=40.= _twenty and six thousand_] In xii. 36 the men of war of Asher are reckoned at forty thousand (compare Numbers i. 41, xxvi. 47, where still higher reckonings are given). The numbers here and in verses 5, 7, 9, 11 (as well as in verse 2, which see) are perhaps supposed to refer to the time of David. The numbers may be based on family traditions, but no important conclusions ought to be drawn from them. CHAPTER VIII. =1‒40= (compare vii. 6‒12). THE GENEALOGY OF BENJAMIN. =1‒40.= Various indications combine to show that the names in this list reflect post-exilic conditions. It has generally been compared with the “Benjamite” genealogy in vii. 6‒12 which was supposed to express the relationships and strength of the tribe at the time of David. If, however, according to the view adopted in this volume, the passage vii. 6‒12 is in reality a genealogy of Zebulun, comparison between it and this list is futile. Such parallels as can justly be made between the names in the two lists are due to the Benjamite colouring which has been imparted to vii. 6‒12 after the initial error in vii. 6 turned the “sons of Zebulun” into “Benjamin.” This, the real genealogy of Benjamin, unfortunately presents not a few problems for which as yet no convincing solution can be offered. The difficulties are due in large measure to the corrupt state of the text in several verses: especially verses 6‒14. ¹And Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third; =1.= _Benjamin begat ..._] Compare Genesis xlvi. 21. _firstborn_] = _Becher_ in Genesis xlvi. 21. In the unvocalised Hebrew text the noun and proper name are represented by the same letters, _BKR_. _Ashbel_] literally “man of Baal.” Compare note on Eshbaal, verse 33. ²Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. =2.= _Nohah ... Huram_] the list is assuredly based on Genesis xlvi. 21 and Numbers xxvi. 38‒40, despite the surface divergences. Several of the changes are due to textual errors, e.g. Aharah and Ahoah are probably both variants of Ahiram (Genesis xlvi. 21). ³And Bela had sons, Addar¹, and Gera, and Abihud; ⁴and Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah; ¹ In Genesis xlvi. 21, _Ard_. =3.= _Abihud_] read perhaps (a slight change in the Hebrew) =Gera, father of Ehud=. ⁵and Gera, and Shephuphan¹, and Huram. ¹ In Numbers xxvi. 39, _Shephupham_. =5.= _Shephuphan, and Huram_] See vii. 12, note on _Shuppim_. =6‒28.= Apparently a list of five post-exilic families [Elpaal (verses 11, 18), Beriah (verses 13, 16), Shema (verses 13, 21), Shashak (verses 14, 25), and Jeroham (verses 14, 27)], whose genealogy seems to be traced from Ehud, and whose descendants reside in Jerusalem (so verse 28, but see note _ad loc._). The uncertainty on the former point is the inevitable consequence of the corrupt state of the text in verses 6‒14.