Shema
Shema, a son of Elpaal and a descendant of Benjamin.
Biography
Shema son of Elpaal was a Benjaminite clan leader whose name appears among the descendants of Benjamin listed in 1 Chronicles 8:13. He and his brother Beriah are credited with having driven out the inhabitants of Gath, demonstrating military leadership on behalf of their clan. The Benjaminite genealogy in 1 Chronicles 8 reflects the tribe's complex history of near-annihilation following the civil war in Judges 19–20 and its subsequent rebuilding. Shema's lineage through Elpaal connects him to the broader web of Benjaminite families who settled in towns throughout the Benjamin highlands and maintained a distinct tribal identity even after the division of the monarchy.
Significance
Shema's role in driving out the inhabitants of Gath (1 Chronicles 8:13) illustrates the ongoing nature of Israel's struggle to take possession of the Promised Land, a mandate that continued beyond the initial conquest under Joshua. His military action on behalf of Benjamin also demonstrates the vitality of tribal leadership at the clan level, where individual heads of households bore responsibility for the security and welfare of their people. Theologically, such figures remind readers that God's purposes were advanced through the combined efforts of many largely anonymous faithful leaders, not only through the great figures whose stories are told at length.
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]