Who were the Shiphmites in the Bible?

The Shiphmites were people from the town of Siphmoth. They are mentioned as being in charge of King David's vineyards and agricultural supplies (1 Chronicles 27:27).

What was the significance of the Shiphmites?

Their significance lies in their administrative role, managing vital resources for King David's royal household. This shows how David organized his kingdom with specific officials for different duties.

What key events involved the Shiphmites?

The only recorded event is their appointment to oversee the vineyards. This is listed among the officials of David's kingdom, highlighting the structure and provision for his reign (1 Chronicles 27:25-31).

Shiphmites

Old TestamentFemale

The Shiphmites were people from Siphmoth who were in charge of King David's vineyards.

Shiphmites

Biography

The Shiphmites were a group associated with Siphmoth, a location in the Negev of Judah mentioned in 1 Samuel 30:28 as one of the places to which David sent portions of the spoil recovered after defeating the Amalekites. Their significance in the administrative framework of the Davidic kingdom is further attested in 1 Chronicles 27:27, where Zabdi the Shiphmite is identified as the official in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the royal wine cellars. This indicates that the Siphmoth region was renowned for viticulture and that its inhabitants held specialized roles in the agrarian economy of David's kingdom. Their community likely traced its identity to this particular locale in the southern hill country.

Significance

The Shiphmites exemplify the integration of regional communities into the broader administrative and economic structures of the Davidic monarchy. Their stewardship of royal vineyards reflects the biblical vision of responsible agricultural management as a form of service to the covenant community. The inclusion of Siphmoth among the cities that received spoils from David (1 Samuel 30:28) indicates this community's prior loyalty to David during his years of fugitive life in the southern wilderness, suggesting a long-standing bond of fidelity that was subsequently honored. They thus illustrate how local communities participated in and sustained the kingdom God had established through David.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 27:27

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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