Who was Harhas in the Bible?

Harhas, also called Hasrah, was the father of the wife of a man named Shallum. He is mentioned only in the context of his daughter's marriage, as recorded in 2 Kings 22:14 and 2 Chronicles 34:22.

Why is Harhas mentioned in the Bible?

Harhas is mentioned to identify his daughter, Huldah the prophetess, who was consulted by King Josiah's officials. His significance lies entirely in his familial connection to this important prophetess (2 Chronicles 34:22).

What was Harhas's role in the story of King Josiah?

Harhas had no direct role. His importance is that he was the grandfather of Huldah's husband, Shallum. This family connection helps identify Huldah, the prophetess King Josiah consulted to understand the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:14).

Harhas

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleWifeFather

Harhas or Hasrah was the father of Shallum's wife. (2Ki.22.14; 2Ch.34.22)

Harhas

Biography

Harhas, also spelled Hasrah in the parallel account of 2 Chronicles 34:22, was the grandfather of Shallum, who served as keeper of the wardrobe in the court of King Josiah of Judah. Shallum's wife was the prophetess Huldah, one of the most significant female prophets in the Old Testament. When King Josiah sent a delegation, including Hilkiah the priest and Shaphan the scribe, to inquire of God regarding the newly discovered Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:13-14), they went specifically to Huldah, who delivered a remarkable prophetic oracle to the king. The family connection between Harhas, Shallum, and Huldah thus places Harhas at the genealogical root of a household through which God spoke one of the pivotal prophetic words of Judah's final century.

Significance

Harhas himself is remembered only through his lineage, yet his family stood at the intersection of some of the most momentous events in Judah's final generations. His grandson Shallum had access to the royal court, and his granddaughter-in-law Huldah wielded prophetic authority that directly influenced one of Judah's greatest kings. Josiah's reform, sparked in part by Huldah's oracle, represents the last sustained effort at covenant renewal before Jerusalem's fall to Babylon. Harhas reminds readers that faithfulness in one generation can cultivate an environment in which God raises up remarkable servants in the next. The household he helped establish became a conduit for prophetic word and royal reform at a decisive moment in Israel's history.

Authority Records

Wikidata

Verse Appearances (2)

2Kgs

2Kgs 22:14

2Chr

2Chr 34:22

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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