Lexical Summary Acharchel: Acharchel Original Word: אֲחַרְחֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Aharhel, From 'achar and cheyl; behind (the) intrenchment (i.e. Safe); Acharchel, an Israelite -- Aharhel, see HEBREW 'achar see HEBREW cheyl NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom achar Definition a desc. of Judah NASB Translation Aharhel (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֲחַרְחֵל proper name, masculine apparently a descendant of Judah 1 Chronicles 4:8 (derivation & meaning dubious) Topical Lexicon Biblical setting Aharhel appears once, within the chronicler’s record of the descendants of Judah: “Koz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the clans of Aharhel son of Harum” (1 Chronicles 4:8). The verse sits in a larger genealogy that traces Judah’s posterity from the patriarch himself (1 Chronicles 4:1) through post-exilic times. Its immediate neighbors include the prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:9-10), which highlights faith and blessing amid an otherwise sparse catalog of names. Genealogical context 1 Chronicles 4:8 lists four entities: Koz, Anub, Zobebah, and the “families” (mishpachoth) of Aharhel. The structure indicates that Koz is the progenitor, Anub and Zobebah are two of his sons, and the families descending from Aharhel son of Harum form a third branch. Thus Aharhel designates a clan leader whose descendants formed a recognized sub-tribal grouping in Judah. Such clan lists served practical purposes—land allotment (Joshua 15), military organization (1 Chronicles 27), and priestly or Levitical rotation (Nehemiah 12)—and the chronicler preserves them to reassure the post-exilic community that its tribal identity remains intact. Historical background Although the genealogy reaches back to Judah, many names in 1 Chronicles 4 belong to the monarchy or later. The mention of Harum, Koz, and Aharhel most likely reflects families living between the settlement of the land and the Babylonian exile. During that era Judah’s clans occupied the hill country south of Jerusalem, including Bethlehem (1 Chronicles 4:4) and other settlements that later supplied warriors to David (1 Chronicles 12:24). Aharhel’s descendants may therefore have contributed to the defense and administration of the southern kingdom. Theological significance 1. Divine faithfulness to covenant promises. By recording even obscure clans such as Aharhel’s, Scripture affirms that every promise to Judah—including the pledge of kingship culminating in Jesus Christ (Genesis 49:10; Matthew 1:3)—stands on verifiable historical lineage. Lessons for ministry • Value every believer. Pastoral care must recognize the worth of those who, like Aharhel, appear only briefly yet are remembered by God (Luke 10:20). Christological connections The tribe of Judah provides the royal line that leads to Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:1-3; Revelation 5:5). Though Aharhel himself is not named in the New Testament genealogy, his inclusion in Judah’s record testifies to the meticulous providence that safeguards the Savior’s ancestry. Every preserved branch, no matter how small, contributes to the authenticated arrival of the Son of David (Romans 1:3). Related references Genesis 46:12; Joshua 15:1-12; 1 Chronicles 2:3-12; 1 Chronicles 4:9-10; Nehemiah 11:4-6; Matthew 1:1-3. Forms and Transliterations אֲחַרְחֵ֖ל אחרחל ’ă·ḥar·ḥêl ’ăḥarḥêl acharChelLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 4:8 HEB: הַצֹּבֵבָ֑ה וּמִשְׁפְּח֥וֹת אֲחַרְחֵ֖ל בֶּן־ הָרֽוּם׃ NAS: and the families of Aharhel the son KJV: and the families of Aharhel the son INT: and Zobebah and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum 1 Occurrence |
    |