Who was Shaharaim in the Bible?

Shaharaim was a man from the tribe of Benjamin, mentioned in the genealogy of 1 Chronicles. He is noted for having two wives, Hushim and Baara, whom he later sent away (1 Chronicles 8:8).

Why did Shaharaim send his wives away?

The Bible does not explicitly state why Shaharaim sent his wives Hushim and Baara away. His brief mention in 1 Chronicles 8:8-11 focuses on his lineage and the children he fathered after this event, not the reason for it.

What is the significance of Shaharaim in the Bible?

Shaharaim's primary significance is genealogical, as his record in 1 Chronicles 8 helps trace the lineage of the tribe of Benjamin. His story, though brief, illustrates the complex family structures recorded in Israel's history.

Shaharaim

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleFather of jobab

Shaharaim, a Benjamite, had two wives, Hushim and Baara, and he sent them away.

Shaharaim

Biography

Shaharaim was a Benjamite patriarch whose genealogical record appears in 1 Chronicles 8:8–12. His account is notable for its domestic complexity: having dismissed two wives, Hushim and Baara, he subsequently fathered children in the region of Moab through a third wife, Hodesh. His sons included Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah, all listed as heads of ancestral houses. Another son, Elpaal, became the father of descendants who settled in Ono and Lod. Shaharaim's lineage is recorded as part of the broader genealogies connecting the tribe of Benjamin to its post-exilic communities. While he receives no direct narrative elaboration beyond the genealogical text, his record illustrates the complex family structures and geographic dispersions that characterized Israelite tribal life during the era of the divided monarchy.

Significance

Shaharaim's genealogical entry in 1 Chronicles 8 contributes to the Chronicler's larger theological project of establishing continuity between Israel's ancient tribal heritage and its post-exilic community. By tracing Benjamite lineages with care, the Chronicler affirms God's faithfulness in preserving the people of the covenant through generations of upheaval, displacement, and domestic disruption. Shaharaim's complex marital history, recorded without explicit moral commentary, reminds readers that Scripture honestly documents the human complexity of covenant families. His descendants' settlement patterns, reaching as far as Moab, also anticipate the wide geographic reach of Israelite communities, reflecting God's providential preservation of His people beyond the borders of the promised land.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 8:8

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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