What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 11:28? Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite • 1 Chronicles 11:28 simply states: “Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite.” That brief line matters because it places Ira among David’s elite warriors—men hand-picked for courage and loyalty (cf. 1 Chronicles 11:10–11; 2 Samuel 23:8). • His hometown, Tekoa, lay about ten miles south of Bethlehem. Though a small Judean village, Tekoa keeps surfacing in Scripture: the wise woman of Tekoa helped Joab reach King David’s heart (2 Samuel 14:2–20), and the prophet Amos hailed from there centuries later (Amos 1:1). God loves to raise unexpected servants from out-of-the-way places. • Ira’s father, Ikkesh, receives no further description, yet the chronicler records his name so we know these are real families in real history. Scripture doesn’t pad lists—it preserves truth. • As a mighty man, Ira would have stood with David during the years of Philistine pressure and internal unrest. His name in this roster testifies that faithfulness is noticed by God even when the verse seems only a footnote (Matthew 10:42 reminds us that nothing done for the Lord is forgotten). Abiezer the Anathothite • The verse continues: “Abiezer the Anathothite.” Like Ira, Abiezer appears in the parallel list of 2 Samuel 23:27. Chronicles repeats the record so Israel—and we—remember every soldier who risked his life for God’s king. • Anathoth sat in Benjamin’s territory and belonged to the priestly towns (Joshua 21:18). Centuries later, Jeremiah would be born there (Jeremiah 1:1). Abiezer’s background hints that priests and warriors could come from the same soil, underscoring the unity of worship and warfare in service to the Lord (Nehemiah 4:16–18 shows priests working with swords at their side). • The name Abiezer shows up earlier in Gideon’s time (Judges 6:11, 34), tying the Benjamite town to a heritage of deliverance. Whether or not this Abiezer traced to that line, the echo reminds us that God weaves generations together for His purposes. • By setting Abiezer next to Ira, the text quietly affirms that valor transcends tribe or hometown. Judean Tekoa and Benjamite Anathoth both supply champions, fulfilling the promise that “the LORD saves, not with sword or spear” alone but through obedient hearts (1 Samuel 17:47). summary 1 Chronicles 11:28 looks like a simple roll call—two names, two places—yet it anchors real men in real geography, proving the historical reliability of Scripture and spotlighting the kind of people God honors: ordinary sons from small towns who stand firm with His chosen king. Their mention reminds us that every act of courage in the Lord’s service is recorded by Him and will resound long after the battle is over. |
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