1 Chronicles
Chapter 8
This chapter lists the families that came from Benjamin, one of Israel's twelve tribes. It names family leaders and tells where they lived, like Geba, Aijalon, Gibeon, and Jerusalem. Near the end, the list follows one family all the way down to King Saul and his sons. It ends with the family of Ulam, who were brave fighters with archery bows.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,
1Benjamin had sons. Bela was born first. Then came Ashbel, then Aharah.
"Begat" is an old word. It means "became the father of."
2Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
2Then came Nohah, and then Rapha.
3And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,
3Bela had sons too. Their names were Addar, Gera, and Abihud.
4And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
4He also had Abishua, Naaman, and Ahoah.
5And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.
5And he had Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.
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:
6These men came from Ehud. They led families who lived in a town called Geba. Later they were forced to move to a place called Manahath.
7And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud.
7Their names were Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera. Gera was the one who moved them away. He was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
8And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.
8Shaharaim had children in the land of Moab. This was after he sent away his wives, Hushim and Baara.
"Sent them away" means he divorced his wives. He was no longer married to them.
9And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,
9His wife Hodesh gave him sons. They were Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, and Malcam.
10And Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers.
10He also had Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These sons were leaders of families.
11And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal.
11His wife Hushim gave him two sons, Abitub and Elpaal.
12The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof:
12Elpaal's sons were Eber, Misham, and Shemed. Shemed built the towns of Ono and Lod and the little villages nearby.
13Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath:
13Beriah and Shema were sons too. They led the families who lived in Aijalon. They drove out the people who lived in Gath.
14And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,
14Beriah's family also included Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth.
15And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader,
15It included Zebadiah, Arad, and Eder.
16And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;
16It included Michael, Ishpah, and Joha. All of these were sons of Beriah.
17And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,
17Elpaal had more sons named Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, and Heber.
18Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal;
18He also had Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab. All of these were sons of Elpaal.
19And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,
19Shimei had sons named Jakim, Zichri, and Zabdi.
20And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel,
20He also had Elienai, Zillethai, and Eliel.
21And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;
21And he had Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath. All of these were sons of Shimei.
22And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,
22Shashak had sons named Ishpan, Eber, and Eliel.
23And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,
23He also had Abdon, Zichri, and Hanan.
24And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah,
24And he had Hananiah, Elam, and Anthothijah.
25And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak;
25And he had Iphdeiah and Penuel. All of these were sons of Shashak.
26And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
26Jeroham had sons named Shamsherai, Shehariah, and Athaliah.
27And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.
27He also had Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri. All of these were sons of Jeroham.
28These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem.
28All these men were leaders of their families. The family lists name them as chief men. They lived in the city of Jerusalem.
29And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon; whose wife’s name was Maachah:
29In the town of Gibeon lived the man who started that town. His wife was named Maacah.
30And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,
30His first son was Abdon. Then came Zur, Kish, Baal, and Nadab.
31And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher.
31Then came Gedor, Ahio, and Zecher.
32And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them.
32He also had a son named Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. These families lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.
33And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
33Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
34And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah.
34Jonathan had a son named Merib-baal. Merib-baal was the father of Micah.
35And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.
35Micah had four sons. They were Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.
36And Ahaz begat Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza,
36Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah. Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza.
37And Moza begat Binea: Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son:
37Moza was the father of Binea. Binea's son was Raphah. Raphah's son was Eleasah. Eleasah's son was Azel.
38And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
38Azel had six sons. Their names were Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All of these were sons of Azel.
39And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
39Azel's brother was named Eshek. Eshek's first son was Ulam. Then came Jeush, and then Eliphelet.
40And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, an hundred and fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin.
40Ulam's sons were strong, brave fighters who shot bows. They had many sons and grandsons, one hundred fifty in all. All these people came from Benjamin's family.
The old words "mighty men of valour" mean strong, brave soldiers.
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