Who was Shimea in the Bible?

Shimea was a Levite from the family of Merari who served in the tabernacle during the reign of King David. His role involved assisting with the worship services and the care of the sacred tent (1 Chronicles 6:29-30).

What is the significance of Shimea being a Levite?

As a Levite from the line of Merari, Shimea belonged to the tribe set apart for religious service. This meant his life was dedicated to supporting the priests and maintaining the operations of Israel's worship system (Numbers 3:36-37).

What did Shimea do during David's reign?

The Bible records Shimea as a temple servant during David's organization of the Levitical duties. He is listed among those whose descendants were appointed to serve with song and instruments before the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 15:17-18).

Shimea

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleLevite

Shimea was a Levite of the family of Merari who served during King David's reign.

Shimea

Biography

This Shimea was a Levite belonging to the clan of Merari, one of the three main Levitical families. He is listed in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 6:30 as the son of Uzzah and the father of Haggiah, situated within the Merarite line of descent. The Merarites were responsible for the physical transportation and maintenance of the tabernacle's structural components, its frames, bars, pillars, and bases, during the wilderness period, and later participated in the temple service organized by David. Shimea's place in this genealogy locates him within the Levitical order during the Davidic era, contributing to the broader structure of Israelite worship administration that David organized as part of his preparations for the temple Solomon would build.

Significance

Shimea of the Merarite clan represents the indispensable but often unheralded dimension of covenant worship, the faithful service rendered in the middle of a genealogical line, neither at its celebrated beginning nor at its prominent end. The Merarites' role in maintaining the physical structures of Israel's worship life was as theologically vital as the priestly duties performed within them: without structural integrity, no worship could be conducted. Shimea's position in this lineage affirms the Chronicler's broader theological message that every member of the Levitical community, across every function and generation, participated in God's larger purposes of establishing a place where His glory dwelt among His people and where Israel could approach Him in ordered reverence.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 6:30

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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