Who was Eliel in the Bible?

Eliel was a descendant of Shashak from the tribe of Benjamin, mentioned in a genealogical list in the Old Testament. He is listed among the heads of families living in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 8:20-22).

What is the significance of Eliel in the Bible?

Eliel's significance lies in his inclusion in the genealogy of Benjamin, which helped preserve the tribal lineage and identity of God's people. His mention underscores the importance of family heritage and God's faithfulness to His covenant promises through specific lineages.

What key events was Eliel involved in?

The Bible does not record specific events in Eliel's life. His mention is purely genealogical, identifying him as a family head who lived in Jerusalem during the time the chronicles were compiled (1 Chronicles 8:20-28).

Eliel

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon of shashak

Eliel was a descendant of Shashak from the tribe of Benjamin.

Eliel

Biography

Eliel son of Shashak is named in the Benjamite genealogy of 1 Chronicles 8:22, among the heads of families who lived in Jerusalem during the period of the Israelite monarchy. Shashak himself headed a significant Benjamite clan (1 Chronicles 8:14), and Eliel's listing as one of his sons places him within an established family of tribal leaders. The tribe of Benjamin occupied a uniquely strategic position in Israel's history, providing Israel's first king (Saul), inhabiting territory that straddled the northern and southern kingdoms, and hosting the holy city of Jerusalem on its border. As a Benjamite family head in Jerusalem, Eliel would have participated in the civic and religious life of the capital city. His preservation in the Chronicler's record honors his role in sustaining tribal continuity.

Significance

Eliel son of Shashak contributes to the Chronicler's broader project of demonstrating the unbroken continuity of God's people across centuries of turbulent history. The Benjamite genealogies in 1 Chronicles 8 serve the post-exilic community by anchoring their identity in a detailed family history that spans the monarchy period. Theologically, these records affirm that God's covenant faithfulness extends to ordinary family heads, not only to kings and prophets. Eliel's place in the lineage of Shashak points to the importance of faithful stewardship of one's family heritage within the covenant community, a contribution that may seem modest but proves essential to the preservation of God's people across generations.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 8:22

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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