Elpaal is a significant patriarchal figure within the tribe of Benjamin. While he is not the subject of a specific narrative story, his name is recorded in the genealogies of the first book of Chronicles to highlight a lineage of builders, warriors, and leaders who helped shape the territory of Israel.
The Scriptural Record
Elpaal’s identity and family are detailed in the eighth chapter of 1 Chronicles, which focuses on the descendants of Benjamin:
“And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal. The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof:” (1 Chronicles 8:11–12, KJV)
“Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal;” (1 Chronicles 8:18, KJV)
His Family and Origin
Elpaal was born into a complex family dynamic during a period of Benjamite history.
- His Parents: He was the son of Shaharaim and his wife Hushim.
- The Moabite Connection: His father, Shaharaim, had children in the country of Moab after divorcing two other wives. This indicates that Elpaal’s branch of the family may have spent time in or near Moabite territory before returning to settle in the promised land.
- His Posterity: Elpaal was the progenitor of a very large and productive family. The Bible lists at least ten sons and several grandsons, many of whom became “heads of the fathers” (clan leaders).
The Legacy of the “Builders”
The most striking detail about Elpaal’s family is the achievement of his sons. His son Shamed (or Shemed) is specifically credited with building two major cities:
- Lod: Known in the New Testament as Lydda, it was the site where the Apostle Peter healed Aeneas (Acts 9:32).
- Ono: A city often mentioned alongside Lod, which remained a significant Benjamite stronghold even after the return from the Babylonian exile (Ezra 2:33).
The fact that Elpaal’s sons were “builders” indicates that this family was instrumental in the civil development and territorial security of the tribe of Benjamin.
Etymology and Meaning
The name Elpaal is a powerful Hebrew compound:
- “God is the Doer” or “God Has Wrought”: Derived from El (God) and pa’al (to do, act, or work).
- “God is Reward”: Some scholars suggest it carries the connotation of “God is his wages,” implying a life that looks to the Lord for its recompense.
Historical and Theological Significance
Elpaal serves as a testimony to God’s Restorative Power. The tribe of Benjamin was nearly wiped out during the events of Judges 20, yet through men like Elpaal, God rebuilt the tribe until they were once again a people of “mighty men of valour” and city builders.
His name—”God Has Wrought”—perfectly summarizes the theme of the Benjamite genealogy: that despite human failure and tribal near-extinction, God is the one who “works” to preserve his people. The cities his sons built (Lod and Ono) stood for centuries as physical evidence of a family that contributed to the strength and stability of the nation.