Who was Shammai in the Bible?

Shammai was the father of Maon and the grandfather of Beth-zur, making him an ancestor of Caleb from the tribe of Judah. He is mentioned in the genealogical records that trace the lineage of Caleb's family (1 Chronicles 2:44-45).

Why is Shammai significant in the Bible?

Shammai's significance lies in his place within the genealogy of Caleb, a faithful and prominent leader in Israel. Being an ancestor of Caleb connects him to the tribe of Judah's heritage and the inheritance of land in Canaan.

What do we know about Shammai's life?

The Bible provides very few details about Shammai's life events. We only know his familial relationships: he was the son of Rekem and the father of Maon, as recorded in the genealogy of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:44-45).

Shammai

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleFather

Shammai was the father of Maon and an ancestor of Caleb, a prominent figure in the tribe of Judah.

Shammai

Biography

Shammai appears in the Calebite genealogy of 1 Chronicles 2:44-45 as the father of Maon, who in turn became the father of Beth-zur. This Shammai was part of the broader Calebite clan within the tribe of Judah, a line notable for its connection to the celebrated spy Caleb son of Jephunneh. In the genealogical structure of Chronicles, personal names frequently double as place names, suggesting that Shammai may represent either an individual ancestor or a clan whose settlement gave rise to the town of Maon in the hill country of Judah. Maon was a real and significant locality, appearing elsewhere in Scripture in connection with David's flight from Saul (1 Samuel 23:24-25).

Significance

Shammai's role as an ancestor of Maon and Beth-zur illustrates how Chronicles weaves together personal genealogy and territorial history into a single tapestry. The Calebite tradition within Judah was particularly esteemed for Caleb's unwavering faith at Kadesh-Barnea, when he alone with Joshua urged Israel to trust God and enter Canaan. Shammai's descendants' connection to identifiable Judean towns confirms that God's promises of land inheritance were progressively fulfilled through real families and real locations. This grounding of spiritual promises in concrete historical geography is a hallmark of Old Testament theology, affirming that redemption operates within, not apart from, the fabric of human history.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherOnamChildAbishurChildNadabSiblingJada

Verse Appearances (2)

1Chr

1Chr 2:44 1Chr 2:45

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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