Who was Raphah in the Bible?

Raphah, also called Rephaiah, was a descendant of King Saul through his son Jonathan. He is listed as a son of Binea in a genealogy found in 1 Chronicles 9:43.

Why is Raphah (Rephaiah) mentioned in the Bible?

He is mentioned to preserve the genealogical record of the tribe of Benjamin and the lineage of King Saul. This shows God's faithfulness in maintaining the family lines of Israel, even from a rejected king (1 Chronicles 9:39-44).

What is significant about Raphah's life?

No specific events from his life are recorded. His significance lies solely in his place within the genealogy, connecting the past monarchy of Saul to the post-exilic community documented in 1 Chronicles.

Raphah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleKingSon

Raphah (or Rephaiah) was a son of Binea and a descendant of King Saul.

Raphah

Biography

Raphah, also known as Rephaiah in some manuscript traditions, was a descendant of King Saul through the line of Jonathan. He appears in the Benjamite genealogy of 1 Chronicles 8:37 (and paralleled in 9:43) as the son of Binea and the father of Eleasah. His lineage traces through Saul's grandson Merib-baal (Mephibosheth) and continues through several generations, documenting the survival of Saul's royal line well beyond the fall of the first Israelite dynasty. The variant forms of his name (Raphah and Rephaiah) reflect common differences between parallel genealogical lists in Chronicles, a phenomenon well attested in ancient Near Eastern record-keeping. Though no narrative events are associated with Raphah, his genealogical position preserves the memory of Saul's continuing descendants within the tribe of Benjamin.

Significance

Raphah's genealogical record testifies to the survival of Saul's line despite the dynasty's loss of the throne to David. The Chronicler's careful preservation of this lineage served multiple purposes: it honored the first anointed king's family, documented Benjamite tribal identity for the post-exilic community, and demonstrated that God's transfer of kingship to David did not require the annihilation of Saul's house. David's own covenant kindness toward Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9) ensured the continuation of this line. Raphah's inclusion in both genealogical lists of 1 Chronicles 8 and 9 underscores the importance the returning exiles placed on establishing their ancestral connections to pre-exilic Israel.

Verse Appearances (2)

1Chr

1Chr 8:37 1Chr 9:43

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]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources