Lexical Summary Elad: Elad Original Word: אֶלְעָד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Elead From 'el and uwd; God has testified; Elad, an Israelite -- Elead. see HEBREW 'el see HEBREW uwd NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom el and ud Definition "God has testified," an Ephraimite NASB Translation Elead (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶלְעָד proper name, masculine (God has testified) an Ephraimite 1 Chronicles 7:21. Topical Lexicon Name and Context Elead appears once in the canonical record, embedded in the extensive genealogy of Ephraim in 1 Chronicles 7:20-21. His placement among the “sons of Ephraim” situates him firmly within the tribe that carried both the blessings and the responsibilities associated with Joseph’s younger son (Genesis 48:13-22). Narrative Setting The Chronicler recounts a tragic incident: “Ezer and Elead, the natives of Gath killed them because they had gone down to seize their livestock” (1 Chronicles 7:21). The terse report preserves a family sorrow that rippled through the house of Ephraim. These deaths occur during the era of the Judges or earlier, when inter-tribal and international skirmishes were commonplace in the land. The men “of Gath,” Philistine territory, underscore Ephraim’s proximity to hostile neighbors and foreshadow later clashes between Israel and Philistia. Tribal Significance 1. Corporate Identity: Genealogies in Chronicles aim not merely to list names but to reinforce Israel’s corporate memory after the exile. By naming Elead, the writer anchors post-exilic Ephraim back to its ancestral line. Historical Reflections Elead’s episode illustrates the precariousness of settlement life before Israel’s monarchy: Theological Emphasis 1. Sovereign Providence: Even unnamed Philistines cannot thwart God’s overarching plan for the Messiah, who would eventually emerge from another tribe, Judah. The line of Ephraim endures to contribute prophets like Samuel (if Shiloh tradition is considered) and faithful men of faith (Hebrews 11:32). Ministry Applications • Pastoral Care: Elead’s sudden death legitimizes lament within covenant community life. Comfort is appropriate and God-honoring, not a denial of faith. Legacy in Redemptive History Although Elead leaves no recorded deeds other than the circumstances of his death, his name contributes to the inspired genealogy that validates Ephraim’s inheritance and, by extension, the integrity of the biblical account line. By preserving even this minor thread, Scripture demonstrates the meticulous care of the Holy Spirit in safeguarding every generation until the arrival of the true Firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15). Forms and Transliterations וְאֶלְעָ֑ד ואלעד veelAd wə’el‘āḏ wə·’el·‘āḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 7:21 HEB: בְּנ֖וֹ וְעֵ֣זֶר וְאֶלְעָ֑ד וַהֲרָג֗וּם אַנְשֵׁי־ NAS: and Ezer and Elead whom the men KJV: and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men INT: his son and Ezer and Elead killed the men 1 Occurrence |
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