Who was Eber in the Bible?

Eber was a chief of the tribe of Gad, mentioned in the genealogy of the Gadites during the reign of King Jotham of Judah. He is listed as a son of Elioenai, and his brief mention helps trace the lineage of this Israelite tribe (1 Chronicles 5:13).

Why is Eber mentioned in 1 Chronicles?

Eber is mentioned to document the genealogy and leadership of the tribe of Gad, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. His inclusion shows the tribe's structure and prominent families during a specific historical period under King Jotham (1 Chronicles 5:11-17).

What was Eber's significance in the Bible?

Eber's significance is primarily genealogical, as he represents a chief or leader within the tribe of Gad. While no specific events of his life are recorded, his mention preserves the historical and tribal records important for Israel's identity and heritage.

Eber

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon of abihail

Eber was a Gadite chief during the reign of Jotham, king of Judah, mentioned in the genealogy of Gad. (1Ch.5.13)

Eber

Biography

This Eber was a chief of the tribe of Gad, listed among the heads of families who resided in the territory of Bashan and Gilead during the reign of Jotham king of Judah, approximately 750-735 BC (1 Chronicles 5:13). He is named alongside six other Gadite leaders in a genealogical section that documents the tribal leadership of the Transjordanian tribes before their eventual exile by the Assyrians. The name Eber appears in a cluster of chiefs associated with the region east of the Jordan River, suggesting he held a position of clan authority within the Gadite settlement in the land. Beyond this genealogical notation, no further biographical details are preserved.

Significance

Though briefly mentioned, this Eber represents the administrative and tribal leadership structure that sustained Israelite identity in the Transjordanian territories during the divided monarchy period. The Gadite chiefs listed in 1 Chronicles 5 held responsibility for maintaining covenant community life in a geographically exposed region. The Chronicler's interest in preserving their names reflects the theological conviction that every tribe and every leader within Israel held significance before God, even those in distant or peripheral territories. Their eventual exile, recorded in 1 Chronicles 5:26, serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of unfaithfulness to the covenant.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherSalahChildJoktanChildPeleg

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 5:13

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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