Lexical Summary Eshton: Eshton Original Word: אֶשְׁתּוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Eshton Probably from the same as Shuwniy; restful; Eshton, an Israelite -- Eshton. see HEBREW Shuwniy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition an Isr. NASB Translation Eshton (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶשְׁתּוֺן proper name, masculine a man of Judah (perhaps from אֵשֶׁת = effeminate or uxorious) 1 Chronicles 4:11,12. Topical Lexicon Genealogical Context Eshton appears within the chronicler’s carefully ordered record of the tribe of Judah. Nestled between the account of Caleb’s descendants and the exploits of Jabez, the brief notice in 1 Chronicles 4:11–12 affirms that Eshton belongs to the post-Exodus generation that settled in southern Judah. By situating him in this portion of the genealogy, Scripture silently reminds readers that every individual, however obscure, is known to God and named in His unfolding redemptive story. Family Connections 1 Chronicles 4:11–12 reads: “Chelub the brother of Shuhah was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. Eshton was the father of Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, the father of Ir-nahash. These were the men of Recah.” Eshton is the grandson of Chelub and the father or clan-founder of three sons whose own descendants established settlements. The structure “was the father of” points to more than biological descent; it signals the founding of family groups that would possess and cultivate specific tracts of Judahite territory. Thus Eshton serves as a link in a covenant chain, ensuring both land tenure and tribal continuity. Geographical Associations The closing statement, “These were the men of Recah,” places Eshton’s line in or near a locale called Recah, unidentified today yet almost certainly situated in the Shephelah or southern hill country. The toponyms tied to his sons—Beth-rapha (“House of Healing”), Ir-nahash (“City of the Serpent”), and the clan of Paseah—suggest hamlets or fortified villages that dotted Judah’s agricultural heartland. Through Eshton, therefore, a slice of regional history is preserved: families laboring, worshiping, and defending covenant land in anticipation of the promised King from Judah. Relationship to Broader Biblical History Although Eshton’s name surfaces only twice, his placement in Judah’s lineage bears quiet Messianic import. Judah is the royal tribe (Genesis 49:10), and the chronicler’s meticulous preservation of minor figures like Eshton highlights the divine faithfulness that safeguarded the Davidic line generation after generation. In this way, Eshton’s mention magnifies God’s providence, not the man’s prominence. Spiritual Lessons 1. God values the obscure. The Spirit inspired the chronicler to record Eshton’s name, demonstrating that the Lord of history attends to every faithful household (cf. Malachi 3:16). Typological Foreshadowings Eshton’s role as a builder of houses and towns anticipates the ultimate “greater Son of Judah,” Jesus Christ, who declares, “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18). Just as Eshton’s offspring occupied literal dwellings that advanced Judah’s heritage, so Christ’s redeemed people are “being built together into a dwelling place for God” (Ephesians 2:22). Application for Today Pastors and teachers may draw on Eshton’s example when encouraging congregations engaged in church planting, missions, or local community work. His brief yet honorable citation in Scripture affirms that work done for the Lord—though seemingly small—echoes into eternity and contributes to the larger narrative of God’s kingdom. Forms and Transliterations אֶשְׁתּֽוֹן׃ אשתון׃ וְאֶשְׁתּ֗וֹן ואשתון ’eš·tō·wn ’eštōwn eshTon veeshTon wə’eštōwn wə·’eš·tō·wnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 4:11 HEB: ה֖וּא אֲבִ֥י אֶשְׁתּֽוֹן׃ NAS: who was the father of Eshton. KJV: which [was] the father of Eshton. INT: who was the father of Eshton 1 Chronicles 4:12 2 Occurrences |
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