Shilshah
Shilshah was a son of Zophah and a descendant of Asher.
Biography
Shilshah was a son of Zophah and a member of the tribe of Asher, listed among the military-capable warriors in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 7:37. The passage catalogs the sons of Zophah, Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera, each contributing to the tribal roster of Asher's fighting men. The Chronicler notes that these men were 'heads of their fathers' houses, choice and mighty warriors, chiefs of the princes' (1 Chronicles 7:40), indicating that Shilshah, as one of Zophah's sons, belonged to a distinguished military clan within Asher. The tribe of Asher occupied coastal and northern territories in Canaan and contributed to Israel's military strength.
Significance
Shilshah's inclusion in the Asherite military genealogy reflects the Chronicler's theological concern to demonstrate that God preserved capable leadership and strength within every tribe of Israel. The exhaustive listing of warriors in 1 Chronicles 7 served the post-exilic community as a reminder that their tribal heritage was neither lost nor forgotten, God had maintained His covenant people's identity through centuries of history. For the restoration community reading Chronicles, such genealogies reassured them that they were heirs of a real, robust heritage. Shilshah also represents the often-unsung contributors to Israel's covenant security, the warriors and clan leaders whose faithful service undergirded the nation's ability to dwell safely in the land God had promised.
Verse Appearances (1)
1 Chronicles
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]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]