Shama
Shama, the son of Hotham the Aroerite, was one of the mighty men in David's army.
Biography
Shama was a military officer who served among the elite corps of David's mighty men, recorded in 1 Chronicles 11:44 as the son of Hotham the Aroerite and the brother of Jeiel. He and his brother both appear in the expanded list of David's warriors in Chronicles, which supplements the parallel roster in 2 Samuel 23. The Aroerite designation connects Shama to Aroer, a settlement in the Transjordanian region near the Arnon River, suggesting his family had roots in the territory east of the Jordan. As one of David's mighty men, Shama would have been among the elite soldiers whose exceptional valor, loyalty, and military skill formed the backbone of David's kingdom, enabling his military campaigns, protecting his person, and enforcing his authority across the expanding Israelite state during the period of the united monarchy.
Significance
Shama's inclusion in the roster of David's mighty men (1 Chronicles 11:44) reflects the theological importance the biblical writers attached to faithful, courageous service in God's appointed king's cause. David's mighty men represent a community of warriors whose personal loyalty to David parallels the covenant loyalty God calls from His people. Their stories collectively illustrate the principle that extraordinary faithfulness, even in military and physical domains, honors God and advances His purposes. Shama, alongside his brother Jeiel, exemplifies the familial dimension of covenant service, demonstrating that whole households can be shaped by a culture of devotion and valor. Their legacy contributes to the portrait of David's kingdom as a type of the eternal kingdom governed by the greater Son of David.
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]