Who was Shemeber in the Bible?

Shemeber was the king of Zeboiim, one of the five cities of the plain (including Sodom and Gomorrah). He is only mentioned as a participant in the Battle of the Vale of Siddim against the coalition led by King Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:2, 8).

What happened to Shemeber and his city?

Shemeber and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were defeated in battle, and their cities' goods and people were taken captive. They were later rescued by Abram (later Abraham), as recorded in Genesis 14:8-16.

Why is Shemeber significant in the Bible?

Shemeber's story provides historical context for the wickedness of the cities of the plain, setting the stage for their later divine judgment. His defeat and rescue highlight Abram's growing prominence and military strength as God's chosen patriarch.

Shemeber

Old TestamentPatriarchsMaleKing

Shemeber, the king of Zeboiim, who joined the battle against Chedorlaomer and his allies.

Shemeber

Biography

Shemeber was the king of Zeboiim, one of the five cities of the plain near the Dead Sea, who formed a coalition with the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Bela (Zoar) against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and his three allied kings (Genesis 14:2). For twelve years these five kings had been subject to Chedorlaomer; in the thirteenth year they rebelled. The ensuing battle in the Valley of Siddim went badly for the coalition, Shemeber and his allies fled, with some falling into the asphalt pits there, while the victorious invaders plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and carried off captives including Lot, Abraham's nephew. Shemeber himself is not mentioned again after the battle list, and his fate after the defeat is unrecorded.

Significance

Shemeber's appearance in the Genesis 14 narrative places him within the earliest recorded military conflict in Scripture, a conflict that serves primarily as the backdrop for Abraham's defining act of loyalty and faith. The defeat of the five kings, including Shemeber, sets in motion the capture of Lot and Abraham's subsequent rescue mission, through which the patriarch is blessed by Melchizedek king of Salem (Genesis 14:18–20). The episode thus introduces one of Scripture's most theologically significant figures, Melchizedek, whose priestly kingship becomes a key type for the eternal priesthood of Christ in Psalm 110 and Hebrews 7. Shemeber, as one of the defeated kings, serves as a foil to both Melchizedek's transcendent blessing and Abraham's covenant faithfulness.

Authority Records

Wikidata

Verse Appearances (1)

Genesis

Genesis 14:2

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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