Jediael

Jediael is a personal name borne by four men in the books of Chronicles. Each appears in genealogical or military lists, and the name is never carried by any figure outside Chronicles in the UPDV scope. The four are accordingly distinguished under one umbrella entry, and the natural movement of the material is to take them in the order Chronicles presents them.

Son of Benjamin

The first Jediael heads a Benjaminite house. He is named with his brothers in the tribal census of 1 Chronicles 7: "[The sons of] Benjamin: Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three" (1Ch 7:6). His own line is then traced through a single son: "And the sons of Jediael: Bilhan. And the sons of Bilhan: Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tarshish, and Ahishahar" (1Ch 7:10). The summary that follows gives the military strength of the clan: "All these were sons of Jediael, according to the heads of their fathers' [houses], mighty men of valor, seventeen thousand and two hundred, who were able to go forth in the host for war" (1Ch 7:11).

Son of Shimri

The second Jediael belongs to the roster of David's mighty men. He is paired with his brother in a single laconic line: "Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite" (1Ch 11:45). The chapter has been listing the warriors who stood with David, and Jediael's name takes its place among them without further description.

Chief of Manasseh at Ziklag

The third Jediael is a Manassite captain who defected to David during his exile among the Philistines. The Chronicler records the moment David moved toward Ziklag: "As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands who were of Manasseh" (1Ch 12:20). Jediael appears here as one of seven Manassite chiefs of thousands who threw in their lot with David before he reached the throne.

Son of Meshelemiah

The fourth Jediael is a Levite gatekeeper in the Korahite division. He is the second-named in his father's family: "And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth" (1Ch 26:2). The list belongs to David's organization of the temple guard, and Jediael's place in it situates him among the men appointed to keep the gates of the house of Yahweh.