Who was Zechariah in the Bible?

Zechariah, son of Obadiah, was the leader of the half-tribe of Manasseh that settled east of the Jordan River in Gilead. He served as a military commander and officer during the reign of King David (1 Chronicles 27:21).

What did Zechariah do in the Bible?

His primary role was as a tribal leader responsible for 24,000 men from his tribe for one month of each year, as part of King David's organized military divisions. This is recorded in the list of David's army commanders in 1 Chronicles 27.

Why is Zechariah, son of Obadiah, significant?

He represents the fulfillment of God's promise to the tribe of Manasseh, giving them an inheritance in Gilead. His inclusion in David's military organization highlights the unity and administrative structure of the kingdom at its peak.

Zechariah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleLeader

Zechariah, son of Obadiah, was the leader of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead during the reign of David.

Zechariah

Biography

This Zechariah, son of Obadiah, served as the leader of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead during King David's reign (1 Chronicles 27:21). He is listed among the officers responsible for administering the various tribal divisions of Israel, reflecting the sophisticated governmental structure David established to consolidate the kingdom. While details of his personal life are not recorded, his position placed him among a cadre of capable tribal leaders who helped transform Israel from a loose confederation into a centralized monarchy. His appointment signals that David valued capable and trustworthy men from Transjordanian Manasseh as integral to unified national governance rather than treating the eastern tribes as peripheral.

Significance

Zechariah son of Obadiah represents the often-overlooked administrative backbone of David's kingdom. His inclusion in 1 Chronicles 27 reflects the Chronicler's theological concern for demonstrating that all twelve tribes, including those east of the Jordan, participated fully in the covenant community organized around God's chosen king. His role signals that God's blessing upon David extended across the entire land promised to Abraham's descendants. Such figures remind readers that faithful governance and order are themselves expressions of covenant fidelity, that ordinary service in one's appointed station can be an act of devotion to God and community.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 27:21

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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