Lexical Summary Chasrah: Lack, Deficiency Original Word: חַסְרָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hasrah From chacer; want -- Chasrah, an Israelite -- Hasrah. see HEBREW chacer NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chaser Definition an Isr. NASB Translation Hasrah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חַסְרָה proper name, masculine grandfather of Shallum who was husband of Huldah the prophetess (ᵐ5 A Εσσερη, ᵐ5L Ασερ) = חַרְחַם 2 Kings 22:14 (ᵐ5 Αραας, ᵐ5L Αδρα). Topical Lexicon Identifying the PersonHasrah (חַסְרָה) appears once in the canonical text, in 2 Chronicles 34:22, as the grandfather of Shallum, the husband of Huldah the prophetess. The parallel narrative in 2 Kings 22:14 calls the same ancestor “Harhas,” a common orthographic variation. Although only a brief genealogical mention, placing Hasrah within the small circle of Josiah’s court servants links him to one of the most pivotal reform movements in Judah’s history. Place within the Royal Administration Shallum, Hasrah’s grandson, is described as “keeper of the wardrobe.” This office supervised the royal garments, priestly vestments, and ceremonial textiles stored in the temple precincts (compare Exodus 28:2; 2 Chronicles 34:22). The family’s proximity to sacred objects and priestly garments suggests that Hasrah’s household enjoyed a trusted, semi-Levitical status, though not explicitly called Levites. Their duties would have required meticulous attention to purity regulations (Leviticus 16:32-33) and familiarity with the ordinances governing temple service. Connection to Huldah the Prophetess Hasrah’s name is preserved primarily because of Huldah. When Josiah’s envoys sought prophetic confirmation after the discovery of “the Book of the Law” (2 Chronicles 34:14-21), they approached her: “So Hilkiah and those the king had sent went and spoke to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.” (2 Chronicles 34:22) Through Huldah the LORD authenticated the covenant curses and blessings already inscribed in Torah, demonstrating that true prophetic authority aligns perfectly with written revelation (Deuteronomy 18:18-22). Hasrah’s lineage therefore stands at the intersection of prophetic proclamation and scriptural reformation. Historical Setting: Josiah’s Reformation Josiah ascended the throne amid rampant idolatry (2 Kings 21). In the eighteenth year of his reign, the rediscovery of the Law precipitated sweeping covenant renewal. The wardrobe office would have supplied priestly garments for the Passover and other restored festivals (2 Chronicles 35:1-19). Hasrah’s family, by virtue of its vocational post, helped facilitate the visible expression of Josiah’s renewed obedience. Theological Significance 1. Scriptural Consistency The Chronicles account preserves Hasrah’s name, while Kings preserves a phonetic variant. Together they testify to the complementary nature of parallel passages: the same historical core, distinct yet harmonious details (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:1). 2. Providence in Hidden Lives Though Hasrah’s personal deeds are unrecorded, his family context shaped instruments God would use—namely Huldah’s prophetic voice that confirmed the authority of Scripture during a national crisis. The episode illustrates 1 Corinthians 1:27-29: God often advances His purposes through obscure individuals. 3. Custodianship of Holiness The wardrobe keeper’s charge underscores the biblical pattern that physical objects associated with worship point to spiritual realities (Hebrews 8:5). Hasrah’s household guarded garments foreshadowing the believer’s need to be “clothed with Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Practical Ministry Applications • Faithfulness in Ordinary Callings Even seemingly minor roles—keeping garments or being remembered only by name—serve the redemptive plan when carried out with integrity (Colossians 3:23). • Encouragement for Intergenerational Influence Hasrah’s legacy reached his grandson’s wife, whose prophetic courage aided national revival. Parents and grandparents shape future ministries often unseen in their own lifetimes (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). • Validity of Female Prophetic Ministry Huldah’s prominence within Hasrah’s family affirms that God gifts both men and women for vital tasks, while maintaining divinely ordered structures (Acts 2:17-18). Summary Hasrah emerges in Scripture as a silent yet significant link in the chain of Josiah’s reform—a humble ancestor whose family was located at the conjunction of temple service, prophetic revelation, and covenant renewal. His solitary mention invites the reader to consider how the Lord weaves even the quiet, background lives of His servants into the grand tapestry of redemption. Forms and Transliterations חַסְרָה֙ חסרה chasRah ḥas·rāh ḥasrāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Chronicles 34:22 HEB: ק) בֶּן־ חַסְרָה֙ שׁוֹמֵ֣ר הַבְּגָדִ֔ים NAS: the son of Hasrah, the keeper KJV: the son of Hasrah, keeper INT: border the son of Hasrah the keeper of the wardrobe 1 Occurrence |
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