Who was Elishama in the Bible?

Elishama was the grandfather of Ishmael, who is known for assassinating Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor of Judah after the fall of Jerusalem. He is mentioned in the context of this pivotal political event (2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 41:1).

Why is Elishama significant in the Bible?

Elishama's significance comes entirely through his grandson, Ishmael. His family lineage connects to a major act of rebellion that disrupted the fragile peace for the remnant left in Judah after the Babylonian conquest.

What key event is Elishama associated with?

Elishama is associated with the assassination of Governor Gedaliah. While he did not commit the act himself, his grandson Ishmael carried it out, making Elishama's name part of this consequential historical record (Jeremiah 41:1-2).

Elishama

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleFather of nethaniah

Elishama was the grandfather of Ishmael, who assassinated Gedaliah, the governor appointed by the Babylonians (2Ki.25.25; Jer.41.1).

Elishama

Biography

Elishama was the grandfather of Ishmael, the man of royal blood who assassinated Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor of Judah (2 Kgs 25:25; Jer 41:1). His son Nethaniah was the father of Ishmael, making Elishama the patriarchal figure behind one of the most destabilizing acts of post-destruction Judah. The lineage connecting Elishama to Ishmael is explicitly noted in both Kings and Jeremiah to underline Ishmael's Davidic descent, a detail that may have motivated his violent bid for power following Nebuchadnezzar's appointment of the non-royal Gedaliah as governor. Elishama himself is not the actor in any recorded event, but his genealogical position gives context to the political turbulence that followed Jerusalem's fall in 586 BC.

Significance

Elishama's significance lies in the catastrophic consequences that flowed from his lineage. His grandson Ishmael's assassination of Gedaliah (Jer 41) shattered the fragile community that had remained in Judah after the Babylonian exile, scattering the survivors to Egypt and extinguishing the last organized remnant in the land (Jer 43). The genealogical detail tracing Ishmael to royal blood through Elishama explains the political ambition and perceived legitimacy behind the murder. Theologically, the episode illustrates the devastating consequences of pride, violence, and the rejection of God's providential arrangements, even as God continued to work through Jeremiah to call the remnant back to faithfulness and the land.

Verse Appearances (2)

2Kgs

2Kgs 25:25

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 41:1

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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