Who was Sheber in the Bible?

Sheber was a son of Caleb, the faithful spy, born to Caleb and his concubine Maacah. He is listed in the genealogical records of the tribe of Judah, specifically in 1 Chronicles 2:48-49.

Why is Sheber mentioned in the Bible?

Sheber's mention is primarily for genealogical significance, establishing the lineage and descendants of Caleb within the tribe of Judah. This helps trace the family lines important for Israel's history and inheritance, as seen in 1 Chronicles 2.

Are there any stories about Sheber in the Bible?

No, the Bible does not record any specific events or stories about Sheber's life. His inclusion is solely within a genealogical list documenting Caleb's family, with no further narrative details provided.

Sheber

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleSon

Sheber was one of the sons born to Caleb and his concubine Maacah, as mentioned in the genealogy of Judah.

Sheber

Biography

Sheber was a son of Caleb by his concubine Maacah, recorded in the genealogical lists of 1 Chronicles 2:48. He appears alongside his brother Tirhanah within the tribal genealogy of Judah, positioned among the descendants of Caleb son of Hezron. Little is narrated about Sheber beyond this genealogical reference, but his inclusion in the Chronicler's extensive tribal records attests that he was regarded as an ancestral figure within the broader Calebite clans of Judah. Caleb son of Hezron was a significant ancestor in the tribe of Judah, and his various wives and concubines produced numerous sons who became founders of clans and settlements throughout the Judahite territory.

Significance

Though Sheber appears only in a genealogical register, his presence in the Chronicler's record carries theological weight. The books of Chronicles were composed to demonstrate God's faithfulness to Israel through the preservation of lineages, particularly those within the messianic tribe of Judah. Even minor figures in these lists represent God's providential sustaining of families through whom his covenant purposes would unfold. Sheber's inclusion reminds readers that God's redemptive plan encompasses entire communities and bloodlines, not merely prominent individuals. The Chronicler's meticulous preservation of such names affirms that no person within God's covenant people is forgotten, a truth that resonates with the New Testament declaration that God knows his own by name.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherCalebMotherMaacah

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 2:48

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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