Context No. 4249 of 4322 · 1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 8:8-23: in context

8Shaharaim became the father of children in the field of Moab, after he had sent them away. Hushim and Baara were his wives. 9By Hodesh his wife, he became the father of Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 10Jeuz, Shachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers’ households. 11By Hushim, he became the father of Abitub and Elpaal. 12The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod, with its towns; 13and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath; 14and Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, 15Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16Michael, Ishpah, Joha, the sons of Beriah, 17Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18Ishmerai, Izliah, Jobab, the sons of Elpaal, 19Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21Adaiah, Beraiah, Shimrath, the sons of Shimei, 22Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23Abdon, Zichri, Hanan,

This passage is a genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin, a long list of names, heads of families, generation upon generation. Among the names, a few small notes stand out: some of these people built cities, Ono and Lod with their villages; others drove out enemies and secured a place for their families. Ordinary people, mostly unknown to us, who in their day built something and left it for those who came after.

What stands out amid the list is that some of these people built. They did not merely exist and pass on; they raised towns, established homes, made something that outlasted them and served the generations that followed. Their names might mean little to us now, but their building endured, a quiet legacy left to their descendants.

Most of us will not be famous or long-remembered by name, like these builders of Ono and Lod. But we can, in our own place and day, build something good that outlasts us, a family, a work, a community of faith, and leave it as a legacy to those who follow. Faithful, constructive lives, even unremembered ones, leave a lasting good behind. The God who recorded these builders sees and values what we build for others.

Am I building something good in my own place and day that will outlast me and serve those who come after, like the unremembered people who built Ono and Lod, trusting that God sees and values a faithful, constructive life even if my name is not long remembered?

Sources

1 Chronicles 8:12: "The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod, with its towns."
1 Chronicles 8:13: "Beriah and Shema, who were heads of fathers' households of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath."
1 Corinthians 3:10: "As a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it."