Who was Shimri in the Bible?

Shimri was a descendant of the tribe of Simeon, specifically from the family of Shimei. He lived during the reign of the righteous King Hezekiah of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:37).

What did Shimri do in the Bible?

Shimri is listed among the leaders of the Simeonites who expanded their territory during Hezekiah's reign. They destroyed the remaining Amalekites and settled in their land (1 Chronicles 4:38-43).

Why is Shimri significant in the Bible?

Shimri represents the Simeonite tribe's faithfulness and military action during a time of national religious revival under Hezekiah. His story shows how tribes acted on the king's reforms to secure the land.

Shimri

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon of shemaiah

Shimri was a Simeonite descendant of Shimei who lived during the reign of King Hezekiah.

Shimri

Biography

Shimri was a Simeonite, a descendant of Shimei, who lived during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. He is mentioned in the genealogical and territorial records of the Simeonites in 1 Chronicles 4, which describes the expansion of Simeonite clans during Hezekiah's time as they sought additional pastureland beyond their original allotments. Simeon was a tribe that had largely been absorbed into Judah following the settlement of Canaan, its territory enveloped within Judah's inheritance. Yet the Chronicler records continued Simeonite clan activity and identity into the monarchic period. Shimri, as a son of Shemaiah and descendant of the Simeonite line, represents the ongoing vitality of this tribal subgroup even in the period of the Divided Monarchy.

Significance

Shimri the Simeonite illustrates the persistence of tribal identity in Israel even among groups like Simeon that had been geographically and politically marginalized. Simeon's diminished status, prophesied in Jacob's blessing (Genesis 49:5–7), did not mean extinction, and the Chronicler's careful recording of Simeonite names like Shimri affirms that God's covenant community includes even those on its periphery. Theologically, this reflects the biblical conviction that no portion of God's people is forgotten or expendable. The expansion of Simeonite settlements during Hezekiah's reign also connects tribal vitality to periods of national faithfulness, suggesting that covenant renewal benefits the entire community, including its lesser-known members.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 4:37

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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