1 Chronicles 3:23
And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three.
Original Language Analysis
וּבֶן
And the sons
H1121
וּבֶן
And the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
1 of 6
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אֶלְיֽוֹעֵינַ֧י
Elioenai
H454
אֶלְיֽוֹעֵינַ֧י
Elioenai
Strong's:
H454
Word #:
3 of 6
eljehoenai or eljoenai, the name of seven israelites
וְחִזְקִיָּ֛ה
and Hezekiah
H2396
וְחִזְקִיָּ֛ה
and Hezekiah
Strong's:
H2396
Word #:
4 of 6
chizkijah, a king of judah, also the name of two other israelites
Historical Context
After Babylonian exile (539 BC return), Davidic descendants like Zerubbabel led returnees but didn't regain kingship. The family maintained identity through careful genealogical records, anticipating messianic fulfillment. These names appear in Chronicles' unique post-exilic extension (1 Chronicles 3:17-24), possibly updated during Ezra-Nehemiah's era.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's preservation of David's line through obscure descendants encourage you when your faithfulness seems insignificant?
- What does it mean that Messiah's genealogy depended on unknown believers maintaining covenant identity through exile?
Analysis & Commentary
And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three—these descendants of David's royal line lived post-exilic, after the Babylonian captivity ended monarchy. אֶלְיוֹעֵינַי (Elyoenai) means 'my eyes are toward Yahweh,' חִזְקִיָּה (Hizkiyah) means 'Yahweh strengthens,' and עַזְרִיקָם (Azrikam) means 'my help has risen.' The careful specification 'three' emphasizes completeness and accuracy in record-keeping.
Though kingship ended with Zedekiah (586 BC), God preserved David's line through exile, fulfilling His covenant promise that David's house wouldn't fail (2 Samuel 7:16). These obscure descendants maintained Davidic identity across exile's dark centuries, unknowingly preserving Messiah's genealogical pathway until Christ's birth seven generations later (Matthew 1:1-17). Faithfulness in obscurity prepares for God's purposes.