Who was Malcam in the Bible?

Malcam was a son of Shaharaim, a Benjamite, who was born in the land of Moab. He is listed in a genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin found in 1 Chronicles 8:9.

Why is Malcam mentioned in the Bible?

Malcam is mentioned to preserve the genealogical record of the tribe of Benjamin, showing the lineage of God's people after the exile. His mention, though brief, highlights the survival and continuity of the Israelite tribes.

What is significant about Malcam being born in Moab?

It indicates that his father, Shaharaim, lived or had connections in Moab, a nation often at odds with Israel. This detail shows the complex relationships and movements of Israelites during this period of history.

Malcam

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Malcam was a son of Shaharaim, a Benjamite, born in Moab (1Ch.8.9).

Malcam

Biography

Malcam was a son of Shaharaim, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, born in the land of Moab after Shaharaim had sent away his first wives Hushim and Baara. According to 1 Chronicles 8:8-9, Shaharaim fathered children by his wife Hodesh in Moab, and Malcam was among them, alongside Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, and others. The Benjamite genealogy in 1 Chronicles 8 traces the tribal families that would later settle in Jerusalem and the surrounding territory. Malcam's birth in Moab suggests that some Benjamite families had migrated across the Jordan at various points in Israel's history, possibly during times of conflict or famine. His name, meaning "their king," was relatively common in the ancient Near Eastern onomasticon and is distinct from the Ammonite deity Milcom.

Significance

Malcam's inclusion in the Benjamite genealogies of 1 Chronicles 8 serves the Chronicler's broader purpose of documenting the tribal lineages that constituted the post-exilic community. The Benjamin tribe held special importance as one of the two tribes that remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty after the kingdom divided. By recording families like Malcam's who had connections to Moab, the Chronicler preserved the complex migration patterns of Israelite families while affirming their continued membership in the covenant people. Malcam's story, though brief, contributes to the biblical theme that God maintains his people's identity and lineage even when they dwell outside the Promised Land.

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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