This verse highlights the importance of family roots, reminding believers that God honors our history and uses our heritage to work His will.
In Gibeon Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived, and his wife’s name was Maacah. (1 Chronicles 9:35). This verse appears within the Chronicler’s detailed genealogies, which were carefully kept in order to remind God’s people of their heritage and covenant identity. By highlighting Gibeon as the home of Jeiel and his wife Maacah, the Chronicler emphasizes that families and their ancestral towns held great significance for Israel’s history, especially in a post-exilic context when the nation was reestablishing its roots. Gibeon itself, often referenced in other parts of Scripture, lay north of Jerusalem and was part of the territory allocated to the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:25). It appears frequently in Israel’s story, such as during Saul’s reign and David’s reign, underscoring its strategic and spiritual importance.
By identifying Jeiel as “the father of Gibeon,”1 Chronicles 9:35 suggests that his lineage or household exercised a formative role in the origin or identity of this town. In biblical genealogies, naming a person as “the father” of a city often acknowledges them as either its founder or most prominent family head. Mentioning Maacah reveals the Chronicler’s practice of preserving the names of significant mothers and wives in family records. Through such details, God’s faithfulness is demonstrated over generations. It also shows how family lines, even from centuries prior, contributed to the restoration and unity of Israel after exile.
Looking forward, the Chronicler’s genealogies connect to the broader message of the Bible that each family line contributes to God’s unfolding plan—foreshadowing the ultimate fulfillment of His promise in Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:1-17). Tracing these lineages reassures the community that the Lord does not forget His people; He weaves every household, including Jeiel’s, into His redemptive purposes.
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1 Chronicles 9:35 meaning
In Gibeon Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived, and his wife’s name was Maacah. (1 Chronicles 9:35). This verse appears within the Chronicler’s detailed genealogies, which were carefully kept in order to remind God’s people of their heritage and covenant identity. By highlighting Gibeon as the home of Jeiel and his wife Maacah, the Chronicler emphasizes that families and their ancestral towns held great significance for Israel’s history, especially in a post-exilic context when the nation was reestablishing its roots. Gibeon itself, often referenced in other parts of Scripture, lay north of Jerusalem and was part of the territory allocated to the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:25). It appears frequently in Israel’s story, such as during Saul’s reign and David’s reign, underscoring its strategic and spiritual importance.
By identifying Jeiel as “the father of Gibeon,” 1 Chronicles 9:35 suggests that his lineage or household exercised a formative role in the origin or identity of this town. In biblical genealogies, naming a person as “the father” of a city often acknowledges them as either its founder or most prominent family head. Mentioning Maacah reveals the Chronicler’s practice of preserving the names of significant mothers and wives in family records. Through such details, God’s faithfulness is demonstrated over generations. It also shows how family lines, even from centuries prior, contributed to the restoration and unity of Israel after exile.
Looking forward, the Chronicler’s genealogies connect to the broader message of the Bible that each family line contributes to God’s unfolding plan—foreshadowing the ultimate fulfillment of His promise in Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:1-17). Tracing these lineages reassures the community that the Lord does not forget His people; He weaves every household, including Jeiel’s, into His redemptive purposes.