1 Chronicles 8:38
And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
Original Language Analysis
שִׁשָּׁ֣ה
had six
H8337
שִׁשָּׁ֣ה
had six
Strong's:
H8337
Word #:
2 of 15
six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth
בְּנֵ֥י
All these were the sons
H1121
בְּנֵ֥י
All these were the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
3 of 15
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
שְׁמוֹתָ֗ם
whose names
H8034
שְׁמוֹתָ֗ם
whose names
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
5 of 15
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל
and Ishmael
H3458
וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל
and Ishmael
Strong's:
H3458
Word #:
8 of 15
jishmael, the name of abraham's oldest son, and of five israelites
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
12 of 15
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Historical Context
Saul's dynasty ended violently on Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31, c. 1010 BC) when he and three sons died fighting Philistines. Only Ish-bosheth and Jonathan's son Mephibosheth survived. Ish-bosheth's assassination (2 Samuel 4) and Mephibosheth's childless status initially seemed to end Saul's line, but 2 Samuel 21:8 mentions Merab's sons, and this Chronicles passage shows Jonathan's descendants continued through post-exilic period. Their survival testifies to David's covenant with Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:15-16, 42) outlasting the royal rivalry.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's preservation of Saul's descendants through Jonathan comfort those whose families have experienced corporate discipline or institutional failure?
- What does the theophoric piety in Azel's sons' names teach about maintaining personal faithfulness even when family legacy includes divine judgment?
Analysis & Commentary
And Azel had six sons—this detailed enumeration appears twice in Chronicles (here and 9:44), emphasizing King Saul's genealogy. Azel (אָצֵל 'noble' or 'set apart') descended from Jonathan through Merib-baal/Mephibosheth (v. 34), making these six sons Saul's great-great-great-grandsons. Their names—Azrikam (עַזְרִיקָם 'my help has risen'), Bocheru (בֹּכְרוּ 'firstborn'), Ishmael (יִשְׁמָעֵאל 'God hears'), Sheariah (שְׁעַרְיָה 'Yahweh has stormed'), Obadiah (עֹבַדְיָה 'servant of Yahweh'), and Hanan (חָנָן 'gracious')—blend theophoric piety with circumstantial naming.
The repetition All these were the sons of Azel creates a deliberate inclusio (bracketing device), emphasizing completeness. Why chronicle Saul's post-monarchic descendants so carefully? The Chronicler demonstrates that God's rejection of Saul's dynasty (1 Samuel 15:28) didn't mean extinction of his lineage—covenant mercy preserved Saul's descendants through Jonathan's line despite dynastic failure. This offered hope to post-exilic Israel: corporate judgment doesn't necessitate individual extinction; God preserves faithful remnants even from rejected systems.
That Jonathan's line survived while kingship passed to David illustrates grace's complexity: God judges institutions (Saulide monarchy ended) while preserving persons (Jonathan's descendants continued). The names testify to genuine Yahwistic faith ('servant of Yahweh,' 'my help has risen') among Saul's descendants, showing personal piety can flourish even in dynasties under divine judgment.