Who was Zibia in the Bible?

Zibia was a Benjamite, the son of Shaharaim and his wife Hodesh. He was born in the country of Moab, as recorded in the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:9-10).

Why is Zibia mentioned in the Bible?

Zibia is mentioned to preserve the genealogical record of the tribe of Benjamin, showing the lineage of God's people after the exile. His mention, though brief, contributes to the historical continuity of Israel's tribes (1 Chronicles 8:1-40).

What is significant about Zibia being born in Moab?

It indicates that his father, Shaharaim, lived in Moab for a time, possibly during a period of migration or displacement. This detail connects the Benjaminite lineage to the broader historical context of Israel's interactions with neighboring nations.

Zibia

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Zibia was a son of Shaharaim, a Benjamite, born to his wife Hodesh in the country of Moab (1Ch.8.9).

Zibia

Biography

Zibia was a son of Shaharaim, a Benjamite who had settled in the territory of Moab, and his wife Hodesh (1 Chronicles 8:9). The genealogy in which Zibia appears is part of the extended Benjamite lineage recorded in 1 Chronicles 8, which traces the descendants of Benjamin with particular attention to those who settled in various regions beyond the traditional tribal allotment. Shaharaim is a distinctive figure in this list because he had dismissed two previous wives, Hushim and Baara, before fathering children through Hodesh in Moab. Zibia and his brothers were thus born in a foreign land to a complex family situation, yet they are recorded as heads of families and included within the genealogical memory of Benjamin. Nothing further is recorded of Zibia's life or deeds.

Significance

Zibia's inclusion in the Benjamite genealogy, despite his birth in Moab to a family of somewhat irregular circumstances, reflects the biblical commitment to preserving the full genealogical record of the covenant community. The Chronicler's inclusion of names like Zibia underscores that membership in Israel's tribal heritage was determined by lineage and covenant identity, not by geography or personal prominence. His story, like others in these lists, also hints at the diaspora realities faced by Israelite families who settled beyond Canaan's borders, a situation that would become intensely relevant in the exilic and postexilic periods. Even from the margins of Israelite society, families like Zibia's contributed threads to the larger fabric of God's people.

Authority Records

Wikidata

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 8:9

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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