Question 1

What does 1 Chronicles 12:11 mean?

Accepted Answer

1 Chronicles 12:11 lists two individuals, Attai as the sixth and Eliel as the seventh, as part of a group being named in order. The verse is part of a larger list identifying men who joined David at Ziklag during a critical time in his life. This verse comes from a section where the writer is recording the names of warriors who supported David before he became king. The list shows the order of the men, possibly indicating their rank, importance, or simply the sequence in which they are mentioned. The focus here is on preserving the names and roles of those who stood with David during his period of hardship.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 12:11

Accepted Answer

עַתַּי (ʿattai) — "Attai" is a personal name; in this context, it identifies the sixth man in the list. The name itself does not carry a special meaning in this verse beyond marking out an individual. הַשִּׁשִּׁי (hashishi) — "the sixth"; this ordinal number marks Attai’s position in the sequence, showing the careful order in which the chronicler records these men. אֱלִיאֵל (eliel) — "Eliel" is another personal name, identifying the seventh man in the list. הַשְּׁבִעִי (hashevi‘i) — "the seventh"; this ordinal number marks Eliel’s position, again emphasizing the structured listing.

Question 3

Why 1 Chronicles 12:11 matters

Accepted Answer

This verse highlights the chronicler’s attention to detail and the importance placed on remembering the individuals who supported David, even if only by name and order. The listing of names and their sequence connects this passage to the broader biblical tradition of honoring those who played a role in key moments of Israel’s history. By naming Attai and Eliel specifically, the text preserves their legacy as part of David’s loyal supporters, showing that every individual in a larger story can have their place remembered.

1 Chronicles 12:11 (KJV)