Before dealing with the story of Saul, the Chronicler repeats the register of his family tree in 1 Chronicles 8:29–38, a segment taken from the genealogy of Benjamin except that 1 Chronicles 8:39–40 is not repeated. There are a few differences between the two lists, probably signifying that the two lists serve different functions. Japhet has noted that the parallel passage of the genealogy of Saul in 1 Chronicles 9:35–44 preserves three names not found in the Masoretic Text of 1 Chronicles 8:29–38: the name of Gibeon’s father Jeiel (1 Chronicles 9:35; 1 Chronicles 8:29), Ner (1 Chronicles 9:36; 1 Chronicles 8:30), and Mikloth (1 Chronicles 9:37; 1 Chronicles 8:32).1,2 As is common with the Chronicler there are also several names that are differently spelled: Zechariah for Zecher (1 Chronicles 9:37; 1 Chronicles 8:31); Shimeam for Shimeah (1 Chronicles 9:38; 1 Chronicles 8:32); Tahrea for Tarea (1 Chronicles 9:41; 1 Chronicles 8:35); Jarah for Jehoad-dah (1 Chronicles 9:42; 1 Chronicles 8:36); and Rephaiah for Raphah (1 Chronicles 9:43; 1 Chronicles 8:37). Unlike the earlier list, where Merib-baal’s name is repeated exactly, in this passage the Hebrew drops the first beth (the letter b) when repeating the name to read Meri-baal (1 Chronicles 9:40; see 1 Chronicles 8:34). All these slight differences between the two lists are helpful in showing the Chronicler’s faithfulness to his sources and how one passage is useful in interpreting another. This is better than supposing copyist errors, which even Matthew Henry too readily accepts with regard to this whole paragraph.3
The reason for the list’s reappearance seems to lie in its different function. Repetition is used by the Chronicler to emphasize the Importance of a passage. In 1 Chronicles 8:1–40 Saul’s genealogy concludes the section on the three main Benjaminite families, noting their places of residence: These lived in Jerusalem
(1 Chronicles 8:27). The omission of 1 Chronicles 8:39–40 in 1 Chronicles 9:1–44 further suggests that the genealogy in 1 Chronicles 8:1–40 fills out the tribe of Benjamin and gives it status as the tribe with the third most extensive coverage, behind Judah (first) and Levi (second).4
The list in 1 Chronicles 9:35–44, however, serves as a transition to the account of King Saul's downfall in 1 Chronicles 10:1–14 and to show that the first king of Israel came from good Benjaminite stock. Especially important are the names of Saul’s four sons, Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal (1 Chronicles 9:39), three of whom will be featured in 1 Chronicles 10:2 and 1 Chronicles 10:6. Their deaths will bring an end to Saul’s dynasty (1 Chronicles 9:6). That they die in battle ensures that David is free from any charge that he has taken the throne by force. Although Eshbaal (also known as Ish-bosheth) serves as king over Israel for two years, he, too, is finally killed (2 Samuel 4:1–12).5 The text traces Saul’s heritage back four generations and continues for twelve generations after Saul, highlighting the fact that though his dynasty crashed and his kingship was transferred to David, this did not remove his family’s place in Israelite history.
1 Chronicles 10:13–14 contains a negative assessment of Saul’s fall. Just as Judah was unfaithful and went into exile (1 Chronicles 9:1). But Judah returned to possess Jerusalem. Saul was unfaithful and lost his dynasty (1 Chronicles 10:13). But Saul’s descendants also returned, and they too lived in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 9:38), alongside Davidic and Levitical families. This testifies to the grace of God. Though they indeed also returned to live in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 9:38), it is unknown whether this line continued after the exile, yet even for them these were signs of hope. Here at the end of the genealogy section of 1 Chronicles, it is noted that postexilic Jerusalem is filled with all Israel,
and it bears witness to God’s mercy and faithfulness.
35 In Gibeon lived the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, and the name of his wife was Maacah,