthew Henry (Reformed) calls it “an introduction to the story of Saul”, a fresh start for the history that follows. Barnes’ Notes (Protestant) says it connects the genealogical section with the historical, reintroducing the person whose death opens the next part. Keil and Delitzsch (Lutheran) note that the repetition is intentional, linking the kingship narrative to the genealogical lists that precede it. The Cambridge Bible (Anglican) observes that the passage is probably repeated here to serve as a transition. There is no debate: this is a purposeful bridge, not a scribal slip.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume this is a meaningless copy-and-paste error, a clumsy repetition the scribe should have caught. In fact, the Chronicler placed it here on purpose. He had already given the full Benjamite genealogy in chapter 8. By repeating Saul’s branch at the end of chapter 9, he signals that the genealogical records are finished and the historical narrative is about to begin. It is a deliberate transition, not a mistake.
Living This Out
This passage asks you to see the ordinary threads God weaves into His larger story. Your family history, your address, the names you carry, they may feel small or forgettable. Yet the Chronicler paused to repeat a list of names before telling the story of a kingdom. This week, try noticing one person in your own family or church whose name most people overlook. God did not overlook them. He placed them exactly where He needed them.
Main takeaway: God uses the ordinary threads of family history to introduce the stages of His redemptive plan, and He never forgets a single name.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This is a list of names from a long time ago. It reminds us that God knows every person, even people we have never heard of. He knows your name too.
For ages 9, 12
This genealogy repeats one we saw earlier in the book. The writer put it here on purpose to get ready to tell the story of King Saul and King David. It is like when you start a new chapter and the first paragraph reminds you of what happened before. God pays attention to families and uses them to do big things.
Questions People Ask
Why does the Bible repeat the same list of names from 1 Chronicles 8 here in chapter 9?
The writer deliberately repeats Saul's genealogy as a bridge between the long genealogical lists (chapters 1-9) and the historical narrative that follows (starting in chapter 10). It tells the reader: 'The records are done; now the story begins.'
Who was Jeiel?
Jeiel (also spelled Jehiel) is called 'the father of Gibeon.' He was a leader or founder of the Benjamite community living in Gibeon, about eight miles northwest of Jerusalem. His wife was Maacah.
Are there any differences between this genealogy and the one in 1 Chronicles 8?
The lists are almost identical, but there are small variations in a few names and spellings. Commentators believe these differences show that the Chronicler drew from a separate, better-preserved copy of the same family record.
Why does this genealogy lead into the story of Saul and David?
The Chronicler is writing to a post-exilic audience who need to understand how God kept His promises to David. By tracing Saul's family first, he sets up the transition to David's kingship. Saul's death in chapter 10 clears the way for David, the king through whom the Messiah would come.
Does this passage have any spiritual meaning for Christians today?
Yes. It shows that God works through real families, real names, and real places. No one is too small or too forgotten for God to include in His story. It also reminds us that the Old Testament genealogies point forward to Jesus, the ultimate descendant of David.
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