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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Shemaiah
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sheÌ„Ì-mā´ya, sheÌ„Ì-mı̄´a (ש×מעיה, shema‛yaÌ„h (in ; ; ; ; ; ; , shema‛yaÌ„huÌ„), “Jahveh hearsâ€): The name is most frequently borne by priests, Levites and prophets.
(1) Codex Vaticanus ΣαμμαιÌας, SammaıÌas; Codex Alexandrinus ΣαμαιÌας, SamaıÌas (, ). A prophet who, together with Ahijah, protested against Rehoboam's contemplated war against the ten revolted tribes (-24 = -4). He declared that the rebellion had divine sanction. The second Greek account knows nothing of Ahijah in this connection and introduces Shemaiah at the gathering at Shechem where both Jeroboam and Rehoboam were present; it narrates that on this occasion Shemaiah (not Ahijah) rent his garment and gave ten parts to Jeroboam to signify the ten tribes over which he was to become king. (This version, however, is not taken very seriously, because of its numerous inconsistencies.) Shemaiah also prophesied at the invasion of Judah by Shishak (-7). His message was to the effect that as the princes of Israel had humbled themselves, God's wrath against their idolatrous practices would not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak (). He is mentioned as the author of a history of Rehoboam ().
(2) Son of Shecaniah (, ΣαμαιαÌ, SamaiaÌ), a descendant of Zerubbabel. This is also the name of one of the men who helped to repair the wall (, ΣεμειÌα, SemeıÌa ()× compare Curtis, ICC, in -24)).
(3) A Simeonite (, Codex Vaticanus ΣυμεωÌν, SumeoÌ„Ìn; Codex Alexandrinus ΣαμαιÌας, SamaıÌas), identical, perhaps, with the Shimei of , .
(4) A Reubenite (, Codex Vaticanus ΣεμεειÌ, SemeeıÌ; Codex Alexandrinus ΣεμειÌν, SemeıÌn), called Shema in .
(5) A Merarite Levite (; , ΣαμαιαÌ, SamaiaÌ), one of those who dwelt in Jerusalem.
(6) A Levite of the family of Jeduthun, father of Obadiah or Abda (, ΣαμειαÌ, SameiaÌ, Codex Alexandrinus ΣαμιÌας, SamıÌas, called “Shammua†in ).
(7) Head of the Levitical Kohathite clan of Elizaphan in the time of David (, Codex Vaticanus ΣαμαιÌας, SamaıÌas; Codex Alexandrinus ΣαμαιαÌ, SamaiaÌ; Codex Sinaiticus ΣαμεÌας, SameÌas; , Codex Vaticanus ΣαμιÌας, SamıÌas; Codex Alexandrinus ΣεμειÌας, SemeıÌas; Codex Sinaiticus ΣαμαιÌ, SamaıÌ). He may be the same person as (8).
(8) The scribe (), the son of Nethanel, who registered the names of the priestly courses.
(9) A Korahite Levite, eldest son of Obed-edom (, , Codex Vaticanus ΣαμαιÌας, SamaıÌas; Codex Alexandrinus ΣαμειÌας, SameıÌas; , Codex Vaticanus ΣαμαιÌ, SamaıÌ; Codex Alexandrinus ΣεμειÌα, SemeıÌa).
(10) A Levite (, Codex Vaticanus ΣαμουÌας, SamouÌas; Codex Alexandrinus ΣαμουιÌας, SamouıÌas). One of the commission appointed by Jehoshaphat to teach the book of the Law in Judah. The names of the commissioners as a whole belong to a period later than the 9th century. (Gray, HPN, 231).
(11) One of the men “over the free-will offerings of God†(, ΣεμεειÌ, SemeeıÌ).
(12) A Levite of the family of Jeduthun in the reign of Hezekiah (), one of those who assisted in the purification of the Temple.
(13) A chief of the Levites (), called “Samaias†in Septuagint and 1 Esdras 1:9.
(14) A “chief man†under Ezra (), called “Maasmas†and “Samaias†in 1 Esdras 8:43, 44.
(15) A member of the family of Adonikam (, Codex Vaticanus ΣαμαιÌα, SamaıÌa; Codex Alexandrinus ΣαμαειαÌ, SamaeiaÌ; “Samaias†in 1 Esdras 8:39).
(16) A priest of the family of Harim who married a foreign wife (), called “Sameus†in 1 Esdras 9:21.
(17) A layman of the family of Harim who married a foreign wife (), called “Sabbeus†in 1 Esdras 9:32.
(18) A prophet (-14, Codex Vaticanus σεμεειÌ, SemeeıÌ; Codex Alexandrinus ΣεμειÌ, SemeıÌ), employed by Sanballat and Tobiah to frighten Nehemiah and hinder the rebuilding of the wall.
(19) One of the 24 courses of priests, 16th under Zerubbabel (, Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Alexandrinus ΣεμειÌας, SemeıÌas), 15th under Joiakim (; Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Alexandrinus ΣεμειÌα, SemeıÌa), and 21st under Nehemiah (, ΣαμαιαÌ, SamaiaÌ), mentioned in connection with the dedication of the wall.
(20) A priest, descendant of Asaph ().
(21) A singer (or clan) participating in the dedication of the wall ().
(22) Father of the prophet Urijah (, Codex Vaticanus and Codex Alexandrinus ΣαμαιÌας, SamaıÌas; Codex Sinaiticus ΜασεÌας, MaseÌas).
(23) A false prophet who was upbraided by Jeremiah (-32) for attempting to hinder his work. He is styled “the Nehelamite†and was among those carried into captivity with Jehoiachin. In opposition to Jeremiah, he predicted a speedy ending to the captivity. Jeremiah foretold the complete destruction of Shemaiah's family.
(24) Father of Delaiah, who was a prince in the reign of Zedekiah ().
(25) “The great,†kinsman of Tobias (Tobit 5:13).