Who was Temeni in the Bible?

Temeni was a descendant of Judah, listed as a son of Ashhur (or Ashur) and his wife Naarah. He is mentioned in a genealogy that traces the lineage of the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:5-6).

Why is Temeni mentioned in the Bible?

Temeni's significance is primarily genealogical, as his inclusion helps establish the lineage and family structure of the tribe of Judah. These records were important for establishing tribal heritage and land rights in ancient Israel.

Are there any stories about Temeni in the Bible?

No, there are no specific stories or key events recorded about Temeni's life. The Bible only mentions his name within a family list, providing no further narrative details about his actions or significance (1 Chronicles 4:5-6).

Temeni

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Temeni was a son of Ashhur (or 'Ashur') and a descendant of Judah.

Temeni

Biography

Temeni is listed in 1 Chronicles 4:6 as one of the sons of Ashhur (also spelled Ashur), a descendant of Judah through Caleb and Hezron. Ashhur is identified as the father of Tekoa, the town in the hill country of Judah that later gained fame as the hometown of the prophet Amos. Temeni's mother was Naarah, one of Ashhur's two wives, who also bore Ahuzzam, Hepher, and Puthite and Shashua among her sons. Like many figures in the Chronicler's genealogies, Temeni receives no further narrative elaboration, but his placement within the Judahite clan lists suggests he was the eponymous ancestor or a notable member of a recognized family group within the tribe of Judah.

Significance

Temeni's importance lies in his structural place within the genealogical framework that the Chronicler uses to establish the legitimate heritage of the tribe of Judah following the devastation of exile. For the post-exilic community reading Chronicles, knowing one's tribal lineage was a matter of communal identity, land rights, and religious standing. Temeni's listing as a son of Ashhur connects him to the heritage of Caleb, a figure celebrated for his wholehearted devotion to God (Numbers 14:24), and to the region of Tekoa, whose cultural and prophetic significance would unfold centuries later. Even unnamed in narrative, figures like Temeni anchored the genealogical memory that sustained Israel's sense of covenantal continuity.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherAshhur

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 4:6

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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