I Chronicles 8 (NIV)

Summary:

The Genealogy of Saul the Benjamite
Verses 1-40

Key: [] = Mother
         + = Firstborn Son
         * = Son
        d  = Daughter
        w = Wife
Benjamin -> +Bela, *Ashbel, *Aharah, *Nohah, *Rapha
Bela -> *Addar, *Gera, *Abihud, *Abishua, *Naaman, *Ahoah, *Gera, *Shephuphan, *Huram

Ehud (Abihud) -> *Naaman, *Ahijah, *Gera -> *Uzza, *Ahihud
-These were the heads of the families living in Geba.  Gera deported them to Manahath.

Shaharaim divorced his wives, Hushim and Baara, then had sons in Moab.
[Hodesh] -> *Jobab, *Zibia, *Mesha, *Malcam, *Jeuz, *Sakia, *Mirmah.  They were the heads of their families.
[Hushim] (another wife named Hushim?) -> *Abitub, *Elpaal

Elpaal -> *Eber, *Misham, *Shemed, *Beriah, *Shema
-They were the heads of the families in Aijalon.  They drove out the inhabitants of Gath.  Shemed built Ono, Lod, and their surrounding villages.

Beriah -> *Ahio, *Shashak, *Jeremoth, *Zebadiah, *Arad, *Eder, *Michael, *Ishpah, *Joha

Elpaal -> *Zebadiah, *Meshullam, *Hizki, *Heber, *Ishmerai, *Izliah, *Jobab

Shimei -> *Jakim, *Zicri, *Zabdi, *Elienai, *Zillethai, *Eliel, *Adaiah, *Beraiah, *Shimrath

Shashak -> *Ishpan, *Eber, *Eliel, *Abdon, *Zicri, *Hanan, *Hananiah, *Elam, *Anthothijah, *Iphdeiah, *Penuel

Jeroham -> *Shamsherai, *Shehariah, *Athaliah, *Jaareshiah, *Elijah, *Zicri.  They were the heads of their families and chiefs, living in Jerusalem.

Jeiel -> *Gibeon.  His family lived in the town of Gibeon.
[Maacah] -> +Abdon, *Zur, *Kish, *Baal, *Ner, *Nadab, *Gedor, *Ahio, *Zeker, *Mikloth -> *Shimeah.  They lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.

Ner -> *Kish -> *Saul -> *Jonathan, *Malki-Shua, *Abinandab, *Esh-Baal
Jonathan -> *Merib-Baal (Mephibosheth) -> *Micah
Micah -> *Pithon, *Melech, *Tarea, *Ahaz

Ahaz -> *Jehoaddah -> *Alemeth, *Azmaveth, *Zimri -> *Moza -> *Binea -> *Raphah, *Eleasah, *Azel  -> *Azrikam, *Bokeru (I think this is a cool name.), *Ishmael, *Sheariah, *Obadiah, *Hanan

Eshek (Azel's brother) -> +Ullam, *Jeush, *Eliphelet.  Ullam's descendants were brave warriors, skilled with the bow.  They had 150 sons and grandsons.

Lori's Thoughts:

Why is Saul's lineage so important?  Well, he was one of the greatest kings of Israel.  He was a man after God's own heart.  Saul was a beautiful man, until he started to worship himself.  He ignored God and God couldn't bless him anymore.

An unlikely boy was made king: David.  He who was so close to God, that for his sake, God blessed David's people.  Even when the Israelite nation defiled the covenant with God, for many years God spared them from being destroyed by their enemies because of David.  Even after David died, God had mercy on the Israelites.  We cannot deny that God is patient and loving with us.

Now, I can't refrain from bringing up Jonathan.  He is my absolute favorite person in the Old Testament.  He was a good man.  I hope to have a husband like him, some day.  Jonathan knew Saul was wrong when he tried to kill David.  Now, God had said that David would become king.  Saul's line would be cut off.  Jonathan should have been next on the throne, if Saul hadn't turned from God.  But, Jonathan protected David, giving him supplies while he hid from Saul.  At the same time, Jonathan stayed loyal to his father and fought by his father's side in battle.  They both died in gruesome ways and I cried when Jonathan was murdered.  But, the brotherly love that he shared with David prevailed.

David adopted Jonathan's crippled son, Mephibosheth, and David treated him as royalty.  This is an epic story that would make a great movie.  As long as they cast me as Jonathan's wife.  :)

It's stories like these, that I can relate to, that help me believe that the Word is true and applicable to me, today.