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Shimeah

Old TestamentUnited MonarchyMaleFatherBrother

Shimeah (also known as Shimei, Shammah, or Shimea) was a brother of King David and the father of Jonadab (or 'Jonathan').

Shimeah illustration
Shimeah

Biography

Shimeah was a son of Jesse and an older brother of King David, known under several variant names in Scripture, Shimea (1 Chronicles 2:13), Shammah (1 Samuel 16:9; 17:13), and Shimei (2 Samuel 21:21). He was the third son of Jesse presented before Samuel during the anointing of Saul's successor, but passed over in God's election of the youngest son, David. Shimeah is most notably remembered as the father of Jonadab (2 Samuel 13:3), a 'very crafty man' whose cunning counsel enabled Amnon's assault on Tamar, David's daughter, a crime with devastating consequences for David's household. Shimeah also had a son named Jonathan who slew a giant Philistine at Gath (2 Samuel 21:21; 1 Chronicles 20:7).

Significance

Shimeah's legacy is a complex one, shaped by the contrasting characters of his two sons. Through Jonadab, Shimeah's household became entangled in one of the most tragic episodes in David's family history, the violation of Tamar and its catastrophic aftermath of fraternal murder and rebellion. Yet through Jonathan, Shimeah's line also produced a warrior who defended Israel against Philistine giants, echoing his uncle David's own defining act. Shimeah thus represents the moral ambiguity present even within the households closest to God's chosen leaders. His family's story illustrates the biblical truth that proximity to covenant blessing does not guarantee godly character, and that faithfulness and failure can emerge from the same family heritage.

Authority Records

Verse Appearances (7)

References

  1. Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
  2. Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
  3. Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
  4. Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources