Jakim
Jakim was a Benjamite, the son of Shimei, mentioned in a genealogy.
Biography
Jakim the Benjamite was the son of Shimei, listed in the genealogical register of 1 Chronicles 8:19 among the sons and descendants of Benjamin who settled in Jerusalem. The Chronicler's genealogy of Benjamin is particularly detailed, reflecting both the importance of the tribe, as the tribe of Saul and the dominant tribe of the post-exilic Jerusalem community, and the complexity of its clan structures. Jakim appears within a subdivision of the Benjamite families, his name preserved as a link in the chain of descent connecting Benjamin's patriarchal origins to the community that returned from Babylonian exile and reconstituted itself in the land.
Significance
Jakim's place in the Benjamite genealogy of 1 Chronicles 8 reflects the Chronicler's comprehensive vision of Israel as a community defined by lineage, land, and covenant. The detailed genealogies of Benjamin in chapters 8–9 serve the post-exilic community by affirming that even the smallest clans have a recognized place in Israel's story. For returning exiles wondering whether they truly belonged in the land, such genealogical records were not mere historical curiosity, they were declarations of identity and legitimacy. Jakim's name, preserved across centuries in the sacred record, exemplifies the biblical conviction that no one within the covenant community is forgotten by God or by the community's collective memory.
Verse Appearances (1)
1Chr
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]