And Benjamin begat Bela his first-born, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,

Now Benjamin beget Bale his firstborn, Asbel the second, Ahara the third,

And Benjamin begot Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,

And Benjamin was the father of Bela his oldest son, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,

And Benjamin begot Bela his first-born, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third;

Now Benjamin conceived Bela as his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,

The reason of this return to the genealogy of the Benjamites seems to be the desire to connect the genealogical introduction with the historical body of the work. As the history is to begin with Saul, the genealogical portion is made to end with an account of the family of this Benjamite monarch.

Now Benjamin begat, etc. - See what has been said on the preceding chapter, 1-Chronicles 7:6 (note).

Now Benjamin (a) begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,
(a) He continues in the description of the tribe of Benjamin, because his purpose is to set forth the genealogy of Saul.

Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn,.... See 1-Chronicles 7:6. The genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin is reviewed, because it joined and kept close with Judah in the worship of God, went into captivity, and returned out of it with it; and this review is made chiefly for the sake of Saul, and his posterity, the first king of Israel, who was of it, and in whose posterity this genealogy ends:
Ashbel the second; supposed to be the same with Jediael, 1-Chronicles 7:6, see Genesis 46:21.
and Aharah the third; the same with Aher, 1-Chronicles 7:13, and with Ahiram, Numbers 26:38.

Here is a larger list of Benjamin's tribe. We may suppose that many things in these genealogies, which to us seem difficult, abrupt, and perplexed, were plain and easy at that time, and fully answered the intention for which they were published. Many great and mighty nations then were in being upon earth, and many illustrious men, whose names are now wholly forgotten; while the names of multitudes of the Israel of God are here kept in everlasting remembrance. The memory of the just is blessed.

SONS AND CHIEF MEN OF BENJAMIN. (1Ch. 8:1-32)
Now Benjamin begat, &c.--This chapter contains some supplementary particulars in addition to what has been already said regarding the tribe of Benjamin (see on 1-Chronicles 7:6). The names of many of the persons mentioned are different from those given by Moses--a diversity which may be accounted for in part on grounds formerly stated, namely, either that the persons had more than one name, or that the word "sons" is used in a loose sense for grandsons or descendants. But there are other circumstances to be taken into account in considering the details of this chapter; namely, first, that the genealogies of the Benjamites were disordered or destroyed by the almost total extermination of this tribe (Judges. 20:11-48); secondly, that a great number of Benjamites, born in Assyria, are mentioned here, who returned from the long captivity in Babylon, and established themselves--some in Jerusalem, others in different parts of Judea. There were more returned from Babylon of the families belonging to this tribe than to any other except Judah; and hence many strange names are here introduced; some of which will be found in the list of the restored exiles (compare Ezra 2:1-70).

The families of Benjamin enumerated in this chapter were probably separated from those in 1-Chronicles 7:6-11, merely on the ground that all the registers which are grouped together in 1 Chron 7 were taken from another genealogical document than that from which the registers in our chapter, which form a supplement to the short fragments in 1-Chronicles 7:6-11, have been derived.