Shaving (Hastings' Dictionary)

Two Heb. words are used with this meaning, it; ' cut oil',' ' shear ' (wool, 1 S 25^), ' shave ' (one's head, Joli V, Mic 1") ; n^3 to make smooth or bald, to shave or shear (Nu 6'-", Dt21>=etc.) The ancient Egj-ptians, according to '\^'ilkinson {Anc. Egyp.), considered shaving the hair, not of the head only but of the whole body, necessary to cleanliness. Joseph, when summoned to the presence of Pharaoh, ' shaved himself and changed Ills raiment,' Gn 41".

The same custom is ob- served by many Hindu sects at the present time. In cases of mourning the hair was allowed to grow. Among the Israelites the custom was different. The hair seems to have been allowed to grow to a moderate length, and to have been cut at intervals. Absalom, we are told (2 S 14"), polled his head every year.

The beard was held sacred among the Israelites, as it is to this day among the Arabs ; and the insult that Ilanun, king of the Ammonites, otfered to the ambassadors of David, by sha%dng half of their beards (2 S 10*), could be atoned for only by the conquest and slavery of the Ammonites. The Nazirites were commanded to let no razor pass upon tlieir heads, but to allow the hair to grow.

When the time fixed by their vow had expired, or if they were accidentally defiled, then they were commanded to shave the whole head (Nu 6°- '• '*'■). In Syria the priests and monks of the Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholic Churches never allow the hair of the head or beard to be cut even in sickness. Many Christian parents dedicate a child to a particular saint for a certain period of time, and during that period the hair of the child is never cut.

These children are distinguished from others by their black clothes as well as their long hair. Among the Israelites and Arabs shav- ing the head was a sign of mourning (Job 1, Dt 21'2, Ezk 44-'), and with the neighbouring nations it was the custom to shave the ' comers of the beard, which the Israelites were expressly forbidden to do (Lv 21»). (See CUTTINGS in the Flesh, vol. i. p. 537* ; and for shaving of the head as a sacrificial act, W. R. Smith, RS 306). W. Carslaw. SHAVSHA (Npip.

In 2S 20» Kithib k-v, Keri Kipi, EV Sheva, are proved to be in error by LXX. Similar to the Keri, however, are B 2a,9d of 1 K 4' and BA ioi»^d of 1 K 2-""'. Of LXX forms given below, 'Ii;ffou5='I<roCs is a familiar name read for one unfamUiar, perhaps under the influence of a ditto- graphy from the preceding nal). — Royal or State secretary in king Da\'id's reign (1 Ch 18'* B 'IijtroPs, A and Luc. Zoivl, N 2oDs ; 2 S 20^ B 'Inaous, A 'IiroCs, Luc. "Zovaa).

2 S 8'-18 is a third passage containing a list of David'a officers of State. In MT Seraian now stands in place of Shavsha. But the list of 1 Chron. is dependent on that of 2 Sam., ia identical with it except in this one particular, and most probably has preserved the original reading. B 'Aca. seems to be a trace of the older text. 1 K 43 and 2-6h may be counted against Seraiah (see below). This name seems to have obtained cur- rency in the 7th century. It may be supposed that the familiar .

T-ic is a misreading of the possibly foreign name HVip. The oflice held by Shavsha is one of a group created by the monarchy in Israel. It dates, how- ever, from the time of David, like others of a similar character, for Saul's ' kingdom ' was not an organized State. It was David who made it 80. When he ranged himself among the princes of southern Syria his position forced on him the creation of certain offices of State.

The occa- sions, for instance, of communication and corres- pondence with neighbouring States multiplied. The example of contemporary princes suggested the appointment of a State secretary. Other prospects of usefiilness must have commended the precedent. In these circumstances Shavsha was appointed first holder of the oifice, as it seems. It is noteworthy that of all those who are named in the best list of David's officers of State (1 Ch 18'-" = 2 S 8"-') he is the only one who.

se father is unmentioned. Pos.sibly he did not belong to a family of standing in the country, like the others. Possibly he was a foreigner. If foreign correspondence were in a forei;^ lanOTiage it may not have been easy to find a Hebrew with the necessary qualifications. David was not in- disposed to nave foreigners round his person (see art. Fokeigner, vol. ii. p. SO*"). Shavsha's name may be Aramtean.

Foreign extraction would SHE^\X account for the name of one of his sons being ICIiliorepli (1 K 4'). It seems to iniliciite his wor- ship of a pod other thnn J". In Solomon's rei^Ti tliere were two secretaries of State, Eliliuroph and Ahijah. They are called sons* of Shisha (1 K 4'). Although the evidence for the correct form of this name is very divergent (B 2o/3d, A Tfiffd, Luc. -(Kpar), it may be identified with Shavsha.

Others of Solomon's chief officers of State were sons of those who held siniilar office under David. If Shavsha was chosen secretary because Aramaic was his native tongue, it is speci- ally likely that his children would inherit this qualification and be chosen for a similar reason. There is a second list of Solomon's officers in the LXX (B) text of 1 K 2«'>. In it Shavsha (BA :^ovpi, Luc. Zovtra) is given as Solomon's secretary.

Ben- zinger (on 1 K 4 ) has made the attractive suggestion that this list names those in office during the earlier part of Solomon's reign. It would then be evidence that Shavsha continued for a time Solomon's secretary, died during Solomon's reign, and wa-s then succeeded by his sons. But there does not seem to be evidence to establish this view of the two lists. It is probable that they are duplicates, and that in 1 K 2*"" the names of the sons have dropped out before the word Shavsha. W. B.

SteveN-SON. SHEAL (Sk7, B 2aXow(£, A Zai\), Ezr 10=^.— One of the sons of Hani, who had married a 'strange' wife ; called Jasaelus in 1 Es 9**. SHEALTIEL (Wk;^; in Hag !"•» 2' Sx-n^c> ; LX.\ and N r always 2aXa(?iii\, lience Salathiel of 1 Es 5»"-" G-, AV of Mt 1'= and Lk 3-'').— The father of Zerubbabf.l, Ezr3=-«5', Neh 12', Hag p. ij. M cyi. a. According to 1 Ch 3" Shcaltiel was the eldest son of king Jcconiah. In v.'

^ the MT makes I'ediiiah (a brother of Shealtiel) the father of Zerubbabel ; but BA of LXX read here also Za\a6iri\, although Lucian has ■i'adaid.