1 Chronicles 8:23

KJV

And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,

KJV (with Strong's)

And Abdon {H5658}, and Zichri {H2147}, and Hanan {H2605},

Complete Jewish Bible

'Avdon, Zikhri, Hanan,

Berean Standard Bible

Abdon, Zichri, Hanan,

American Standard Version

and Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 8:23, a concise enumeration of three individuals—Abdon, Zichri, and Hanan—serves as a vital component within the extensive genealogies of the book of Chronicles. Far from being a mere historical roster, this verse exemplifies the meticulous record-keeping essential for ancient Israelite identity, the affirmation of land inheritance, and the preservation of the covenant community, particularly crucial for the post-exilic audience seeking to re-establish their foundational place within God's unfolding redemptive narrative.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** 1 Chronicles 8 is meticulously dedicated to detailing the descendants of Benjamin, one of the twelve sons of Jacob and the ancestral tribe from which Israel's first king, Saul, emerged. This chapter systematically traces various family lines, indicating their residences and highlighting "chief fathers" or heads of families. Verse 8:23 is situated within a longer sequence of these prominent individuals, specifically within a comprehensive section (8:1-40) that provides an extensive genealogy of Benjamin's lineage. The Chronicler's deliberate inclusion of such detailed lists underscores a primary purpose: to demonstrate the unbroken chain of Israelite identity and tribal structure, even in the face of significant historical disruptions like the Babylonian exile. The consistent use of "and" linking names emphasizes the continuity of generations.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of 1 Chronicles was most likely compiled during the post-exilic period, roughly between 450-400 BCE, a time when the returned exiles from Babylon were actively engaged in the arduous task of reconstructing their national and religious identity. In this cultural milieu, genealogies were not simply historical curiosities; they functioned as crucial legal and social documents. They served to establish tribal affiliation, confirm legitimate rights to inherited land (as meticulously outlined in books like [Numbers 26](/numbers/26 "Numbers 26 - Census and Tribal Divisions") and [Joshua 13](/joshua/13 "Joshua 13 - Land Distribution")), validate claims to priestly or royal lineage, and, fundamentally, preserve the collective historical memory of the covenant people. For a community grappling with the trauma of displacement and the perceived loss of continuity, these detailed records provided an indispensable link to their past, their ancestral land, and the enduring promises of God.
* **Key Themes:** The inclusion of verses like 1 Chronicles 8:23 significantly contributes to several overarching themes pervasive throughout the book of Chronicles. Firstly, it powerfully highlights the **importance of lineage and tribal identity**, reaffirming the profound connection of the post-exilic community to their heritage and the covenant promises made to their ancestors. Secondly, the sheer detail, extending to individual names, subtly conveys **God's meticulous care and attention to every person** within His covenant people. This reflects a divine perspective that values every individual, regardless of the brevity of their mention, echoing the psalmist's profound declaration of God's intimate knowledge of individuals in [Psalm 139](/psalms/139 "Psalm 139 - God's Omnipresence and Omniscience"). Finally, these records collectively underscore the **preservation of Israel's identity and the unwavering faithfulness of God** in maintaining His people across generations, even through periods of profound hardship and exile, thereby ensuring that their sacred history and their integral place within God's redemptive plan were never lost.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Abdon (Hebrew, _ʻAbdôwn'_):** This name is derived from the Hebrew root עָבַד (_ʿavad_), meaning "to serve," "to work," or "to worship." Thus, Abdon can be interpreted as "servile," "service," or "servant (of God)." While the specific role or character of this individual is not elaborated in the text, the name itself reflects a common ancient Near Eastern practice of naming children with an eye toward their future character, their dedication to service, or their relationship with the divine or community.
* **Zichri (Hebrew, _Zikrîy'_):** Meaning "my remembrance" or "remembered by Yah (Yahweh)," this name speaks directly to the concept of memory and divine recognition. In a culture where names frequently carried significant, often prophetic or declarative, weight, "Zichri" could express a family's hope that their lineage or the individual would be remembered, particularly by God, or that God Himself would be remembered through their life and descendants. It signifies a desire for enduring legacy within the covenant.
* **Hanan (Hebrew, _Chânân'_)::** Derived from the verb חָנַן (_ḥanan_), meaning "to be gracious" or "to show favor," this name signifies "gracious" or "he has shown favor." It is a relatively common name throughout the Old Testament, often reflecting a parent's profound gratitude for God's favor bestowed upon them or their earnest hope that the child would embody grace and favor in their life and interactions.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,"**: This clause constitutes a simple, direct enumeration, listing three distinct individuals. The repeated conjunction "and" (וְ, _ve_), though not explicitly written in the KJV for each name but implied by the structure of such lists, serves to connect these names seamlessly within a much larger genealogical list of Benjamin's descendants. This construction implies their collective status as significant figures, likely heads of families or clans within the tribe, whose inclusion was vital for establishing tribal continuity. In the broader context of the entire chapter, these names form part of a meticulously kept record designed to affirm the genealogical integrity and continuity of the tribe of Benjamin, thereby solidifying their identity and rightful place within the overarching Israelite community. The inherent brevity of the verse highlights the Chronicler's primary focus on the comprehensive record itself, rather than providing individual biographical details for each person mentioned.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in 1 Chronicles 8:23, and indeed throughout much of the book of Chronicles, is **Enumeration** or **Catalog**. This device involves the systematic listing of names, places, or items. In this specific verse, it is a straightforward list of three names, forming a small segment of a much larger genealogical catalog. The purpose of such extensive enumeration in biblical texts is multifaceted: it establishes historical continuity, validates claims to lineage and inheritance, and underscores the meticulousness of divine record-keeping. While seemingly dry to a modern reader, these lists serve as foundational elements for understanding the intricate structure and enduring identity of ancient Israel. The very act of listing these names, even without accompanying narratives, subtly employs **Symbolism**, as the names themselves become symbols of continuity, identity, and God's enduring faithfulness to His covenant people through successive generations. The implied **Repetition** of the conjunction "and" (as is characteristic of Hebrew lists) also creates a rhythmic flow, emphasizing the unbroken chain of descent and the comprehensive nature of the record.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The seemingly mundane list of names in 1 Chronicles 8:23 carries profound theological weight, speaking volumes about the character of God. It reveals a God who is intimately involved in the minute details of human history, meticulously recording the lives of His people. This divine attention to individual names, even those without accompanying narratives, powerfully underscores the biblical truth that every life has inherent value and a unique place within God's grand redemptive plan. The preservation of these genealogies, particularly for a post-exilic community, served as an irrefutable and powerful reminder of God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. It demonstrated that despite exile, dispersion, and national upheaval, He had faithfully preserved a remnant and meticulously maintained the lineage through whom His ultimate purposes would be fulfilled. This meticulous record-keeping is not merely human history; it is a profound testament to God's sovereign hand guiding the course of generations, ensuring the continuity of His people and His promises.

* [Genesis 5:1](/genesis/5-1 "Genesis 5:1 - Genealogy from Adam to Noah")
* [Matthew 1:1](/matthew/1-1 "Matthew 1:1 - The Genealogy of Jesus Christ")
* [Psalm 139:13-16](/psalms/139-13-16 "Psalm 139:13-16 - God's Intimate Knowledge of Us")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While 1 Chronicles 8:23 might initially appear to be an obscure and unremarkable verse, its presence within the biblical narrative offers profound and spiritually nourishing lessons for contemporary believers. It serves as a powerful reminder that God knows each of us by name, intimately and completely. Just as He meticulously recorded the lineage of His covenant people, valuing every individual within that vast tapestry, He values and knows every detail of our lives—our past, present, and future. This profound perspective can bring immense comfort, assuring us that even in moments of feeling insignificant, overlooked, or lost in the crowd, we are known, cherished, and purposed by our Creator. Furthermore, this verse encourages us to deeply appreciate our spiritual heritage, understanding that we are part of a long and unbroken line of faith that extends through millennia of history, connecting us to the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and ultimately, to Christ Himself. It calls us to thoughtfully consider our unique place within God's ongoing story, recognizing that our lives, like those of Abdon, Zichri, and Hanan, contribute meaningfully to the larger narrative of God's faithfulness and His redemptive work unfolding in the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous nature of biblical genealogies, like the one in 1 Chronicles 8:23, speak to God's personal and comprehensive care for individuals within His covenant people?**
* **In what tangible ways do you perceive your own life as part of a larger spiritual heritage, connecting you to generations of believers who have gone before?**
* **What does it mean for you personally that God knows you by name and records your life, even if your story isn't explicitly detailed in the grand narrative of Scripture?**

### FAQ

**Why are these genealogies so long and seemingly tedious?**

Answer: Biblical genealogies, though often lengthy and seemingly tedious to modern readers, served crucial practical and profound theological purposes in ancient Israel. Practically, they were vital for establishing tribal identity, confirming legitimate rights to land inheritance (as seen in [Numbers 26](/numbers/26 "Numbers 26 - Census of Israel and Land Distribution")), validating claims to priestly or royal lineage, and organizing the community for taxation, military service, and religious duties. Theologically, they underscored God's unwavering faithfulness in preserving His covenant people through generations, demonstrating His meticulous oversight of history and His steadfast commitment to His promises, particularly the promise of a coming Messiah through a specific lineage (as highlighted in [Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1 "Genesis 12:1-3 - The Call of Abram and His Covenant")). For the post-exilic community, these lists were absolutely essential for re-establishing their identity, their connection to their heritage, and their right to the land.

**Do the names Abdon, Zichri, and Hanan have any special significance?**

Answer: While the Bible does not provide specific narratives or biographical details for these individuals in 1 Chronicles 8:23, their names, like many Hebrew names, carry inherent meanings that often reflect characteristics, hopes, or theological truths. As explored in the Key Word Analysis, "Abdon" suggests "service" or "servant," implying a life dedicated to work or to God. "Zichri" implies "remembrance," perhaps signifying that the individual or their lineage would be remembered by God, or that God Himself would be remembered through them. "Hanan" denotes "grace" or "favor," often expressing a parent's gratitude for God's favor or their hope that the child would embody grace. While we cannot infer the personal stories of these men from their names alone, the meanings serve as a reminder of the rich linguistic tapestry of the Hebrew Bible and the common ancient practice of naming children with significant intent. Their inclusion, even as mere names, signifies their acknowledged place within God's historical record and the continuous lineage of His chosen people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous genealogies found throughout 1 Chronicles, including the seemingly brief entry of 1 Chronicles 8:23, ultimately serve as a profound testament to the overarching divine plan culminating in Jesus Christ. The careful preservation of these family lines, especially that of Benjamin (from which Israel's first king, Saul, came), and more broadly, the entire tribal structure, underscores God's sovereign and meticulous control over history to bring forth the promised "seed" who would crush the serpent's head ([Genesis 3:15](/genesis/3-15 "Genesis 3:15 - The Protoevangelium")). Every name recorded, every lineage painstakingly traced, serves as a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness in maintaining the precise historical line through which the Messiah would ultimately come. The New Testament genealogies of Jesus, found in [Matthew 1](/matthew/1 "Matthew 1 - The Genealogy of Jesus Christ") and [Luke 3](/luke/3 "Luke 3 - The Genealogy of Jesus"), directly connect Him to the very historical records that Chronicles so painstakingly preserves, demonstrating unequivocally that He is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament promises and the ultimate heir to the covenant. The "chief fathers" listed in Chronicles, though their individual stories are untold, are integral threads in the grand tapestry of God's redemptive history, culminating in the advent of the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who takes away the sin of the world, thereby making the seemingly obscure names of the Old Testament part of the glorious and unfolding story of salvation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.