Nehelamite, the (Hastings' Dictionary)

An epithet ap- pied to Shemaiah, a false Brophet who opposed eremiah, Jer 29% 1-83, According to analogy the word should mean an inhabitant of Nehelam, but there is no place of that name mentioned in the Bible. This, however, is not a fatal objection. The Targ. derives the word from a place Helam, LXX Αἰλάμ, which is mentioned in 2S 10'®!7 as apparently near the Euphrates. The LXX in Jer 36 [Heb. 29] has B Αἰλαμείτην, ANQ ᾿Ελαμίτην. Vulg. agrees with English Versions.

‘Nehelamite’ might also be related to the personal name Helem (1 Ch 735, Zec 6). The AVm ‘dreamer’ is of course incorrect, yet there can be little doubt that a play on the words "πὶ and obn ‘to dream’ was in the prophet’s mind. This verb and the cognate noun (0177) are used specifically in Jer (237 27-28. 82, cf. Dt 13% “ 5) of the dreams of false prophets. The words elsewhere are scarcely ever used of the higher inspiration, being employed, e.g.

, of Jacob, Gn 28"; Joseph, 375%; Pharaoh and his servants, 4057 4)" (all E, not elsewhere in Hex.); of a lower order of prophets than Moses, Nu 12° (ef. Job 33"); of the Midianite, Jg 7%; the object of Saul’s desire, 1S 28°15; of Solomon, 1 K 3%; of old men in latter days, Jl 2%; of Nebuch- adnezzar, Dn 2": ; of Daniel, Dn 12”. N. J. D. WHITE.