Lexical Summary Chuwray: Hurai Original Word: חוּרַי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hurai Probably an orthographical variation for Chuwriy; Churai, an Israelite -- Hurai. see HEBREW Chuwriy Brown-Driver-Briggs חוּרַי proper name, masculine a hero of David מִנַּחֲלֵי ׳ח גָעַשׁ 1 Chronicles 11:32 ᵐ5 Ουρ(ε)ι, ᵐ5L Ουριὰ = הִדֶּי 2 Samuel 23:30 (omitted by B; A Αθθαι, ᵐ5L Αδδαι). Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Hurai appears once in the Old Testament, in the roster of David’s elite warriors: “Hurai from the ravines of Gaash” (1 Chronicles 11:32). The parallel list in 2 Samuel 23:30 reads “Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash,” indicating a textual variant of the same individual. Placement among David’s Mighty Men The Chronicler situates Hurai within “the Thirty,” the corps of seasoned fighters who distinguished themselves after the three foremost champions (1 Chronicles 11:11-25). These men rallied to David during seasons of hardship and later formed the backbone of the united monarchy’s military leadership. Hurai’s inclusion highlights both his personal valor and his unqualified commitment to the Lord’s anointed king. Geographical Origin: The Ravines of Gaash Gaash lies in the hill country of Ephraim, near the site where Joshua was buried (Joshua 24:30; Judges 2:9). The “ravines” (or “brooks”) denote steep wadis cut into the limestone terrain, watered by seasonal streams. Hurai therefore hailed from a rugged landscape that naturally forged resilience and familiarity with guerrilla tactics—qualities prized among David’s band of fugitives during conflict with Saul (Psalm 57 superscription). Historical and Redemptive Significance 1. Continuity of Covenant Leadership: Joshua’s burial near Gaash closes the era of conquest; Hurai’s emergence from the same region shows the continuing supply of faithful warriors to advance God’s kingdom purposes under David. Ministry Lessons from Hurai • Faithfulness in Obscurity: Scripture records no exploits beyond his name, yet the Spirit immortalizes Hurai among the mighty. Hidden service is seen and rewarded by God (Matthew 6:4). Intertextual Notes and Textual Variants The Chronicles reading “Hurai” and the Samuel reading “Hiddai” likely represent dialectal spelling or scribal preservation of different pronunciations. The variation carries no doctrinal weight and underscores the meticulous preservation of the historical record without compromising its integrity. Legacy and Later Tradition While extra-biblical literature adds nothing further about Hurai, his single mention serves as a memorial that the Lord “is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name” (Hebrews 6:10). Hurai’s legacy encourages believers that every act of courage in Christ’s service, whether recorded or unseen, contributes to the unfolding account of redemption. Forms and Transliterations חוּרַי֙ חורי chuRai ḥū·ray ḥūrayLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 11:32 HEB: חוּרַי֙ מִנַּ֣חֲלֵי גָ֔עַשׁ NAS: Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, KJV: Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, INT: Hurai of the brooks of Gaash |
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