“The sons of Ezrah were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.” — 1 Chronicles 4:17 (KJV)
A Patriarch of the Tribe of Judah
Ezrah (not to be confused with Ezra the Scribe) was a descendant of Judah through the line of Caleb. He appears in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 4, a chapter dedicated to the families that settled the southern regions of Israel. Ezrah’s lineage is particularly notable because it intersects with one of the most intriguing “international” marriages in the Old Testament.
The Connection to Egypt
Ezrah was the father of Mered, who married Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh (1 Chronicles 4:18). This makes Ezrah the patriarch of a family that bridged the gap between the ruling house of Egypt and the royal tribe of Judah.
The text lists his four primary sons:
- Jether: The firstborn.
- Mered: The son who famously took an Egyptian princess as his wife.
- Epher: Whose name means “calf” or “fawn.”
- Jalon: Meaning “abiding” or “passing the night.”
The Founders of Cities
Ezrah’s descendants were not merely names on a list; they were the founders of significant Judean towns. Through his son Ishbah, Ezrah was the grandfather of the founder of Eshtemoa—a prominent city in the hill country of Judah that was later designated as a Levitical city and a place where David sent spoils of war (1 Samuel 30:28).
The Theological Significance
Though Ezrah is a relatively obscure figure, his placement in the genealogy serves several spiritual and historical purposes:
- The Sovereignty of God in Lineage: The fact that Ezrah’s son married a daughter of Pharaoh suggests that even during the Egyptian era (or shortly thereafter), God was sovereignly placing members of the Tribe of Judah in positions of high social standing.
- The Root of the Levitical Cities: Because Ezrah’s family founded towns like Eshtemoa, he is a link in the chain that provided the physical infrastructure for the Levites to live and teach the Law throughout the land.
- The Detail of the Record: Ezrah is a reminder that every branch of the “Vine of Judah” was carefully tracked. In the eyes of the Chronicler, the father of the man who married a princess was just as important to record as the kings themselves, for they all constituted the “Body of Israel.”
Summary
Ezrah was a noble of Judah whose legacy lived on through the cities his descendants built and the high-profile alliances they formed. He stands as a representative of the settled, landed gentry of Judah who provided the stability and heritage necessary for the tribe to eventually become the leader of the nation.