Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.

1 SAMUEL 8:2KJV
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1 Samuel 8:2 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 8:2 mean?

1 Samuel 8:2 lists the names of Samuel’s two sons, Joel and Abiah, and states that they served as judges in Beersheba. This verse introduces Samuel’s sons as leaders with official roles in a specific city.

Samuel, a prophet and judge over Israel, appointed his sons to positions of authority in Beersheba, a southern city. The verse sets up the context for the following verses, which explain that Samuel’s sons did not follow his ways. This detail helps explain why the elders of Israel soon ask for a king to rule over them instead.

Where else these words appear

“Joel” Hebrew H3100 · used in 19 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 4:35 And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,
  • 1 Chronicles 7:3 And the sons of Uzzi; Izrahiah: and the sons of Izrahiah; Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five: all of them chief men.
  • 1 Chronicles 26:22 The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the LORD.

“Abiah” Hebrew H29 · used in 25 verses

  • 1 Kings 14:1 At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.
  • 2 Chronicles 12:16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
  • 2 Chronicles 13:20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.

“Beersheba” Hebrew H884 · used in 33 verses

  • Genesis 21:14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
  • Joshua 15:28 And Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah,
  • 2 Kings 12:1 In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.

“second” Hebrew H4932 · used in 34 verses

  • Genesis 41:43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
  • 2 Samuel 3:3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
  • Ezra 1:10 Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.