What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 8:38? Azel had six sons • Scripture often pauses to highlight family lines because God unfolds His promise through real people (cf. Genesis 5:1–3; Matthew 1:1). • Six is a full, rounded number, reminding us that the line of Benjamin was not forgotten despite earlier setbacks (Judges 20). • Every child, then and now, sits within God’s sovereign plan (Psalm 127:3–5). and these were their names • Naming in the Old Testament carries weight; it testifies to identity and destiny (Genesis 17:5; 1 Samuel 1:20). • Here, listing the names preserves each man’s place in covenant history, just as Revelation 20:12 records names in the Book of Life. • The record underscores God’s meticulous care for details others might overlook (Luke 12:7). Azrikam • Meaning “the defender has arisen,” his name reflects reliance on the Lord as shield (Psalm 18:2). • His mention parallels other protectors in Benjamin’s tribe such as Ehud the deliverer (Judges 3:15). • God raises specific people at specific moments to guard His purposes (2 Chronicles 23:3–11). Bocheru • Though little else is known, Bocheru’s inclusion shows that obscurity to man does not equal obscurity to God (1 Corinthians 1:27–29). • Like the unnamed boy with five loaves (John 6:9), Bocheru reminds believers that significance rests in God’s record, not public renown. Ishmael • Not the son of Abraham, yet his name means “God hears,” echoing Genesis 16:11. • His presence in Benjamin’s genealogy points to God hearing prayers across generations (Psalm 34:15). • It affirms that God’s listening ear is covenant-wide, not limited to one branch of Abraham’s family tree (Romans 10:12). Sheariah • His name, “the LORD has considered,” underscores divine attentiveness (Psalm 139:1–4). • The chronicler’s audience, freshly returned from exile, needed assurance that God still saw them (Isaiah 49:15–16). • Believers today can rest in the same watchful care (1 Peter 5:7). Obadiah • Meaning “servant of the LORD,” echoing Obadiah the prophet (1 Kings 18:3–4). • Servanthood marks the faithful line; Jesus later models perfect servanthood (Mark 10:45). • The name challenges readers to embody humble service within their own households (Joshua 24:15). Hanan • Translating to “gracious,” it recalls God’s covenant grace (Exodus 34:6). • Benjamin’s tribe had suffered civil war, yet grace prevails and multiplies (Romans 5:20). • Hanan’s place affirms that every lineage ends up leaning on God’s unmerited kindness (Ephesians 2:8–9). All these were the sons of Azel • The repetition seals the fact: this family line is intact and blessed, despite past national turmoil (Jeremiah 33:24–26). • It mirrors later New Testament summaries such as “these all died in faith” (Hebrews 11:13), pointing to collective testimony. • For modern readers, it underscores the value of faithfully passing on heritage—spiritual and familial—undiluted (2 Timothy 1:5). summary 1 Chronicles 8:38 spotlights Azel’s six sons to prove that God preserves individual names and family lines as He advances His redemptive history. Each son’s name whispers a facet of God’s character—defender, listener, gracious master—assuring returning exiles and today’s believers alike that the Lord knows, hears, considers, and graciously upholds His people generation after generation. |
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