What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 8:20? Elienai “Elienai, Zillethai, and Eliel” (1 Chronicles 8:20) occurs in a running list of Benjaminite descendants. By the time readers reach Elienai, several things are already clear: • The chronicler is meticulously recording the literal family line of Benjamin (see 1 Chronicles 8:1). • Every individual named—well–known or obscure—confirms God’s covenant promise that Israel would become “a great nation” (Genesis 12:2-3). • Genealogies serve a practical purpose: establishing land rights, priestly eligibility, and tribal identity after the exile (1 Chronicles 9:1-3; Ezra 2:59-63). Taking Elienai at face value means recognizing that God preserves not only famous leaders but also ordinary believers. Just as Luke later traces Jesus’ ancestry name by name (Luke 3:23-38), 1 Chronicles insists that history is anchored in real people whose lives matter to God. Zillethai Zillethai follows immediately, reminding us that continuity depends on succession. A few observations flow from his placement: • The line of Benjamin had nearly been wiped out in Judges 20, yet here it flourishes again—proof of divine preservation (Judges 21:17; Psalm 145:13). • Each successive name reinforces the idea that “the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places” (Psalm 16:6), because covenant promises did not stall with one generation. • In the New Testament, Paul—himself from Benjamin—cites his tribal ancestry to show God’s ongoing faithfulness (Romans 11:1-2; Philippians 3:5). Zillethai and those alongside him form the human chain that makes Paul’s claim possible. Viewed literally, 1 Chronicles 8:20 means that God kept Benjamin alive through concrete people like Zillethai, underscoring that no believer’s life is dispensable (1 Corinthians 12:14-18). Eliel Eliel closes the trio, and his inclusion confirms three themes: • Completeness—by listing multiple sons, the chronicler demonstrates that Benjamin’s clan structure was intact and thriving (1 Chronicles 8:28). • Reliability—just as later historians would rely on these records to repopulate Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:4-7), readers today can trust the factual precision of Scripture (Proverbs 30:5). • Expectation—because the Davidic kingdom encompassed Benjamin (1 Kings 12:21-23), preserving this tribe’s lineage foreshadows messianic fulfillment (Jeremiah 33:20-21; Acts 13:32-33). Therefore, 1 Chronicles 8:20 literally reports that Eliel—a real descendant of Benjamin—stood in the unbroken line through which God advanced His redemptive plan. summary 1 Chronicles 8:20 is more than a random list; it certifies that God kept His word to Abraham and to Israel through identifiable, historical people. Elienai highlights personal value, Zillethai emphasizes continuity, and Eliel underscores reliability. Together they testify that the Lord records every name, preserves every tribe, and moves His salvation plan forward one generation at a time. |
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