Who was Shemaiah in the Bible?

Shemaiah was a descendant of Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob. He is specifically listed as the son of Joel in the genealogical records of the tribe of Reuben (1 Chronicles 5:4).

Why is Shemaiah mentioned in the Bible?

Shemaiah's primary significance is his inclusion in the official genealogy of the tribe of Reuben. This establishes the lineage and heritage of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, preserving their identity and connection to the covenant promises.

What did Shemaiah do in the Bible?

The Bible does not record any specific events or actions from Shemaiah's life. His mention is purely genealogical, serving to document the family line from Reuben down through his father Joel (1 Chronicles 5:1-8).

Shemaiah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon of joel

Shemaiah, a descendant of Reuben, son of Joel.

Shemaiah

Biography

Shemaiah son of Joel was a Reubenite chieftain whose name appears in the genealogical record of 1 Chronicles 5:4–6, in the lineage running from Joel through to Beerah, who was carried into exile by Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. Shemaiah was the father of Gog in this lineage. The Reubenite tribal records preserved in 1 Chronicles 5 document the clan leaders who inhabited the Transjordanian territories east of the Jordan River, in the region of Gilead and beyond. Though the tribe of Reuben had lost its preeminence among the tribes due to Reuben's ancient transgression (Genesis 49:3–4), its members continued to maintain tribal organization and territorial presence through the monarchy period.

Significance

Shemaiah's inclusion in the Reubenite genealogy reflects the biblical commitment to preserving the memory and identity of all Israel's tribes, including those whose prominence had waned. The Reubenite records in 1 Chronicles 5 were likely compiled partly to affirm that God's covenant encompassed the entirety of Israel, all twelve tribes, not merely those in positions of political or religious prestige. Shemaiah's place in a lineage that ended in Assyrian exile also serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of unfaithfulness recorded later in 1 Chronicles 5:25–26, where the Transjordanian tribes' exile is attributed to their spiritual apostasy.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 5:4

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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