Benaiah

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Hebrew Bᵉnāyāh (“Yahweh has built up” / “Yahweh has established”), reflecting the divine name in the theophoric ending.
• Period/Era: United Monarchy
• Main References: 1 Chronicles 27:20; 1 Chronicles 4:36 (name in tribal list)
• Key Connections: Levites under David’s administration; associated with the tribe of Levi in the organization of Israel’s leadership structures.

Who was Benaiah?

Benaiah is named as a Levite in a list of leaders connected to David’s kingdom administration.
He is identified in a context where tribal and clan heads are recorded for governance and oversight.
The reference places him among Levites functioning within the royal organization during the United Monarchy.

Key Events & Achievements

• Appointment Listing: Named as the leader “of the Levites” in a roster of officials connected to David’s administration (1 Chronicles 27:20).
• Genealogical Notice: Appears in a Judahite list as “Benaiah” among descendants, showing the name’s presence in Israel’s recorded lineages (1 Chronicles 4:36).
• Administrative Context: Included within Chronicles’ broader presentation of ordered leadership alongside Israel’s tribes during David’s reign (1 Chronicles 27).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Benaiah’s brief mention highlights how Levite leadership was integrated into Israel’s organized national and cultic life under David.

Key Verse

"of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; of the Aaronites, Zadok." — 1 Chronicles 27:17, ESV