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1 Chronicles 8:1-40 open_in_new
This whole chapter constitutes a fuller account of the house of Benjamin. It seems to be a collection of names and very little more. Among them, however, after the name of the founder, Benjamin, two stand out conspicuously, Saul and Jonathan. They are almost buried among the rest, and yet most probably constitute the reason of this comparatively large section devoted to the genealogy of the house of Benjamin.
As we have said more than once, the chief interest of the Book centers around David, and everything is made to lead up to him. The friendship of Benjamin for Judah was marked, and here are the two names which touch most intimately the early life of the king. Saul was his implacable foe, Jonathan his choicest friend. The love of the latter very largely compensated for the cruelty of the former.