Who was Jobab in the Bible?

Jobab was a minor figure in the Old Testament, listed as one of the sons born to Shaharaim and his wife Hodesh. He appears in the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:9).

What is the significance of Jobab in the Bible?

Jobab's significance is primarily genealogical, as his mention helps trace the lineage and family structure of the tribe of Benjamin. This was important for establishing tribal heritage and land rights in ancient Israel.

Are there any key events in the life of Jobab?

No specific events in Jobab's life are recorded in the Bible. The single reference to him is a simple listing of his name within a family genealogy, with no narratives or stories provided (1 Chronicles 8:9).

Jobab

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Jobab was one of the sons born to Shaharaim and his wife Hodesh in the genealogy of Benjamin (1Ch.8.9).

Jobab

Biography

Jobab was one of the sons born to Shaharaim and his wife Hodesh in the land of Moab, as recorded in the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin in 1 Chronicles 8:9. Shaharaim had sent away two previous wives, Hushim and Baara, before fathering additional children with Hodesh and another wife, Hushim. The Benjaminite genealogy in which Jobab appears is notably complex, reflecting intermarriages and settlements in different territories, including Moab, which was unusual for an Israelite tribe. Jobab's mention among Shaharaim's sons in 1 Chronicles 8:9 preserves a fragment of tribal history that speaks to the geographic and social range of Benjaminite clans during the monarchic period, even if the specific details of his life and activities remain unrecorded in Scripture.

Significance

Jobab's inclusion in the Benjaminite genealogy of 1 Chronicles 8, though brief, contributes to Scripture's meticulous preservation of tribal lineage within Israel's covenant community. The Chronicles genealogies served a vital function for post-exilic Jews seeking to reestablish communal identity and legitimate tribal claims following the Babylonian captivity. Even peripheral figures like Jobab son of Shaharaim were carefully recorded, reflecting the conviction that every member of Israel's covenant genealogy matters before God. His listing among a family with ties to Moab also hints at the complex, cross-cultural histories embedded within Israel's tribal records, details that broaden our understanding of how Israel's community was shaped over generations.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherJoktanChildAdinahChildEridahSiblingHazarmavethSiblingAlmodadSiblingHadoramSiblingUzalSiblingAbimaelSiblingDikla

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 8:9

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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