Who was Shemaiah in the Bible?

Shemaiah was a Levite mentioned in the book of 2 Chronicles. He was one of the temple officials who generously contributed animals for the Passover offerings during the religious reforms of King Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:9).

Why is Shemaiah significant?

Shemaiah's significance lies in his role supporting King Josiah's great Passover celebration, a key event in Judah's spiritual revival. His contribution exemplified the collective effort of the Levites to restore proper worship in Jerusalem.

What did Shemaiah do in the Bible?

The Bible records that Shemaiah, along with other Levitical leaders, donated thousands of animals from their own herds for the Passover sacrifices. This act helped facilitate the massive celebration ordered by Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:9).

Shemaiah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleLevite

Shemaiah, a Levite who contributed to the Passover offerings during Josiah's reign.

Shemaiah

Biography

Shemaiah was a Levite who made a generous contribution to the great Passover celebration organized by King Josiah (640–609 BC), one of the most significant religious revivals in Judah's history. According to 2 Chronicles 35:9, Shemaiah and his brothers Conaniah and Nethanel, along with other Levitical leaders, donated five thousand Passover lambs and five hundred cattle for the Levites participating in the feast. Josiah's Passover was celebrated on an unprecedented scale, described as unmatched since the days of Samuel the prophet (2 Chronicles 35:18), and the generosity of Levitical leaders like Shemaiah made the breadth of the celebration possible. His contribution reflects the spirit of revival and covenant renewal that characterized Josiah's reformation.

Significance

Shemaiah's generous donation during Josiah's Passover illustrates the biblical principle that revival and covenant renewal require not only spiritual resolve but tangible, sacrificial giving. The Levitical leaders' contributions (2 Chronicles 35:9) mirrored the generosity of the king himself (35:7–8), demonstrating that leaders in God's community are called to model liberality and worship-centered sacrifice. Josiah's Passover stands as a theological high point in the narrative of Judah's final decades, and the participation of committed Levites like Shemaiah amplified its impact. His example challenges believers to invest materially in the renewal of communal worship and sacred observance.

Verse Appearances (1)

2Chr

2Chr 35:9

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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