Who was Pelatiah in the Bible?

Pelatiah was a leader from the tribe of Simeon who is mentioned in the Old Testament. He is noted for joining a military campaign against the Amalekites during the reign of King Hezekiah (1 Chronicles 4:42-43).

What did Pelatiah do in the Bible?

Pelatiah's primary recorded action was participating in an attack against the Amalekites. He and other Simeonite leaders went to Mount Seir, defeated the remaining Amalekites, and settled in their land (1 Chronicles 4:42-43).

Why is Pelatiah significant in the Bible?

Pelatiah's significance lies in his role as a leader who helped fulfill God's ancient command to oppose the Amalekites (Exodus 17:14-16). His story illustrates the ongoing conflicts and settlement of the Israelite tribes during the monarchy period.

Pelatiah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleLeader

Pelatiah, a Simeonite leader who joined in an attack against the Amalekites.

Pelatiah

Biography

Pelatiah was a Simeonite leader who lived during the era of the Divided Monarchy. According to 1 Chronicles 4:42-43, he was among five hundred men from the tribe of Simeon who mounted a military expedition against the remnant of the Amalekites dwelling in the hill country of Seir. Under the leadership of Pelatiah and his fellow captains Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, these Simeonite warriors successfully defeated the Amalekites and settled in the conquered territory. This campaign represented one of the final recorded conflicts between Israel and the Amalekites, a longstanding enemy of God's people since the wilderness wanderings. Pelatiah's role as a tribal captain demonstrates the continued military organization and territorial expansion of Israel's lesser-known tribes beyond the narratives of Judah and Ephraim.

Significance

Pelatiah's leadership in the campaign against the Amalekites carries theological weight as a fulfillment of God's decree against Amalek first pronounced in Exodus 17:14-16. His military action demonstrates that God's purposes were carried out through faithful obedience across generations, even by lesser-known figures from smaller tribes. The Simeonite expansion into Seir also reflects the broader theme of God's people possessing the land promised to them. Pelatiah reminds readers that God's redemptive plan advances through ordinary leaders whose faithfulness, though briefly recorded, contributes to the unfolding narrative of covenant fulfillment.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 4:42

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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