1 Chronicles 14 7

1 Chronicles 14:7 kjv

And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.

1 Chronicles 14:7 nkjv

Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

1 Chronicles 14:7 niv

Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet.

1 Chronicles 14:7 esv

Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet.

1 Chronicles 14:7 nlt

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

1 Chronicles 14 verses

1 Chronicles 14 7 Meaning

This verse lists three of David's sons born in Jerusalem: Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet. It signifies the ongoing fulfillment of God's blessing upon King David, manifesting in the growth and stability of his household, which is intrinsically linked to the future of the Davidic covenant and the Messianic line. These names form part of a larger catalog emphasizing the expansion and consolidation of David's kingdom and dynasty under divine favor.

1 Chronicles 14 7 Context

This verse appears in 1 Chronicles chapter 14, which marks a significant transition in David's reign. Following his conquest of Jerusalem and establishing it as his capital (chapter 11), David begins to truly consolidate his power. Hiram, king of Tyre, assists David by sending craftsmen and materials to build his royal palace (v. 1), symbolizing David's established kingship and God's hand in it. The subsequent listing of David's sons born in Jerusalem (vv. 3-7) immediately follows this architectural achievement, demonstrating God's blessing extending to his personal life and dynasty. The chronicler emphasizes the growth of David's "house" both physically (palace) and genetically (sons). This section precedes David's major military victories over the Philistines, indicating that divine favor on his family and reign is foundational to his later successes. For the original audience, this emphasized God's faithfulness to David's lineage, providing a strong basis for messianic hope tied to David's royal descendants.

1 Chronicles 14 7 Word analysis

• and: (Hebrew: וְ - ve-) A simple conjunctive prefix. Its repetitive use emphasizes the succession and enumeration of the names, highlighting each son's addition to David's burgeoning family line as part of the continuous blessing from God.

• Elishama: (Hebrew: אֱלִישָׁמָע - 'Elîshāmā‘)

  • Meaning: "My God has heard" or "God has heard." The component 'El (God) indicates a Theophoric name, common in Israel, emphasizing Yahweh's attribute of listening to prayers or petitions.
  • Significance: Reflects a testimony to God's attentiveness and responsiveness. Such names served as a constant reminder of God's interaction with His people and His role in their lives.

• and Beeliada: (Hebrew: בַּעַלְיָדָע - Ba‘alyādā‘)

  • Meaning: Literally, "Baal knows" or "Lord knows." The component Ba'al usually refers to a Canaanite fertility god and often appears in polemical contexts in Scripture. However, in ancient Semitic languages, ba‘al could also broadly mean "lord" or "master" and was sometimes used without direct idolatrous intent in older naming conventions.
  • Peculiarity/Polemic: This name is distinct and notable because parallel accounts in 2 Samuel 5:16 and 1 Chronicles 3:8 list this son as "Eliada" (אֶלְיָדָע - 'Elyādā‘), meaning "God knows." The Chronicler, generally known for 'Yahwizing' names (e.g., Ish-bosheth for Ish-baal), notably preserves "Beeliada" here. Scholars debate this:
    1. It could be a scribal variant or a less common name form.
    2. It might reflect a period where ba‘al was still sometimes used with its general "lord" meaning among Israelites, indicating a nuanced historical reality before strict monotheism completely eradicated such usage.
    3. It demonstrates the Chronicler's commitment to historical accuracy of the records available to him, even when they present naming conventions that might appear unusual to a later, strictly Yahwistic audience. This particular name doesn't inherently imply direct polemic here, but rather it stands as an exception to the typical pattern, leading to interpretive considerations. It suggests that even names potentially linked to pagan terms existed within the divinely blessed royal lineage, emphasizing God's sovereign plan over diverse circumstances.

• and Eliphelet: (Hebrew: אֱלִיפָלֶט - 'Elîphāleṭ)

  • Meaning: "My God is deliverance" or "God of escape."
  • Significance: Another Theophoric name underscoring divine protection and rescue. Notably, there are two sons of David named Eliphelet listed elsewhere (1 Chron 3:6, 8; 2 Sam 5:16 refers to one). This highlights God's constant presence and help in David's life, possibly commemorating specific moments of deliverance, and also reflecting a common practice of repeating names within a family line.

• Words-group analysis: "Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphelet"

  • This listing, along with other sons in the preceding verses (1 Chron 14:4-6), showcases the fruitfulness of David's household. For the Chronicler, the increase in David's progeny serves as a tangible manifestation of God's covenantal blessing and faithfulness (2 Sam 7; 1 Chron 17). Each name, often Theophoric, implicitly proclaims God's attributes or past acts of grace within the family. The sheer number of sons born to David in Jerusalem underscores the strength and promise of his dynasty, crucial for the ongoing Davidic monarchy and the future expectation of the Messiah from this royal line. It depicts a flourishing royal family, a sign of a strong, God-ordained kingdom.

1 Chronicles 14 7 Bonus section

• The meticulous detailing of genealogies in Chronicles, particularly David's, serves a crucial theological purpose beyond simple record-keeping. It confirms the rightful heirs to the throne and, more profoundly, meticulously traces the lineage through which the ultimate "Son of David" (the Messiah) would come, demonstrating God's long-term plan and faithfulness.
• The placement of this list of sons between the building of David's palace and his military victories subtly conveys that the establishment and perpetuation of David's "house" (dynasty) is just as vital, if not more so, than the building of his physical "house" (palace) or his conquests. The covenant concerned the eternal kingdom and a lasting line, signified by numerous progeny.
• While names like "Beeliada" can be perplexing, they remind us that the biblical text, especially historical records, sometimes preserves data that doesn't perfectly align with later, more rigid theological distinctions, demonstrating the authenticity of the records rather than an anachronistic sanitization. It prompts deeper reflection on the specific cultural and religious dynamics present at the time these names originated.

1 Chronicles 14 7 Commentary

1 Chronicles 14:7 is part of a deliberate enumeration of David's sons, illustrating God's fulfillment of the Davidic covenant which promised a perpetual dynasty. The Chronicler's meticulous record-keeping of names, particularly Theophoric ones like Elishama ("My God has heard") and Eliphelet ("My God is deliverance"), underscores the active hand of God in David's life and the establishment of his kingdom. Each son born represented a new branch on the unfolding tree of David's lineage, solidifying his reign as divinely ordained and prosperous. The inclusion of "Beeliada," particularly notable for its deviation from the typical "Eliada" in parallel passages, suggests either an exact transcription of David's own records, or that 'Baal' could sometimes mean 'lord' and not always carry pagan connotations, or perhaps, it indicates that God's blessings extended even through a lineage with nuanced or historically fluid naming conventions. Regardless, the overarching message is of divine blessing and the continuity of David's royal line, pointing forward to the Messiah, who would inherit David's throne eternally. The sheer number of sons symbolizes God's favor and the enduring nature of David's 'house' as promised by God.