Who was Elam in the Bible?

Elam was a son of Shashak, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, as recorded in the genealogical lists of 1 Chronicles 8:24-25. He is mentioned only briefly as part of the lineage of Benjamin's descendants.

What is the significance of Elam in the Bible?

Elam's significance is primarily genealogical, helping to trace the family lines within the tribe of Benjamin. While he is not a major figure, his inclusion shows the meticulous recording of Israel's tribal heritage and family connections.

Are there any key events in Elam's life?

The Bible records no specific events in Elam's life; his mention is limited to his name and lineage. His role is to establish a historical and familial connection within the tribe of Benjamin, as seen in 1 Chronicles 8.

Elam

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Elam was a son of Shashak, from the tribe of Benjamin.

Elam

Biography

This Elam was a son of Shashak, belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, and is listed among the heads of Benjamite families in 1 Chronicles 8:24. The genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 8 catalog the descendants of Benjamin with particular care, reflecting the tribe's continued importance in Israelite history, Benjamin being the tribe of King Saul and closely associated with the territory around Jerusalem. Shashak, Elam's father, is noted as the head of a Benjamite household whose descendants settled in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 8:28). Elam thus belonged to a distinguished line within one of Israel's twelve tribes, his name preserved in the meticulous genealogies that the Chronicler compiled to establish the continuity of God's covenant people through the disruptions of history.

Significance

Elam's place in Benjamin's genealogy highlights the Chronicler's theological concern for the integrity and continuity of Israel's tribal structure. In a post-exilic context, when tribal identities risked being lost or confused after decades of deportation and diaspora, the careful preservation of genealogical records served as an anchor to covenant identity. Benjamin's lineage was particularly significant: the tribe had produced Israel's first king, and their territory encompassed Jerusalem's northern approaches. Each name in Benjamin's genealogy, including Elam, affirmed that the covenant God had made with the twelve tribes was still operative, and that the people reconstituting themselves in the land were the authentic heirs of that covenant promise.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherShemChildShushan (son of Elam)ChildMachul (son of Elam)ChildHarmon (son of Elam)SiblingArpachshadSiblingAramSiblingLudSiblingAshur

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 8:24

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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