Ishi
Ishi was a descendant of Judah through Appaim (1Ch.2.31).
Biography
This Ishi appears in the genealogical records of Judah as a descendant through the line of Appaim, himself a son of Nadab and a descendant of Jerahmeel (1 Chronicles 2:31). The lineage traces back through Hezron, one of the sons of Perez and grandson of Judah. Ishi is listed as the son of Appaim, and the genealogy indicates that Ishi in turn had a son named Sheshan, though notably, Sheshan is elsewhere said to have had no sons but only daughters (1 Chronicles 2:34), raising interesting textual questions about the transmission of the family line. The name Ishi, meaning "my husband" or "my man," is shared by several individuals in the Old Testament, testifying to its currency in ancient Israelite naming practice.
Significance
Ishi's place in the Jerahmeelite branch of Judah's genealogy illustrates the Chronicler's meticulous effort to map every subdivision of the chosen tribe. The genealogy of Judah in 1 Chronicles 2 serves a post-exilic community seeking to reestablish its tribal identity and land rights. The details surrounding Ishi's descendant Sheshan, who had no male heirs and gave his daughter to an Egyptian servant, present one of Scripture's more unusual succession stories, demonstrating how God's purposes continued even through unconventional lineages. Ishi thus represents a link in the chain preserving Judah's heritage within the wider story of Israel.
Verse Appearances (1)
1Chr
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]