1 Chronicles 9:8

Three other Benjamite houses.

Ibneiah is much the same name as “Ibnijah” at the end of the verse. Both mean “Jah buildeth,” i.e., maketh offspring. (Comp. Assyrian Ea-Ibni, “Ea made,” i.e., a son.)

Son of Jeroham. — The sons of Jeroham dwelt in Jerusalem before the exile as well as after it (1 Chronicles 8:27).

Michri should perhaps be Zichri. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 8:19; 1 Chronicles 8:23; 1 Chronicles 8:27.)

1 Chronicles 9:7 correspond to Nehemiah 11:7; but after tracing the ascending line of Sallu son of Meshullam (1 Chronicles 9:7) through six degrees, the latter account continues (Nehemiah 11:8): “And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.” This apparently is quite a different statement from that of our 1 Chronicles 9:8. Gabbai, Sallai, however (note the absence of a conjunction), may be corrupt. Gabbai perhaps conceals Bani or Ibni, a contracted form of lbneiah; and Sallai might have originated out of Shallum or Meshullam, under the influence of the preceding Sallu (1 Chronicles 9:7). Nehemiah 11:9 continues, “And Joel son of Zikri was their overseer, and Judah son of Hasenuah was over the second part of the city.” “Joel son of Zikri” may be our “Elah son of Uzzi son of Michri” (1 Chronicles 9:8); for Joel (“Jah is El”) may be compared with Elah, which is perhaps a disguise of Elijah (“El is Jah;” only yod, the smallest Hebrew letter, is wanting). “Judah son of Hasenuah,” may be the equivalent of “Hodaviah son of Hasenuah.” If these combinations be accepted, the list here is brought into strict harmony with its parallel — five Benjamite clans being named in each, viz., Sallu, Hodaviah (Judah), Ibneiah (Bani), Joel (Elah), and Meshullam.

And their brethren, according to their generations. — The members of the five Benjamite clans amounted to nine hundred and fifty-six, according to their family registers. Nehemiah 11:8 gives a total of nine hundred and twenty-eight. If the numbers are both genuine, our text may refer to a date a little subsequent to the time intended in Nehemiah.

All these men. — Translate, all these men were chiefs of their respective clans. This appears to be the subscription to 1 Chronicles 9:4. It states that the proper names are representatives of clans, and, so to speak, collective personalities.