Laadah
Laadah, a son of Shelah and descendant of Judah (1Ch.4.21).
Biography
Laadah was a son of Shelah and a grandson of Judah, listed in 1 Chronicles 4:21 as the father of Mareshah and the ancestor of the families of linen workers at Beth-ashbea. His genealogical entry links him to skilled craftsmen within Judah, families who specialized in the production of fine linen, a valued commodity in the ancient world with applications in both ordinary trade and sacred contexts, as fine linen was used in priestly garments and the tabernacle. Though Laadah himself is not featured in any narrative episode, his descendants' specialized guild of linen workers suggests a family tradition of skilled craftsmanship that persisted across generations, contributing to both the economic and liturgical life of Israel.
Significance
Laadah's mention as the progenitor of linen-working families illuminates an important dimension of biblical vocation theology. The detailed preservation of craft guilds within Judah's genealogies reflects the conviction that skilled work, even weaving, is embedded within God's providential ordering of his people's common life. The production of fine linen had both economic and sacred significance, as linen featured prominently in priestly vestments and the tabernacle furnishings. Laadah's descendants remind readers that faithful vocation, exercised generation after generation in a specific craft, is a legitimate and honored expression of life within the covenant community, contributing to Israel's flourishing in ways that outlast any single individual's lifetime.
Verse Appearances (1)
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]