Jeroham

Jeroham is a name borne by at least seven different men in the Hebrew Bible, scattered across the genealogies of Samuel, the Chronicler, and the post-exilic priesthood. None of them carries a narrative of his own; each surfaces only as a link in someone else's pedigree or muster roll. The name appears in the Levitical line that produced Samuel, in two Benjamite lists, in two notices of priests resettled in Jerusalem after the exile, in a roster of warriors who joined David at Ziklag, in a list of David's tribal officers, and in the band of captains who covenanted with Jehoiada to crown Joash.

Grandfather of Samuel

The opening verse of 1 Samuel introduces Elkanah, the father of Samuel, as "the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite" (1Sa 1:1). The Chronicler twice traces the same Levitical descent through Kohath, naming Jeroham in the chain that leads from Korah down to Samuel: "Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son" (1Ch 6:27), and again "the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah" (1Ch 6:34). Jeroham is thus the immediate ancestor through whom the Ephraimite household of 1Sa 1:1 ties back to the Kohathite Levites.

Two Benjamites

Two unrelated Benjamites bear the name. In the genealogy of Saul's tribe, Jeroham heads a small clan: "and Jaareshiah, and Elijah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham" (1Ch 8:27). A second Benjamite Jeroham appears one chapter later, in the register of those who returned to Jerusalem after the captivity: "and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah" (1Ch 9:8).

Priestly Father of Adaiah

A priestly Jeroham is named twice as the father of Adaiah, once in the Chronicler's roll of priests who settled in Jerusalem after the exile and once in Nehemiah's parallel list. The Chronicler records "Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah" (1Ch 9:12); Nehemiah extends the same line further: "Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah" (Neh 11:12). The two notices place this Jeroham in the Pashhur-Malchijah priestly house.

Father of Warriors at Ziklag

Among the Benjamite kinsmen of Saul who defected to David at Ziklag, two brothers are reckoned to a Jeroham of the southern Judahite town of Gedor: "and Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor" (1Ch 12:7).

Father of a Tribal Captain

In David's administrative roster of the twelve tribal captains, the officer set over Dan is "Azarel the son of Jeroham" (1Ch 27:22). The verse closes the list with the summary, "These were the captains of the tribes of Israel."

Father of a Captain Under Jehoiada

The last Jeroham appears in the coup that ended Athaliah's reign. When Jehoiada the priest moved to crown the boy Joash, he drew the captains of hundreds into covenant with him, and the first named is "Azariah the son of Jeroham" (2Ch 23:1). This Jeroham, like the others, is known only through the son who carries his name into the record.