Shelomith
Shelomith, a son of Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah after the exile.
Biography
Shelomith was a descendant of Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah who led the first return of exiles from Babylon and oversaw the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple. In 1 Chronicles 3:19, Shelomith is listed among the children of Zerubbabel, who himself was a grandson of King Jehoiachin and thus a member of the Davidic royal line. As a member of the post-exilic Davidic family, Shelomith occupied a place of considerable ancestral dignity in the restored community, representing the continuation of the royal lineage through the trauma of exile. The preservation of Zerubbabel's family record in Chronicles reflects the Chronicler's hope for the ongoing significance of the Davidic covenant.
Significance
Shelomith's place in the genealogy of Zerubbabel carries deep messianic significance within the Chronicler's theological framework. The preservation of the Davidic lineage through the Babylonian exile and into the restoration period was essential to Israel's ongoing hope for the fulfillment of God's covenant with David (2 Samuel 7). Zerubbabel himself was hailed in prophetic terms by Haggai and Zechariah as a messianic figure, though the ultimate fulfillment awaited the coming of Jesus Christ. Shelomith, as part of this lineage, represents the thread of royal promise extending through the post-exilic community, a living sign that God had not abandoned His commitment to raise up a ruler from the house 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]