Ibhar
Ibhar was one of the sons born to David in Jerusalem, as recorded in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles.
Biography
Ibhar was one of the sons born to King David in Jerusalem, following his establishment of the capital and the consolidation of his reign over all Israel. He is listed among David's sons in both 2 Samuel 5:15 and 1 Chronicles 3:6; 14:5, appearing in the catalog of children born to David through his multiple wives after the transfer of the ark to Jerusalem. The name Ibhar means 'he chooses' or 'God chooses,' a theologically suggestive name that may reflect David's sense of divine favor during this prosperous period of his reign. Ibhar is not associated with any narrative events, he does not appear in the succession struggles that later divided David's household. His life belongs to the relatively stable early years of the Davidic monarchy in Jerusalem.
Significance
Ibhar's inclusion in David's family register in Jerusalem carries theological weight as a marker of the covenant's fulfillment. God's promise to David through Nathan (2 Samuel 7) that his dynasty would be established is embodied in the growing household of sons born in Jerusalem. The name Ibhar: 'God chooses', gestures toward the elective grace that undergirded the entire Davidic enterprise. Though Ibhar himself plays no active role in biblical narrative, his place in the royal genealogy represents the human dimension of God's covenantal faithfulness: the promise of an enduring dynasty was being kept one generation at a time, and even the unnamed sons of David bore witness to that ongoing fulfillment.
Verse Appearances (3)
2 Samuel
1 Chronicles
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]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]