Who was Eleasah in the Bible?

Eleasah, also called Eshek, was a descendant of King Saul and his son Jonathan, specifically noted as the son of Rapha. He is listed in the genealogical records of the tribe of Benjamin found in 1 Chronicles.

Why is Eleasah (Eshek) significant in the Bible?

His significance lies in his genealogical connection, preserving the lineage of Saul's family after its fall. This shows God's faithfulness in maintaining a remnant of the royal line, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 8:33-40 and 9:39-44.

What key events was Eleasah involved in?

The Bible does not record specific events in Eleasah's life. His mention is purely genealogical, serving to document the continuation of Saul's family line through the generations following his reign.

Eleasah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Eleasah, also known as Eshek, was a descendant of Saul and Jonathan, the son of Rapha.

Eleasah

Biography

This Eleasah was a descendant of Saul and Jonathan from the tribe of Benjamin, recorded in the extended genealogy of Saul's royal line in 1 Chronicles 8:37 and 9:43. He is identified as the son of Rapha (or Raphah), and his lineage traces back through Meribbaal (also known as Mephibosheth), the crippled son of Jonathan whom David showed steadfast love for the sake of his father (2 Samuel 9). The Chronicler's careful preservation of Saul's descendants reflects a nuanced appreciation for the Benjamite royal house even after the Davidic dynasty superseded it. Eleasah's name, meaning 'God has made,' appears in a genealogy that documents how Saul's line continued for many generations despite the kingdom's transfer to David, with these descendants maintaining their tribal and ancestral identity through centuries of Israelite history.

Significance

The preservation of Eleasah's name in Saul's extended genealogy serves a profound theological purpose in the Chronicler's narrative. After Saul's tragic end, God's covenant faithfulness to David did not erase the continuity of Saul's descendants, and David's own covenant of kindness toward Mephibosheth established a pattern of grace that mirrored God's enduring faithfulness. The survival and naming of figures like Eleasah in Benjamin's genealogy affirms that even dynasties which fall from divine favor retain their human dignity and historical continuity. These names also remind the post-exilic community reading Chronicles that God's covenant faithfulness outlasts political catastrophe, a deeply relevant message for those rebuilding Israel after the Babylonian exile.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherHelezChildSisamai

Verse Appearances (3)

1Chr

1Chr 8:37 1Chr 8:39 1Chr 9:43

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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