Who was Shephatiah in the Bible?

Shephatiah was a leader in ancient Israel, specifically the son of Maacah who was appointed as the ruler over the tribe of Simeon during the reign of King David. His role is recorded in the list of David's officials in 1 Chronicles 27:16.

What was Shephatiah's significance?

Shephatiah's significance lies in his administrative role, representing the tribe of Simeon within King David's organized kingdom government. This highlights the structure and tribal representation during a key period of Israel's united monarchy.

What do we know about Shephatiah's life?

The Bible records very few events from Shephatiah's life. The key known fact is his appointment as a tribal leader for Simeon, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 27:16, indicating he held a position of trust and authority under David.

Shephatiah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon of maacah

Shephatiah, the son of Maacah, appointed as the ruler over the tribe of Simeon during David's reign.

Shephatiah

Biography

Shephatiah son of Maacah was an administrative official appointed by King David as ruler over the tribe of Simeon, recorded in 1 Chronicles 27:16. He served as one of the twelve tribal leaders who assisted in the governance of Israel during David's reign, each overseeing his respective tribe as part of the king's organized administrative structure. His mother's name, Maacah, suggests possible Aramaean or northern connections, though the text provides no further biographical detail beyond his official appointment. His role as tribal governor of Simeon placed him within David's broader effort to unify and administer the twelve tribes under a centralized royal authority while preserving tribal identities and structures.

Significance

Shephatiah son of Maacah represents the administrative dimension of David's kingdom, in which tribal governance was integrated into a unified national structure. His appointment reflects David's political wisdom in maintaining tribal leaders who were accountable both to their clans and to the crown, a structure that preserved social cohesion under royal authority. Theologically, his role illustrates how God's covenant purposes are carried forward through the ordering of human society and governance. David's organized tribal administration prepared Israel for the building of the temple under Solomon and provided a model of ordered, delegated leadership that Scripture consistently affirms as part of God's design for human community.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 27:16

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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