1 Chronicles 8 6

1 Chronicles 8:6 kjv

And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they removed them to Manahath:

1 Chronicles 8:6 nkjv

These are the sons of Ehud, who were the heads of the fathers' houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and who forced them to move to Manahath:

1 Chronicles 8:6 niv

These were the descendants of Ehud, who were heads of families of those living in Geba and were deported to Manahath:

1 Chronicles 8:6 esv

These are the sons of Ehud (they were heads of fathers' houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and they were carried into exile to Manahath):

1 Chronicles 8:6 nlt

The sons of Ehud, leaders of the clans living at Geba, were exiled to Manahath.

1 Chronicles 8 verses

1 Chronicles 8 6 Meaning

1 Chronicles 8:6 records a segment of the Benjamite genealogy, identifying the "sons of Ehud" as leaders ("heads of fathers’ houses") from the city of Geba. It further notes a specific historical event: this group was carried into captivity or exile to a place called Manahath. This verse primarily functions as a precise genealogical entry and a concise historical annotation regarding a specific Benjamite family and their displacement.

1 Chronicles 8 6 Context

1 Chronicles Chapter 8 meticulously records the genealogies of the tribe of Benjamin. This focus on Benjamin is significant as King Saul, Israel's first king, was from this tribe. The Chronicler, writing much later, emphasizes continuity and the re-establishment of the people of God after exile. Verses 1-28 detail various clans and leaders within Benjamin, their places of dwelling, and the relationships between them.

Historically, this period stretches from patriarchal times through the era of judges, into the united and divided monarchies, leading up to the return from Babylonian exile. The "captivity to Manahath" mentioned in verse 6 is an obscure event not widely detailed in other biblical texts. Geba was a strategically important Benjaminite town. The specific forced relocation of some Geba inhabitants to Manahath highlights tribal movements, conflicts, and perhaps earlier undocumented displacements within or between the Israelite tribes, or by a regional power before the major Assyrian and Babylonian exiles. The Chronicler preserves these precise family details and movements, reflecting an interest in the divine ordering of Israel's tribal structures and their historical trajectories.

1 Chronicles 8 6 Word Analysis

• And these are (וְאֵ֖לֶּה): This common Hebrew introductory phrase signals the commencement of a new list or section in a genealogy. It directs the reader's attention to the identification of individuals or groups. Its presence underlines the structured and methodical nature of genealogical records in Chronicles.
• the sons of Ehud (בְּנֵ֥י אֵחֽוּד):
  • "sons of" (בְּנֵי - benei): Indicates direct descendants, lineage, or members of a particular family or clan.
  • "Ehud" (אֵחֽוּד - ’Ehud): A personal name. While a prominent judge named Ehud (Judg 3) exists, the context and names surrounding this "Ehud" in Chronicles do not align with that famous figure. This signifies a different individual, emphasizing that the Bible often features recurring names and necessitates careful contextual differentiation. The name means "union" or "he who praises."
• heads of fathers’ houses (רָאשֵׁ֣י אָב֑וֹת):
  • "heads of" (רָאשֵׁי - rashei): Plural of ro'sh, meaning "head, chief, leader." This indicates positions of authority and leadership.
  • "fathers’ houses" (אָב֖וֹת - 'avot): Literally "fathers," referring to patriarchal households or extended family units (beit av). This was the foundational social and administrative unit in ancient Israel, embodying kinship, economic activity, and shared identity. Being a "head of a father's house" signifies an individual holding significant leadership within their clan and tribe. It points to a well-ordered society structured around family lineage and authority, a pattern integral to Israel's identity and covenant relationship with God.
• of the inhabitants of Geba (יֹשְׁבֵ֣י גָ֑בַע):
  • "inhabitants of" (יֹשְׁבֵי - yoshvei): People residing in or belonging to a specific place. It connects these families to a particular geographical location.
  • "Geba" (גָּ֑בַע - Geva): A significant Benjaminite city (from gibbʿāh meaning "hill"). Strategically located, Geba often played a role in military conflicts (e.g., 1 Sam 13). Identifying people by their residence, especially a prominent city like Geba, specifies their local and tribal identity. It distinguishes this group within the larger Benjamite tribe.
• and they carried them captive (וַיַּגְל֖וּם):
  • "they carried captive" (וַיַּגְל֖וּם - vayyaghlum): This verb is from the root galáh (גָלָה) in the Hiphil stem, meaning "to make to go into exile," "to deport," or "to carry into captivity." It denotes a forced, often violent, relocation. The indefinite subject "they" is a crucial aspect here; the identity of the agent who deported them is not specified. This points to an historical event known to the Chronicler but perhaps not broadly documented elsewhere. It signifies a loss of homeland and status, often understood in the biblical narrative as a consequence of unfaithfulness or as part of a divine plan.
• to Manahath (לְמָנָֽחַת):
  • "to Manahath" (לְמָנָֽחַת - lᵉmanahath): Manahath is a geographical location. While 1 Chron 2:52, 54 mention "Manahathites," suggesting a related location or people group, the specific details of this captivity to Manahath are unique to this verse. Its obscurity indicates either an undocumented internal Israelite conflict, a minor localized displacement by an external foe, or an administrative relocation. Its inclusion underscores the Chronicler's precision in detailing tribal movements and their fate, however brief the mention. It shows that not all historical details are fully elucidated in the major historical books.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "These are the sons of Ehud, heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Geba": This segment firmly anchors the named individuals within a specific lineage (sons of Ehud), defines their social and political standing (heads of fathers' houses), and assigns them to a geographical location within their tribe (inhabitants of Geba, within Benjamin). This precise identification demonstrates the meticulous nature of ancient Hebrew genealogical records, serving both practical (inheritance, land ownership, tribal identity) and theological (covenant faithfulness, historical continuity) purposes.
• "and they carried them captive to Manahath": This is a succinct historical annotation attached to the genealogical record. The forced displacement implies either judgment, conflict, or political maneuver. The unspecified "they" makes the exact historical context a subject of scholarly inquiry, possibly pointing to actions by other Israelite tribes (e.g., during the Judges era civil wars against Benjamin in Judges 19-21, although "captivity" often implies a more sustained forced relocation by a conquering power), or a forgotten localized conflict with an external neighbor. It serves as a reminder that even in precise genealogies, there can be brief, enigmatic historical summaries hinting at a complex past.

1 Chronicles 8 6 Bonus Section

The Chronicler's particular attention to the tribe of Benjamin in 1 Chronicles 8, detailing multiple branches and their settlements, stems partly from its significance as the tribe of Israel's first king, Saul. By providing these specific genealogies, including the seemingly minor detail of the "Manahath captivity," the Chronicler validates the tribal land allotments, demonstrates the continuity of families despite dislocations, and grounds the post-exilic community in their ancestral heritage. This obscure historical detail also serves to remind the reader that the Bible's narrative is richer and more complex than solely what is explicitly recounted in the major historical books. Many unrecorded conflicts and movements occurred within Israel's long history, shaping the identity and location of its clans. The verse emphasizes the importance of preserving identity through lineage, even when external forces scatter a community.

1 Chronicles 8 6 Commentary

1 Chronicles 8:6 provides a vital, albeit concise, entry in the elaborate genealogy of Benjamin. The verse primarily identifies a lineage—the sons of Ehud—as holding leadership positions as "heads of fathers' houses" in the important Benjaminite city of Geba. This underscores the established social order of Israel, rooted in family and clan structures, which served as the bedrock of tribal identity and administrative function. More significantly, the verse appends a cryptic historical note: "they carried them captive to Manahath." This event, uniquely preserved here, is not elaborated elsewhere in the biblical narrative. It points to a localized or internal tribal displacement that precedes the well-known Assyrian and Babylonian exiles. While the identity of "they" who carried them captive remains unstated—perhaps another Israelite tribe, a regional enemy, or even a punitive internal measure—its inclusion signifies that even seemingly minor historical occurrences and their impacts on specific family lines were deemed important enough by the Chronicler to record. It is a testament to the comprehensive and detailed nature of the Chronicler's historical project, emphasizing the enduring relevance of precise records for understanding the divine unfolding of Israel's history, even amidst obscure events of loss and displacement.