Who was Gedor in the Bible?

Gedor was a son of Abiel (also called Jeiel) and a descendant of Benjamin. He is listed as a re-founder or father of the town of Gibeon and is an ancestor of King Saul (1 Chronicles 8:31, 9:37).

Why is Gedor significant?

Gedor's significance lies in his genealogical connection to King Saul, Israel's first king. His role as a 'father' of Gibeon helps establish the tribal and geographic heritage of Saul's family line.

What key events was Gedor involved in?

The Bible records no specific events in Gedor's life. His mention is purely genealogical, serving to trace the lineage from Benjamin through Gibeon to King Saul in the books of Chronicles.

Gedor

Old TestamentUnited MonarchyMaleSon

Gedor was a son of Abiel (or 'Jeiel'), the father (ie re-founder) of Gibeon, and an ancestor of King Saul.

Gedor

Biography

Gedor was a member of the Benjaminite clan descended from the re-founder of Gibeon, whose genealogy is preserved in 1 Chronicles 8:31 and 9:37. He was a son of the Gibeonite patriarch Jeiel (also called Abiel in some traditions) and a brother of Kish, Baal, Ner, and Nadab. This lineage places Gedor in the direct ancestral line of King Saul, as Kish, another son in this family, became the father of Israel's first king. Gibeon was a significant city in Benjamin's territory, and its leading families maintained records of distinction through the Chronicles' genealogies. Gedor himself is noted only by name in these lists, with no personal narrative attached, but his position in the family tree of Israel's first royal dynasty gives him an important place in the unfolding of Israel's monarchic history.

Significance

Gedor's place in the Benjaminite genealogy (1 Chronicles 8:31; 9:37) derives its theological importance from his proximity to the Saulide royal line. As an uncle of Kish and thus a great-uncle of King Saul, he belongs to the family through whom God established Israel's first monarchy. The genealogies of Chronicles are not merely historical records; they demonstrate how ordinary families become vessels of extraordinary divine purposes. Gedor's name preserved in Scripture alongside his illustrious relatives affirms that God's redemptive plans involve entire family networks, not just solitary heroes. His lineage points forward to God's ultimate provision of a king after his own heart through the Davidic dynasty that would succeed Saul.

Verse Appearances (2)

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 8:31 1 Chronicles 9:37

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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