Lexical Summary Eshban: Eshban Original Word: אֶשְּׁבָּן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Eshban Probably from the same as Shebna'; vigorous; Eshban, an Idumaean -- Eshban. see HEBREW Shebna' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition son of an Edomite leader NASB Translation Eshban (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶשְׁבָּן proper name, masculine a chief of Edom Genesis 36:26; 1 Chronicles 1:41 (etymology dubious, ᵐ5 Ἀσβαν, Ἐσεβαν, Ἀσεβων). אַשְׁבֵּעַ see שׁבע. p. 959 f אֶשְׁבַּעַל see אִישׁבּֿשֶׁת. אשׁד (√ of following, compare probably Assyrian išdu, foundation). Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrences Genesis 36:26 – “These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.” 1 Chronicles 1:41 – “The sons of Dishon: Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.” Genealogical Context Eshban is listed as the second-named son of Dishon, grandson of Seir the Horite. Seir’s descendants occupied the region of Mount Seir before the arrival of Esau’s line (Edom). Dishon is later identified as one of the tribal “chiefs” (Genesis 36:21), placing Eshban within a ruling family among the Horites. The parallel lists in Genesis and 1 Chronicles preserve the lineage, underscoring Scripture’s consistency even across centuries of transmission. Historical Setting The Horites, whose name is linked with “cave dwellers,” inhabited the rugged highlands south-east of the Dead Sea. Archaeological surveys in the Seir range reveal extensive cave settlements and copper-mining activity, matching the time frame traditionally associated with the patriarchal period. Deuteronomy 2:12 notes that the descendants of Esau dispossessed the Horites yet “settled in their place”; thus Eshban lived at a cultural crossroads where indigenous peoples, the Edomites, and later Israel all interacted. Role among the Horites and Edomites Although Eshban himself is not called a chief, his father Dishon is, implying that Eshban would have held social status and responsibility. The broader list of chiefs in Genesis 36:29–30 shows how Horite lines were incorporated into Edomite tribal organization. This merging illustrates how God’s providence operates through complex ethnic histories, setting the stage for later prophetic oracles against Edom (for example, Obadiah 1). Theological Reflections 1. Divine Faithfulness in Detail – Genealogies that preserve otherwise unknown individuals demonstrate that the Lord’s covenant plan involves every generation, not just the most prominent figures (Psalm 139:16). Ministry Applications • Value Every Name – Lists like Genesis 36 encourage shepherds and teachers to remember that each person in a congregation matters to God; faithful record-keeping reflects the divine example. Key Takeaways Eshban’s brief appearance anchors a larger storyline: God’s meticulous preservation of lineage, His orchestration of historical transitions, and His unwavering commitment to work through every tribe and family until the Messiah’s arrival and ultimate reign. Forms and Transliterations וְאֶשְׁבָּ֖ן ואשבן veeshBan wə’ešbān wə·’eš·bānLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 36:26 HEB: דִישָׁ֑ן חֶמְדָּ֥ן וְאֶשְׁבָּ֖ן וְיִתְרָ֥ן וּכְרָֽן׃ NAS: Hemdan and Eshban and Ithran KJV: Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, INT: Dishon Hemdan and Eshban and Ithran and Cheran 1 Chronicles 1:41 2 Occurrences |
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