Shallum
Shallum, the son of Sismai, was a descendant of Judah through the line of Jerahmeel.
Biography
This Shallum was a descendant of Judah through the line of Jerahmeel, recorded in 1 Chronicles 2:40–41 as the son of Sismai and the father of Jekamiah. He belongs to a subsection of Judahite genealogy tracing the descendants of Sheshan through his daughter, who married an Egyptian servant named Jarha. The resulting lineage, preserved across several generations, demonstrates the inclusive breadth of Israelite tribal identity, wherein foreign ancestry could be incorporated into Judahite kinship networks through marriage and covenant inclusion. Shallum's position in this genealogy is unremarkable in terms of narrative detail, yet his placement within the line of Jerahmeel, one of the notable southern clans of Judah, connects him to a distinguished ancestral heritage that predates the monarchy.
Significance
The genealogical record of this Shallum in 1 Chronicles 2 reflects the Chronicler's theological affirmation that God's covenant purposes flow through faithful family lines, even those marked by ethnic complexity. The inclusion of descent through Jarha, an Egyptian, within the tribal rolls of Judah illustrates that belonging to God's covenant people was not strictly ethnic but was extended through legitimate familial incorporation. Shallum's lineage thus anticipates the New Testament's expansion of covenant community beyond ethnic Israel. The careful preservation of such genealogies also demonstrates God's meticulous care for all members of His people, ensuring that even lesser-known individuals are counted and remembered within the story of redemption.
Verse Appearances (2)
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]