Post by Lee on Sept 26, 2014 3:40:59 GMT
(((CENTRAL ARTICLE))))
“These dwelt in Jerusalem”
Important as this lesson of unity was for the people of Israel (and, of course, for us too), it is only one reason for the Chronicler returning to consider the men of Benjamin. There is a second reason which is equally important, and this is revealed by a small phrase appearing in the middle of Benjamin’s genealogy. Before the list of Saul’s family, and at the end of the list of Benjamites, we are told that “these dwelt in Jerusalem” (8:28, 32). This seems to refer specifically to the descendants of Elpaal, who lived four generations after Benjamin at the time of the conquest of the Land under Joshua.
The implication to be drawn from this apparently insignificant piece of information is that part of the population of Jerusalem was from the tribe of Benjamin right from the time of the conquest. Furthermore, we know that Jerusalem was situated on the border between Benjamin’s territory and Judah’s. “Little Benjamin” was allocated land between the two powerhouse tribes of Judah and Ephraim (Joshua 18:11); and the southern boundary “came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south”. To remove all doubt about the siting of Jerusalem, later verses speak of “the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families”, and included in this list is “Jebusi, which is Jerusalem” (verses 21, 28).
The very careful ordering of information in the opening chapters of Chronicles once again reveals the purpose of the book as a guide for the returning exiles. The accompanying table shows how information about the inhabitants of Jerusalem is inserted in a section dealing primarily with the tribe of Benjamin.
1 CHRONICLES 8 & 9
8:1–32 Genealogy of Benjamin, including the Benjamite families who lived in Jerusalem.
8:33–40 Genealogy of Saul’s house.
9:1–38 Heads of the families who lived in Jerusalem (cp. Nehemiah 11:3–19).
9:39–44 Genealogy of Saul’s house (repeated).
The fact that the information about the inhabitants of Jerusalem is inserted between two identical accounts of Saul’s line confirms that the information is considered to be an essential adjunct to the details of the tribe of Benjamin and its chief family.
Whereas the details of Saul’s house are identical (cp. 8:33–38 and 9:39–44), the two lists of those living in Jerusalem (9:2–34 and Nehemiah 11:3–19) are not exactly the same. There is a general correspondence between them, in that they both list in the same order the various groups involved—men of Judah and Benjamin, Priests and Levites. The detailed differences may arise from the fact that they each relate to a slightly different time. As the overall numbers in Chronicles are higher, it is generally taken that Nehemiah’s list is earlier and relates to the beginning of his policy of attracting the repopulation of Jerusalem. It is assumed that the later list in Chronicles with its increased numbers shows that policy as it began to take effect.
. Vol. 135: The Christadelphian: Volume 135. 2001 (electronic ed.) (451–452). Birmingham: Christadelphian Magazine & Publishing Association.
“These dwelt in Jerusalem”
Important as this lesson of unity was for the people of Israel (and, of course, for us too), it is only one reason for the Chronicler returning to consider the men of Benjamin. There is a second reason which is equally important, and this is revealed by a small phrase appearing in the middle of Benjamin’s genealogy. Before the list of Saul’s family, and at the end of the list of Benjamites, we are told that “these dwelt in Jerusalem” (8:28, 32). This seems to refer specifically to the descendants of Elpaal, who lived four generations after Benjamin at the time of the conquest of the Land under Joshua.
The implication to be drawn from this apparently insignificant piece of information is that part of the population of Jerusalem was from the tribe of Benjamin right from the time of the conquest. Furthermore, we know that Jerusalem was situated on the border between Benjamin’s territory and Judah’s. “Little Benjamin” was allocated land between the two powerhouse tribes of Judah and Ephraim (Joshua 18:11); and the southern boundary “came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south”. To remove all doubt about the siting of Jerusalem, later verses speak of “the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families”, and included in this list is “Jebusi, which is Jerusalem” (verses 21, 28).
The very careful ordering of information in the opening chapters of Chronicles once again reveals the purpose of the book as a guide for the returning exiles. The accompanying table shows how information about the inhabitants of Jerusalem is inserted in a section dealing primarily with the tribe of Benjamin.
1 CHRONICLES 8 & 9
8:1–32 Genealogy of Benjamin, including the Benjamite families who lived in Jerusalem.
8:33–40 Genealogy of Saul’s house.
9:1–38 Heads of the families who lived in Jerusalem (cp. Nehemiah 11:3–19).
9:39–44 Genealogy of Saul’s house (repeated).
The fact that the information about the inhabitants of Jerusalem is inserted between two identical accounts of Saul’s line confirms that the information is considered to be an essential adjunct to the details of the tribe of Benjamin and its chief family.
Whereas the details of Saul’s house are identical (cp. 8:33–38 and 9:39–44), the two lists of those living in Jerusalem (9:2–34 and Nehemiah 11:3–19) are not exactly the same. There is a general correspondence between them, in that they both list in the same order the various groups involved—men of Judah and Benjamin, Priests and Levites. The detailed differences may arise from the fact that they each relate to a slightly different time. As the overall numbers in Chronicles are higher, it is generally taken that Nehemiah’s list is earlier and relates to the beginning of his policy of attracting the repopulation of Jerusalem. It is assumed that the later list in Chronicles with its increased numbers shows that policy as it began to take effect.
. Vol. 135: The Christadelphian: Volume 135. 2001 (electronic ed.) (451–452). Birmingham: Christadelphian Magazine & Publishing Association.