Jeremoth, Son of Beriah

Background and Family

Jeremoth was a descendant of Benjamin, the youngest son of the patriarch Jacob. According to the genealogical records found in 1 Chronicles 8, Jeremoth was the son of Beriah, who was himself the son of Elpaal. Jeremoth is listed alongside several prominent brothers, including Ahio, Shashak, Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, Michael, Ishpah, and Joha.

His father, Beriah, is noted in the surrounding text as being a leader who, along with his brother Shema, drove out the inhabitants of Gath. This suggests that Jeremoth was born into a family of significant military or social standing, responsible for the defense and expansion of Benjamite interests. The biblical text focuses on these figures as 'heads of the fathers' houses,' indicating that Jeremoth was not merely an individual but the progenitor of a specific clan within the tribe.

Major Life Events

The biblical record for Jeremoth, son of Beriah, is limited to his listing in the tribal genealogies. Unlike the judges or kings, his life is not defined by a specific miracle or political decree. Instead, his 'event' is his existence within the preserved lineage of Israel. His life occurred during the chronological span where the descendants of Jacob were multiplying and organizing themselves into the tribal units that would eventually conquer and settle the Promised Land.

Relationship to Other Biblical Figures

Jeremoth’s primary biblical context is defined by his siblings and his father, Beriah. The Chronicler emphasizes the brotherhood of these men (1 Chronicles 8:14-16) to demonstrate the strength and breadth of the Benjamite population. As a son of Beriah, Jeremoth is part of the line that descended from Shaharaim. His position in the list—coming after Ahio and Shashak—may indicate birth order or the relative importance of the sub-clans that descended from these brothers by the time the records were compiled.

Spiritual Significance

The inclusion of Jeremoth in 1 Chronicles 8 highlights the biblical theme of God’s preservation of the Remnant. Even in the brief mention of a name, the text affirms that every member of the covenant community is known and recorded. For the post-exilic audience who first read these chronicles, names like Jeremoth provided a vital link to their ancestral past in Egypt and the Wilderness, proving their legitimate claim to the land and their status as the chosen people of Yahweh. Jeremoth represents the quiet, foundational generation that maintained the tribal structure during the formative years of Israel's national identity.