Who was Shelemiah in the Bible?

Shelemiah was a Levite, a member of the priestly tribe, who helped rebuild Jerusalem's walls after the Babylonian exile. He is specifically mentioned as repairing a section of the wall near his own house (Nehemiah 3:30).

What did Shelemiah do in the Book of Nehemiah?

Shelemiah's key action was repairing a specific section of Jerusalem's wall. This work was part of the community-wide effort led by Nehemiah to restore the city's defenses and identity (Nehemiah 3:30).

Why is Shelemiah's role in Nehemiah important?

Shelemiah represents the collective effort and personal sacrifice of many individuals who answered Nehemiah's call. His work, though briefly mentioned, highlights that every contributor was vital to the successful rebuilding of Jerusalem's community and security.

Shelemiah

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleLevite

Shelemiah, a Levite who repaired a section of Jerusalem's wall.

Shelemiah

Biography

Shelemiah the Levite is mentioned in Nehemiah 13:13 as one of four men appointed by Nehemiah to serve as treasurers over the temple storehouses. He was placed in charge of distributing provisions to his fellow Levites, a position of significant administrative and spiritual responsibility in the restored post-exilic community of Jerusalem. Additionally, a Shelemiah (possibly the same individual) is listed in Nehemiah 3:30 among those who repaired a section of Jerusalem's wall, contributing to the physical restoration of the city under Nehemiah's leadership. His dual service in construction and temple administration exemplifies the kind of dedicated communal labor that characterized the faithful among the returned exiles.

Significance

Shelemiah's appointment as a temple treasurer by Nehemiah (Nehemiah 13:13) carries important theological weight. Nehemiah explicitly selected him as a man 'counted faithful,' establishing trustworthiness as the primary qualification for stewardship of sacred resources. This appointment came in the context of Nehemiah's reforms to purge corruption and restore proper Levitical service, reforms urgently needed because the Levites had been neglected and forced to abandon temple service for their fields. Shelemiah's faithful service thus represents the restoration of right worship and covenant order in the post-exilic community, embodying the principle that God's house requires faithful stewards who prioritize the welfare of the whole covenant people.

Verse Appearances (1)

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 3:30

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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