Who was Shilhi in the Bible?

Shilhi was the father of Azubah and the maternal grandfather of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. He is mentioned only in the genealogical records of the kings of Judah (1 Kings 22:42, 2 Chronicles 20:31).

Why is Shilhi significant in the Bible?

Shilhi's significance comes entirely through his family line; his daughter Azubah was the mother of King Jehoshaphat, a righteous king who sought God. This connection places Shilhi in the ancestry of the Davidic line of kings.

What do we know about Shilhi's life?

The Bible provides no details about Shilhi's life, character, or key events. His sole recorded role is as a named ancestor in the lineage of King Jehoshaphat, highlighting the importance of family heritage in the biblical narrative.

Shilhi

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleKingMotherFather

Shilhi, the father of Azubah, who was the mother of King Jehoshaphat of Judah.

Shilhi

Biography

Shilhi is known solely through a brief genealogical reference in 1 Kings 22:42 and 2 Chronicles 20:31, where he is identified as the father of Azubah, who was the mother of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. This places Shilhi as the maternal grandfather of one of Judah's most celebrated monarchs. Jehoshaphat reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem and was remembered as a king who 'walked in all the ways of his father Asa', faithful to the Lord and devoted to reforming Judah's religious life. While Shilhi's own biography is otherwise unknown, his daughter Azubah was the queen mother, a position of considerable influence in the Davidic royal court, suggesting Shilhi's family held some degree of social standing within Judah.

Significance

Shilhi's significance lies in his indirect contribution to one of Judah's most righteous reigns. The biblical genealogies of royal mothers reflect the understanding that maternal lineage and upbringing shaped the character of kings. Jehoshaphat's dedication to the Lord, his removal of high places, his dispatch of teachers throughout Judah (2 Chronicles 17:7–9), and his judicial reforms, may owe something to the household values instilled through Azubah and, by extension, her father Shilhi. Shilhi thus represents the unseen but vital influence of family heritage on covenant faithfulness. His story reminds readers that God works through every generation of a family to shape leaders who serve His redemptive purposes.

Authority Records

Wikidata

ChildAzubah

Verse Appearances (2)

1Kgs

1Kgs 22:42

2Chr

2Chr 20:31

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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