Jahath

Jahath is a personal name borne by several men in the genealogical and administrative records of Chronicles. The name appears in Judah's tribal lines and, more often, among the Levites — where Jahaths surface in the Gershonite, Kohathite, and Merarite branches of the tribe.

A Zorathite of Judah

The earliest Jahath in the Chronicler's records is set in the descent of Shobal, in the families of the Zorathites: "And Reaiah the son of Shobal begot Jahath; and Jahath begot Ahumai and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites" (1Ch 4:2). This Jahath stands within Judah's tribal genealogy, the link between Reaiah and the Zorathite branch that issues from Ahumai and Lahad.

A Gershonite Chief in the House of Shimei

Among the Levites organized for service under David, a Jahath heads the sons of Shimei in the Gershonite line. The list reads: "And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei" (1Ch 23:10). The next verse fixes his standing: "And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons; therefore they became a fathers' house in one reckoning" (1Ch 23:11). Jahath holds first rank in this Shimeite house, with the smaller branches of Jeush and Beriah counted with him as a single fathers' house.

A Son of Shelomoth Among the Izharites

A second Levitical Jahath turns up in the courses of the Kohathites, where he is the named son of Shelomoth: "Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath" (1Ch 24:22). He stands as the immediate descendant carrying the Izharite line forward in the priestly-course registers.

A Merarite Overseer Under Josiah

The latest Jahath in the Chronicler's account belongs to Merari and serves in Josiah's restoration of the temple. When silver is gathered and craftsmen are hired to repair the house of Yahweh, the workmen are placed under Levitical supervisors: "And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and [others of] the Levites, all who were skillful with instruments of music" (2Ch 34:12). Here Jahath is paired with Obadiah as an oversight officer drawn from the Merarite branch, partnered with Kohathite counterparts and with Levitical musicians who are skillful with instruments.