What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 8:22? Ishpan – “Ishpan, Eber, and Eliel.” (1 Chronicles 8:22) may look like just another trio of names, yet the Spirit chose to preserve every name in this genealogy. Reading back through verses 1–28 we find Benjamin’s descendants moving steadily toward Saul in verse 33. Ishpan stands among those links, reminding us that: • God tracks every generation; Acts 17:26 speaks of Him determining our appointed times and boundaries. • Ordinary people matter; Psalm 147:4 says He “determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.” If He names stars, He surely notices Ishpan—and us. • Lineage serves God’s larger plan; Romans 11:1 points out that Paul himself came from Benjamin, showing the tribe’s ongoing role in redemptive history. Eber – The same verse folds Eber into Benjamin’s record. Although this Eber is not the well-known ancestor of the Hebrews in Genesis 10:21, his inclusion still underscores: • Continuity of the covenant; 1 Samuel 9:1–2 traces Saul’s family back through Benjamin, echoing the care we see here. • Assurance that God’s promises never lose track of a single household; Isaiah 49:16 affirms, “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” • Encouragement for less-celebrated believers; Hebrews 6:10 reminds us that God is not unjust to forget our work and love, even when history’s spotlight is elsewhere. Eliel – Eliel appears twice in the immediate passage (vv. 20 & 22), highlighting more than one man by that name in the clan. This repetition teaches: • The literal reliability of Scripture; details that might look redundant actually prove the chronicler’s careful record-keeping, echoing Luke 1:3 where Luke writes “in consecutive order.” • Faith’s ripple effect; as Joshua 24:15 records, entire households can choose to serve the Lord, so multiple Eliels in one family should not surprise us. • God’s precision; 2 Timothy 2:19 says, “The Lord knows those who are His,” assuring us that He distinguishes every individual, even when names repeat. summary 1 Chronicles 8:22 may appear to be a mere fragment of a genealogy, yet Ishpan, Eber, and Eliel each underline God’s meticulous faithfulness. He chronicles every person, preserves every generation, and weaves ordinary lives into His sovereign purposes—proving again that no name is forgotten and no link in His plan is accidental. |
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