1 Chronicles 2:28
And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of Shammai; Nadab, and Abishur.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ
H1961
וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 9
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וּבְנֵ֣י
And the sons
H1121
וּבְנֵ֣י
And the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
2 of 9
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וּבְנֵ֣י
And the sons
H1121
וּבְנֵ֣י
And the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
6 of 9
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
Historical Context
The Jerahmeelites dwelt in the Negev wilderness south of Hebron, mentioned when David shared spoils with them (1 Samuel 30:29). They represented semi-nomadic pastoral clans who maintained Judahite identity while living frontier existence. Their territory bordered Edom and the Kenites.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's careful record of 'marginal' clans like the Jerahmeelites encourage you if you feel spiritually insignificant?
- What does the recurrence of names like Nadab across generations teach about how families process tragedy and hope?
Analysis & Commentary
And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada—these Jerahmeelite clans descended from Judah's firstborn line. שַׁמַּי (Shammai) means 'desolate' or possibly 'renowned,' while יָדָע (Yada) derives from 'to know.' The Jerahmeelites occupied southern Judah's wilderness regions, maintaining tribal identity distinct from main Judahite settlements.
Nadab, Shammai's son, bears the same name as Aaron's son who died offering strange fire (Leviticus 10:1-2). Names recurred across Israelite families, sometimes honoring ancestors, sometimes carrying prophetic or memorial significance. The preservation of these marginal clans demonstrates God's covenant includes not just prominent lines but obscure families whose faithfulness mattered equally.