Who was Zecher in the Bible?

Zecher, also called Zechariah, was a son of Abiel (also known as Jeiel) and is recorded as the father or founder of the town of Gibeon (1 Chronicles 8:31; 9:37). He was a Benjamite, part of the lineage of King Saul.

Why is Zecher significant in the Bible?

Zecher's primary significance is genealogical, as his mention establishes the lineage of Saul and connects the important town of Gibeon to the tribe of Benjamin. His record helps trace the family history of Israel's first king.

What key events was Zecher involved in?

The Bible does not record specific events in Zecher's life. His mention is solely within genealogical lists, identifying him as a foundational figure for Gibeon and an ancestor in Saul's family line (1 Chronicles 8:29-40).

Zecher

Old TestamentUnited MonarchyMaleSon

Zecher (or Zechariah), a son of Abiel (or 'Jeiel'), the father (and founder) of Gibeon (1Ch.8.31; 9.37).

Zecher

Biography

Zecher (rendered Zechariah in the parallel text of 1 Chr. 9:37) was a son of Jeiel, the ancestral founder of Gibeon, and is listed among the Benjaminite genealogies preserved in 1 Chronicles 8:31. He was a member of the extended family of Saul, the first king of Israel, placing him within one of the most prominent Benjaminite clans of the early monarchy period. The Gibeonite Benjaminites had deep historical significance in Israel, and Jeiel's family evidently held considerable social standing in the tribe. Zecher's name, meaning "remembrance," was likely a theologically meaningful designation within a family that traced its ancestry to one of Benjamin's leading households.

Significance

Though Zecher appears only in a genealogical list, his inclusion in Chronicles reflects the sacred importance that the biblical writers attached to tribal lineage and ancestral memory. As a member of Saul's extended family, his ancestry connected him to the story of Israel's first monarchy, a complex chapter in which God's grace accommodated human desire for kingship even while warning of its consequences. The Chronicler's preservation of these family records served a vital theological purpose: assuring the post-exilic community that the full fabric of Israelite identity, including the Benjaminite heritage, had been preserved and that God's purposes for his people encompassed every tribe and clan.

Authority Records

Wikidata

SiblingAhioSiblingZur

Verse Appearances (2)

1Chr

1Chr 8:31 1Chr 9:37

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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