Lexical Summary Eliam: Eliam Original Word: אֱלִיעָם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Eliam From 'el and am; God of (the) people; Eliam, an Israelite -- Eliam. see HEBREW 'el see HEBREW am NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom el and am Definition "God is kinsman," an Isr. name NASB Translation Eliam (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֱלִיעָם proper name, masculine (God is kinsman; < = El is kinsman (see GrayEncy. Bib. AMMI, NAMES WITH Nöib. NAMES, § 46) Phoenician אלעם) a. father of Bathsheba 2 Samuel 11:3; compare עַמִּיאֵל 1 Chronicles 3:5. b. one of David's heroes 2 Samuel 23:34 (according to some = a). Topical Lexicon Occurrences Eliam is named twice in the historical books of Samuel: • 2 Samuel 11:3 – “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” A parallel genealogy in 1 Chronicles 3:5 calls Bathsheba “the daughter of Ammiel,” a transposition of the same two Hebrew elements; the man is universally understood to be Eliam. Family Connections 1. Father of Bathsheba. Through Bathsheba, Eliam stands in the direct ancestral line of Solomon (2 Samuel 12:24) and thus of the Messianic genealogy recorded in Matthew 1:6. Service in David’s Kingdom Listed among “the thirty,” Eliam was one of David’s elite soldiers (2 Samuel 23:8–39). The honor indicates proven courage, loyalty, and years of faithful military service. While Scripture gives no details of his exploits, inclusion in this roster aligns him with figures such as Benaiah, Abishai, and Uriah the Hittite. Personal Honor Tested by Royal Sin David’s adultery with Bathsheba and the engineered death of Uriah (2 Samuel 11) violated Eliam on multiple levels: • As Bathsheba’s father, he suffered the dishonor of his daughter’s seduction. The narrative leaves Eliam silent, yet his continued naming among the loyal Thirty implies perseverance in duty despite personal grief. Theological and Ethical Observations 1. Covenant Accountability. David’s sin was not merely private; it wounded covenant relationships reaching into Eliam’s household and the army at large, illustrating the communal impact of personal transgression. Lessons for Believers • Faithfulness under Trial. Eliam’s silence and continued service portray steadfast loyalty even when authority fails. Summary Eliam emerges from only two verses as a man of valor, a father entwined in royal scandal, and a pivotal link in redemptive history. His life invites reflection on the far-reaching effects of sin, the cost of loyalty, and the unwavering faithfulness of God who weaves broken accounts into His perfect plan. Forms and Transliterations אֱלִיעָ֔ם אֱלִיעָ֥ם אליעם ’ĕ·lî·‘ām ’ĕlî‘ām eliAmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 11:3 HEB: שֶׁ֣בַע בַּת־ אֱלִיעָ֔ם אֵ֖שֶׁת אוּרִיָּ֥ה NAS: the daughter of Eliam, the wife KJV: the daughter of Eliam, the wife INT: Bathsheba the daughter of Eliam the wife of Uriah 2 Samuel 23:34 2 Occurrences |