Lexical Summary Misham: Misham Original Word: מִשְׁעָם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Misham Apparently from sha'ah; inspection; Misham, an Israelite -- Misham. see HEBREW sha'ah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as mishi Definition a Benjamite NASB Translation Misham (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִשְׁעָם proper name, masculine name in Benjamin 1 Chronicles 8:12. ᵐ5 Μεσσααμ, ᵐ5L Μεοαμ. מִשְׁעָן, מַשְׁעֵן, מַשְׁעֵנָה, מִשְׁעֶ֫נֶת see שׁען. מִשְׁמָּחָה see שׁפח. מִשְׁמָּט see שׁפט. מִשְׁמְּתַיִם see שׁפת. משׁקֹ (assumed as √ of two following, but wholly dubious). Topical Lexicon Name and Identification Misham (מִשְׁעָם, Strong’s Hebrew 4936) appears once in the Old Testament as a Benjamite listed among the sons of Elpaal. Biblical Occurrence 1 Chronicles 8:12: “The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod, along with their villages.” Genealogical Setting The genealogy in 1 Chronicles chapters 7–9 preserves the tribal identity of Benjamin after the exile. Misham’s placement among the descendants of Elpaal situates him in the same wider family as King Saul (1 Chronicles 8:33). This connection underlines the Chronicler’s concern to show that Benjamin, though small and once nearly destroyed (Judges 20), retained a vital role in Israel’s history. Geographical and Historical Significance The brothers Eber, Misham, and Shemed are credited with building Ono and Lod. These towns lay on the western plain bordering Philistine territory, controlling key approaches to Jerusalem: • Ono (modern Kiryat Ono) guarded the northern route to the coastal highways. By associating Misham with the founding of these towns, Scripture traces Benjamite influence beyond their hill-country inheritance, asserting the tribe’s strategic importance in protecting the land and facilitating later restoration efforts (Nehemiah 11:35). Connection to Later Biblical Narrative Lod re-emerges in the post-exilic period when returning Jews repopulate the region (Ezra 2:33; Nehemiah 7:37). In Acts 9, Peter heals Aeneas at Lydda, and many “turned to the Lord.” Misham’s family legacy therefore reaches from pre-monarchical times through the Second Temple era into the expansion of the early church, demonstrating the continuity of God’s redemptive work across centuries. Theological and Ministry Insights 1. God values individuals whose names surface only briefly. Misham’s single appearance still finds a place in the eternal record, encouraging believers that no act of service is overlooked (Hebrews 6:10). Lessons for Today • Faithfulness in seemingly small roles can have far-reaching impact, just as Misham’s participation in city-building prepared ground for future ministry. Misham, though scarcely mentioned, embodies the biblical truth that every believer’s heritage and labor contribute to the unfolding account of redemption. Forms and Transliterations וּמִשְׁעָ֖ם ומשעם ū·miš·‘ām ūmiš‘ām umishAmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 8:12 HEB: אֶלְפַּ֔עַל עֵ֥בֶר וּמִשְׁעָ֖ם וָשָׁ֑מֶד ה֚וּא NAS: [were] Eber, Misham, and Shemed, KJV: Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, INT: of Elpaal Eber Misham and Shamed who 1 Occurrence |
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