In the expansive household of King David, there are names that appear as markers of God’s grace during the establishment of the throne in Jerusalem. Among these is Eliphalet. His name, which means “God of deliverance,” serves as a recurring testimony to David’s reliance on the Almighty during the most turbulent and triumphant years of his reign.
The Name in the Royal Court
Eliphalet was the name given to the last son born to David after he had moved his capital from Hebron to Jerusalem. This period was the fulfillment of years of wandering and warfare; it was the moment when the “Defense of the Truth” shifted from a fugitive camp to a royal palace.
“And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Eliphalet, and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,” (1 Chronicles 3:6-7, KJV)
In the King James Version, we actually find two sons of David named Eliphalet (sometimes spelled Eliphelet). The first appears earlier in the list of those born in Jerusalem, while the second is listed as the final son. This repetition suggests a profound family emphasis on the theme of “deliverance.” For a king who had been hunted by Saul and surrounded by the Philistines, every child was a living reminder that the Lord had delivered him out of all his fears.
A Man of the Mighty Men
The name Eliphalet was not reserved solely for royalty. Another man of this name is found among David’s elite “mighty men,” the same group that included figures like Elika and Uriah. This Eliphalet was the son of Ahasbai and was known for his military prowess.
“Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite…” (2 Samuel 23:34, KJV)
As a member of the elite guard, he lived a life of physical obedience. He was responsible for the personal safety of the king and the preservation of the kingdom’s borders. His presence in this list reminds us that the “God of deliverance” works through the hands of faithful men who are willing to stand their ground in the heat of battle.
The Post-Exilic Remnant
Centuries later, the name reappears in the record of those who returned from the Babylonian captivity. An Eliphalet is listed among the sons of Adonikam who came up with Ezra.
“And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphalet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.” (Ezra 8:13, KJV)
This Eliphalet represents the “uncompromised mission” of the remnant. After seventy years in a pagan land, he chose to leave the comforts of Babylon to return to a ruined Jerusalem to rebuild the House of God. He carried the same name as the princes of old, signaling that the God who delivered David was the same God delivering the exiles from their bondage.
The Theological Legacy
Whether a prince in the palace, a soldier in the field, or a remnant returning from exile, every “Eliphalet” in Scripture points us toward a single truth: Deliverance belongs unto the Lord. In our current day, as we watch for the Lord’s Return, we look for the ultimate Eliphalet—the final and total deliverance of the saints from this present evil world.