Who was Shimei in the Bible?

Shimei was a descendant of Judah through his son Mishma, mentioned in the genealogical records of the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:3, 4:26-27). He is a relatively minor figure, listed among the many descendants of Judah's posterity.

What is the significance of Shimei in the Bible?

Shimei's primary significance is genealogical, as his listing helps trace the lineage of the tribe of Judah. This lineage is important because it leads to King David and, ultimately, to Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-16).

What key events happened in Shimei's life?

The Bible does not record any specific events in the life of this Shimei. His mention is solely within the context of the family genealogy, with no narratives or stories provided about his actions.

Shimei

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon of zaccur

Shimei was a descendant of Judah through Mishma, mentioned in the genealogy of Judah's posterity.

Shimei

Biography

This Shimei was a descendant of Judah through the line of Mishma, son of Mibsam, son of Shimeah, situated within the extended genealogy of Simeon recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:26–27. He is specifically noted for having sixteen sons and six daughters, a detail unusual enough for the Chronicler to record, though the text immediately adds that 'his brothers did not have many children.' The contrast suggests that Shimei's family was notably prolific within a broader context of demographic limitation among Simeon's clans. The identification of his ancestor as the son of Zaccur situates Shimei within a specific Simeonite subclan. His large family likely contributed significantly to the population of whatever Simeonite territory his clan occupied.

Significance

The specific notation of Shimei's sixteen sons and six daughters within the Simeonite genealogy carries theological significance in light of the tribal context. Simeon was a tribe that had been dispersed within Israel's territory since Jacob's prophetic word (Genesis 49:5–7), lacking a consolidated tribal allotment. In such a context, Shimei's exceptionally large family represented a form of covenant vitality, the blessing of fruitfulness, persisting even within a tribe whose corporate fortunes were diminished. His family's demographic contrast with his brothers' smaller households illustrates the unpredictability of God's blessing, which does not follow uniform patterns but is sovereignly distributed within the covenant community according to divine purposes that may not be immediately apparent to human observers.

Verse Appearances (2)

1Chr

1Chr 4:26 1Chr 4:27

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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