Who was Ishmerai in the Bible?

Ishmerai was a descendant of the tribe of Benjamin, specifically listed as a son of Elpaal (1 Chronicles 8:18). He is mentioned only in a genealogical record, so no specific events from his life are detailed.

Why is Ishmerai mentioned in the Bible?

Ishmerai's inclusion in the genealogy of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8) shows God's faithfulness in preserving the lineage of His people. His mention helps establish the historical continuity and identity of the tribe from which Israel's first king, Saul, came.

What can we learn from Ishmerai's story?

While no personal story is given, Ishmerai teaches that every individual in God's family has significance, even if only named in a list. It highlights that God values and remembers each person within His covenant community and broader plan.

Ishmerai

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon of elpaal

Ishmerai was a descendant of Benjamin through Elpaal (1Ch.8.18).

Ishmerai

Biography

Ishmerai was a Benjaminite, listed among the descendants of Elpaal in the detailed genealogical record of 1 Chronicles 8:18. The eighth chapter of Chronicles traces Benjamin's tribal lineage with considerable specificity, naming heads of households and their descendants who lived in Jerusalem and its surrounding regions. Ishmerai appears alongside his brothers Izliah and Jobab as sons of Elpaal, within a broader clan structure that populated significant Benjaminite territories. Benjamin was one of the smaller tribes of Israel, yet it held great strategic and religious importance as the tribe that produced Israel's first king, Saul, and that bordered the territory of Judah and Jerusalem. His name, meaning "Yahweh keeps" or "the LORD guards," reflects the theophoric naming tradition common among Israelite families.

Significance

Ishmerai's listing in the Benjaminite genealogy of 1 Chronicles 8 contributes to the Chronicler's broader purpose of anchoring the post-exilic community's identity in its pre-exilic tribal roots. Benjamin was among the tribes that returned from exile, and the careful enumeration of its clans and family heads served to reestablish legitimate claims to ancestral lands and communal roles. The theophoric element in Ishmerai's name, invoking divine guardianship, reflects the deep integration of faith and identity in Israelite naming practices. Even in this minor role, Ishmerai's presence in the biblical record testifies to the completeness of God's knowledge and care for every member of his covenant people.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

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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