Tarea
Tarea, also called Tahrea, was a son of Micah and grandson of Mephibosheth.
Biography
Tarea, also known by the variant name Tahrea in 1 Chronicles 9:41, was a son of Micah and great-grandson of Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan who was shown covenant kindness by David (2 Samuel 4:4; 9:1–13). Tarea appears in the genealogy of Saul's descendants recorded in 1 Chronicles 8:35, tracing how the line of the fallen Saulide house continued through subsequent generations. His existence confirms that Saul's family line persisted beyond the tumultuous transition of power from the house of Saul to the house of David, surviving through the protected descendants of Jonathan. Tarea's name and position in the genealogy indicate he lived during or shortly after the reign of David.
Significance
Tarea's place in the genealogy of Saul's descendants carries theological resonance in the context of David's covenantal loyalty to Jonathan's family. The survival and continuation of Mephibosheth's line, through Micah, Tarea, and subsequent descendants, is itself a testimony to the power of covenant faithfulness. David had sworn kindness to Jonathan's household for Jonathan's sake (1 Samuel 20:14–17), and the listing of Tarea in Chronicles confirms that this lineage endured. His genealogical presence reminds readers that God's covenant purposes and human promises of hesed (steadfast love) have lasting generational consequences, preserving families across time in ways that transcend political upheaval.
Verse Appearances (2)
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]