שִׁלֵּמִי
a Shilemite (collectively) or descendants of Shillem
Definition
Shillêmîy refers to a member of the Shillemite clan, a family group descended from Shillem, who was a son of Naphtali (Genesis 46:24). In the biblical context, it functions as a gentilic noun, identifying individuals by their lineage within the tribe of Naphtali. The term appears exclusively in the census lists of Numbers 26:49, where it denotes the clan as a distinct social and military unit within Israel. There are no other major senses or differing meanings for this specific term in the Hebrew Bible.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 26:49, within the context of the second wilderness census. Its usage is purely genealogical and demographic, serving to list the Shillemites as one of the clan families of the tribe of Naphtali. This pattern aligns with other gentilic names in the census chapters, which document Israel's tribal organization.
Etymology
The word is a patronymic, derived from the proper name Shillem (H8006, שִׁלֵּם). It is formed by adding the Hebrew suffix '-îy,' which indicates belonging or descent, meaning 'of or pertaining to Shillem.' The root name Shillem (שִׁלֵּם) is related to the verb shalam (שָׁלַם), meaning 'to be complete, make peace, or repay,' suggesting a possible meaning of 'recompensed' or 'peaceful' for the ancestor.
Semantic Range
While the term itself is primarily genealogical, its inclusion in the Numbers census underscores the theological importance of tribal identity and God's faithfulness to the patriarchal promises. Recording each clan by name highlights that God's covenant community is composed of specific, known families. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by connecting a list name to the broader narrative of Israel's formation and God's meticulous preservation of His people.
In ancient Israelite culture, a gentilic name like Shillêmîy was crucial for establishing one's identity, inheritance rights, and social standing within the tribe. Being identified as a Shillemite located an individual within a specific lineage of the tribe of Naphtali, which determined their share in the tribal territory and their role in communal life. This differs from modern individualistic identity, as identity was deeply collective and tied to ancestry.
Naphtali (Naphtali, H5321) — The tribal name encompassing the Shillemite clan. Shimron (Shimron, H8110) — Another clan name from the tribe of Issachar, showing a parallel gentilic structure for a different tribal family.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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