Eliada

The name Eliada belongs to two biblical figures: a son of David born in Jerusalem, and a Benjamite commander under Jehoshaphat.

Son of David

In the genealogies of David's Jerusalem-born sons, Eliada appears near the end of the list. The Samuel record names him: "and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet" (2Sa 5:16). The Chronicles parallel preserves the same sequence and totals the line at nine: "and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine" (1Ch 3:8).

A second Chronicles list of David's sons gives the name in a different form: "and Elishama, and Baaliada, and Eliphelet" (1Ch 14:7). The UPDV footnote at 2Sa 5:16 notes that "Eliada" likely was originally "Baaliada"; the footnote at 1Ch 14:7 reciprocates, identifying Baaliada as likely the original form of "Eliada" in 2Sa 5:16 and 1Ch 3:8. The same son stands behind both spellings.

A Benjamite Mighty Man

A second Eliada serves as a military commander under Jehoshaphat. The Chronicles muster of Judah and Benjamin places him at the head of a large Benjamite contingent: "And of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield" (2Ch 17:17).