Who was Elpaal in the Bible?

Elpaal was a descendant of Benjamin, the son of a man named Shaharaim. He is noted for being the founder or father of several towns, as recorded in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 8:11-12, 18.

What is the significance of Elpaal?

His significance lies in his role as a town-builder, which helped establish the territory and legacy of the tribe of Benjamin. This detail, found in 1 Chronicles 8, highlights how individuals contributed to the growth and settlement of Israel.

What are the key events in Elpaal's life?

The Bible does not record specific narrative events from his life. The key facts are his lineage as a Benjamite, his father Shaharaim, and his founding of the towns of Ono and Lod, along with others (1 Chronicles 8:12).

Elpaal

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Elpaal was a Benjamite, the son of Shaharaim, and the founder of several towns (1Ch.8.11,12,18).

Elpaal

Biography

Elpaal was a Benjamite of notable lineage, recorded as the son of Shaharaim, who had dismissed his wives Hushim and Baara before fathering children through Hodesh in Moab (1 Chronicles 8:8–11). Elpaal and his brother Abitub were born to Hushim. The genealogical record in 1 Chronicles 8:12 and 8:18 attributes to Elpaal's descendants the founding of several towns, including Ono and Lod with their surrounding villages, settlements that carried considerable significance in post-exilic Judah. The breadth of Elpaal's household is underscored by the enumeration of his sons in verses 12 and 18, indicating a family of influence and productivity. As a member of the tribe of Benjamin, Elpaal's lineage connects to the broader heritage of Israel's smallest yet strategically important tribe.

Significance

Elpaal's significance in the biblical record is primarily genealogical and geographic. The towns attributed to his descendants, Ono and Lod, appear again in Nehemiah 6:2 and Ezra 2:33, demonstrating that Elpaal's family left a tangible imprint on the landscape of Canaan that endured centuries beyond his own lifetime. This continuity between pre-exilic genealogies and post-exilic resettlement patterns illustrates how the Chronicler understood Israelite identity as rooted in ancestral inheritance. Elpaal's record reminds readers that God's purposes are worked out through generations of families whose names, though largely obscure, helped form the fabric of Israel's covenant community.

Verse Appearances (3)

1Chr

1Chr 8:11 1Chr 8:12 1Chr 8:18

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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