Jerimoth
Jerimoth was a son of King David and Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, David's brother.
Biography
Jerimoth was a son of King David, mentioned in 2 Chronicles 11:18 in connection with the marital politics of the divided monarchy. His daughter Mahalath became the first wife of Rehoboam, David's grandson, who became king of Judah after Solomon's death. Jerimoth's mother is unnamed in the genealogies, suggesting he may have been born of a concubine or secondary wife of David rather than one of his principal queens. Nevertheless, his lineage mattered enough to be recorded because of the dynastic connection his daughter created. Through Mahalath's marriage to Rehoboam, Jerimoth became a familial link between the Davidic line across generations, his bloodline woven into the Judahite royal succession.
Significance
Jerimoth's significance lies primarily in his dynastic function as a connecting figure within the house of David. His daughter Mahalath's marriage to Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:18) reinforced the Davidic line at a moment of political crisis, the kingdom had just fractured following Solomon's death. That Rehoboam chose a granddaughter of David as his first wife may reflect a deliberate effort to legitimize his reign through pure Davidic descent. Theologically, Jerimoth's obscure lineage being preserved in Scripture affirms that God's redemptive plan through the Davidic covenant operated through all branches of David's extended family, not only its most prominent members.
Verse Appearances (1)
2Chr
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]