Who was Naham in the Bible?

Naham was the brother of Hodiah and the father of the founder of Keilah, a city associated with the Garmite clan. He is mentioned only in a genealogical list in 1 Chronicles 4:19.

What is the significance of Naham's son founding Keilah?

It connects Naham's lineage to the city of Keilah, a location later mentioned in the story of David (1 Samuel 23:1-13). This establishes his family's role in the tribal geography and history of Judah.

Why is Naham's mention in the Bible important?

Even brief mentions like Naham's help preserve the genealogical record of Judah, showing God's faithfulness to His covenant people through specific family lines. It highlights that every individual in God's plan has a purpose, however small their recorded role may seem.

Naham

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleBrother

Naham, the brother of Hodiah whose son founded Keilah the Garmite city.

Naham

Biography

Naham appears in the genealogical records of the tribe of Judah in 1 Chronicles 4:19. The verse's Hebrew syntax is notoriously difficult, and translations vary considerably, but Naham is generally understood as the brother of Hodiah's wife, connected to the family lines that founded Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite. These were settlements in the southern hill country of Judah that played roles in Israel's later history; Keilah, for instance, appears in the narrative of David's flight from Saul (1 Samuel 23:1-13). Naham's family connections thus link him to the establishment of significant communities within Judah's tribal territory. The genealogical context suggests that his family was involved in the settlement and administration of towns in the Judahite hill country, contributing to the social infrastructure of the tribe.

Significance

Naham represents the often unrecognized figures who contributed to building the communal life of ancient Israel through family networks and the founding of towns. The settlements associated with his lineage, particularly Keilah and Eshtemoa, became places where Israel's history unfolded in significant ways. His inclusion in the Chronicler's genealogy reflects the theological conviction that God works through family relationships and community structures to establish his people in the land of promise. The careful recording of such connections served the post-exilic community by reaffirming their ancestral claims and their continuity with pre-exilic Israel. Naham's brief mention thus participates in the broader Chronicler's theology that every family line contributes to the corporate identity of God's covenant people.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 4:19

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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