Meditate

8. Genealogy of Saul

Descendants of Benjamin

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Benjamin became the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,²Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.³And Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud,⁴Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,⁵Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.⁶These are the sons of Ehud (they were heads of ancestral houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and they were carried into exile to Manahath):⁷Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, that is, Heglam, who became the father of Uzza and Ahihud.⁸And Shaharaim had sons in the country of Moab after he had sent away his wives Hushim and Baara.⁹He had sons by his wife Hodesh: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,¹⁰Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of ancestral houses.¹¹He also had sons by Hushim: Abitub and Elpaal.¹²The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod with its towns,¹³and Beriah and Shema (they were heads of ancestral houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath);¹⁴and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth.¹⁵Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,¹⁶Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were sons of Beriah.¹⁷Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,¹⁸Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.¹⁹Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi,²⁰Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,²¹Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.²²Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,²³Abdon, Zichri, Hanan,²⁴Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,²⁵Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.²⁶Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,²⁷Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham.²⁸These were the heads of ancestral houses, according to their generations, chiefs. These lived in Jerusalem.

²⁹ Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and the name of his wife was Maacah.³⁰His firstborn son: Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab,³¹Gedor, Ahio, Zecher,³²and Mikloth, who became the father of Shimeah. Now these also lived opposite their kindred in Jerusalem, with their kindred.³³Ner became the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal;³⁴and the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal became the father of Micah.³⁵The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.³⁶Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah; and Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; Zimri became the father of Moza.³⁷Moza became the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.³⁸Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; all these were the sons of Azel.³⁹The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.⁴⁰The sons of Ulam were mighty warriors, archers, having many children and grandchildren, one hundred fifty. All these were Benjaminites.

5. Advice About Widows, Elders and Slaves

¹⁷ Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching;¹⁸for the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves to be paid.”¹⁹Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.²⁰As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear.

149. Psalm 149

Psalm 149

Praise for God’s Goodness to Israel

1

Praise the Lord!

Sing to the Lord a new song,

his praise in the assembly of the faithful.

2

Let Israel be glad in its Maker;

let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.

3

Let them praise his name with dancing,

making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.

4

For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;

he adorns the humble with victory.

5

Let the faithful exult in glory;

let them sing for joy on their couches.

6

Let the high praises of God be in their throats

and two-edged swords in their hands,

7

to execute vengeance on the nations

and punishment on the peoples,

8

to bind their kings with fetters

and their nobles with chains of iron,

9

to execute on them the judgment decreed.

This is glory for all his faithful ones.

Praise the Lord!