Seraiah – Shemaah

Seraiah

1. The king’s scribe or secretary in the reign of David. (2 Samuel 8:17) (B.C. 1043.)

2. The high priest in the reign of Zedekiah. (2 Kings 25:18; 1 Chronicles 6:14; Jeremiah 52:24) (B.C. 594.)

3. The son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite. (2 Kings 25:23; Jeremiah 40:8)

4. The son of Kenaz and brother of Othniel. (1 Chronicles 4:13,14)

5. Ancestor of Jehu a Simeonite chieftain. (1 Chronicles 4:35)

6. One of the children of the province who returned with Zerubbabel. (Ezra 2:2) (B.C. 536.)

7. One of the ancestors of Ezra the scribe. (Ezra 7:1)

8. A priest, or priestly family, who signed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:2)

9. A priest, the son of Hilkiah. (Nehemiah 11:11)

10. The head of a priestly house which went up from Babylon with Zerubbabel. (Nehemiah 12:12)

11. The son of Neriah and brother of Baruch. (Jeremiah 51:59,61) He went with Zedekiah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. (B.C. 594.) Perhaps he was an officer who took charge of the royal caravan on its march, and fixed the places where it should halt.

Seraphim

(burning, glowing), an order of celestial beings, whom Isaiah beheld in vision standing above Jehovah as he sat upon his throne. (Isaiah 6:2) They are described as having each of them three pairs of wings, with one of which they covered their faces (a token of humility); with the second they covered their feet (a token of respect); while with the third they flew. They seem to have borne a general resemblance to the human figure. ver. 6. Their occupation was two fold to celebrate the praises of Jehovah’s holiness and power, ver. 3 and to act as the medium of communication between heaven and earth. ver. 6.

Sered

(fear), the first-born of Zebulun. (Genesis 46:14; Numbers 26:26) about 1700.)

Sergius Paulus

was the proconsul of Cyprus when the apostle Paul visited that island with Barnabas on his first missionary tour. (Acts 13:7) seq. (A.D. 44.) He is described as an intelligent man, truth-seeking, eager for information from all sources within his reach. Though at first admitting to his society Elymas the magician, he afterward, on becoming acquainted with the claims of the gospel, yielded his mind to the evidence of its truth.

Serpent

The Hebrew word nachash is the generic name of any serpent. The following are the principal biblical allusions to this animal its subtlety is mentioned in (Genesis 3:1) its wisdom is alluded to by our Lord in (Matthew 10:18) the poisonous properties of some species are often mentioned, see (Psalms 58:4; Proverbs 25:32) the sharp tongue of the serpent is mentioned in (Psalms 140:3; Job 20:16) the habit serpents have of lying concealed in hedges and in holes of walls is alluded to in (Ecclesiastes 10:8) their dwelling in dry sandy places, in (8:10) their wonderful mode of progression did not escape the observation of the author of (Proverbs 30:1) ... who expressly mentions it as "one of the three things which were too wonderful for him." ver. 19. The art of taming and charming serpents is of great antiquity, and is alluded to in (Psalms 58:5; Ecclesiastes 10:11; Jeremiah 8:17) and doubtless intimated by St. James, (James 3:7) who particularizes serpents among all other animals that "have been tamed by man." It was under the form of a serpent that the devil seduced Eve; hence in Scripture Satan is called "the old serpent." (Revelation 12:9) and comp. 2Cor 11:3 Hence, as a fruit of the tradition of the Fall, the serpent all through the East became the emblem of the spirit of evil, and is so pictured even on the monuments of Egypt. It has been supposed by many commentators that the serpent, prior to the Fall, moved along in an erect attitude. It is quite clear that an erect mode of progression is utterly incompatible with the structure of a serpent; consequently, had the snakes before the Fall moved in an erect attitude they must have been formed on a different plan altogether. The typical form of the serpent and its mode of progression were in all probability the same before: the Fall as after it; but subsequent to the Fall its form and progression were to be regarded with hatred and disgust by all mankind, and thus the animal was cursed above all cattle," and a mark of condemnation was forever stamped upon it. Serpents are said in Scripture to "eat dust," see (Genesis 3:14; Isaiah 65:25; Micah 7:17) these animals which for the most part take their food on the ground, do consequently swallow with it large portions of sand and dust. Throughout the East the serpent was used as an emblem of the evil principle, of the spirit of disobedience and contumacy. Much has been written on the question of the "fiery serpents" of (Numbers 21:6,8) with which it is usual to erroneously identify the "fiery flying serpent" of (Isaiah 14:29) and Isai 30:6 The word "fiery" probably signifies "burning," in allusion to the sensation produced by the bite. The Cerastes , or the Naia haje , or any other venomous species frequenting Arabia, may denote the "serpent of the burning bite" which destroyed the children of Israel. The snake that fastened on St. Paul’s hand when he was at Melita, (Acts 28:5) was probably the common viper of England, Pelias berus . (See also ADDER; ASP] When God punished the murmurs of the Israelites in the wilderness by sending among them serpents whose fiery bite was fatal, Moses, upon their repentance, was commanded to make a serpent of brass, whose polished surface shone like fire, and to set it up on the banner-pole in the midst of the people; and whoever was bitten by a serpent had but to look up at it and live. (Numbers 21:4-9) The comparison used by Christ, (John 3:14,15) adds a deep interest to this scene. To present the serpent form, as deprived of its power to hurt, impaled as the trophy of a conqueror was to assert that evil, physical and spiritual, had been overcome, and thus help to strengthen the weak faith of the Israelites in a victory over both. Others look upon the uplifted serpent as a symbol of life and health, it having been so worshipped in Egypt. The two views have a point of contact, for the serpent is wisdom . Wisdom, apart from obedience to God, degenerates to cunning, and degrades and envenoms man’s nature. Wisdom, yielding to the divine law, is the source of healing and restoring influences, and the serpent form thus became a symbol of deliverance and health; and the Israelites were taught that it would be so with them in proportion as they ceased to be sensual and rebellious. Preserved as a relic, whether on the spot of its first erection or elsewhere the brazen serpent, called by the name of Nehushtan , became an object of idolatrous veneration, and the zeal of Hezekiah destroyed it with the other idols of his father. (2 Kings 18:4) [NEHUSHTAN]

Serug

(branch), son of Reu and great grandfather of Abraham. His age is given in the Hebrew Bible as 230 years. (Genesis 11:20-23) (B.C. 2180.)

Servant

[SLAVE]

Seth

(compensation), (Genesis 4:25; 6:3; 1 Chronicles 1:1) the third son of Adam, and father of Enos. (B.C. 3870.) Adam handed down to Seth and his descendants the promise of mercy, faith in which became the distinction of God’s children. (Genesis 4:26)

Sethur

(hidden), the Asherite spy, son of Michael. (Numbers 13:13) (B.C. 1490.)

Seven

The frequent recurrence of certain numbers in the sacred literature of the Hebrews is obvious to the most superficial reader, but seven so far surpasses the rest, both in the frequency with which it recurs and in the importance of the objects with which it is associated, that it may fairly be termed the representative symbolic number. The influence of the number seven was not restricted to the Hebrews; it prevailed among the Persians, ancient Indians, Greeks and Romans. The peculiarity of the Hebrew view consists in the special dignity of the seventh, and not simply in that of seen. The Sabbath being the seventh day suggested the adoption of seven as the coefficient, so to say, for their appointment of all sacred periods; and we thus find the 7th month ushered in by the Feast of Trumpets, and signalized by the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Great Day of Atonement; 7 weeks as the interval between the Passover and the Pentecost; the 7th year as the sabbatical year; and the year: succeeding 7X7 years as the Jubilee year. Seven days were appointed as the length of the feasts of Passover and Tabernacles; 7 days for the ceremonies of the consecration of priests, and so on; 7 victims to be offered on any special occasion, as in Balaam’s sacrifice. (Numbers 23:1) and especially at the ratification of a treaty, the notion of seven being embodied in the very term signifying to swear, literally meaning to do seven times. (Genesis 31:28) Seven is used for any round number, or for completeness, as we say a dozen, or as a speaker says he will say two or three words.

Shaalbim, Or Shaalabbin

(home of foxes), a town in the allotment of Dan. (Joshua 19:42; Judges 1:35; 1 Kings 4:9) By Eusebius and Jerome it is mentioned in the Onomasticon as a large village in the district of Sebaste (i.e. Samaria), and as then called Selaba.

Shaalbonite, The

Eliahba the Shaalbonite was one of David’s thirty seven heroes. (2 Samuel 23:32; 1 Chronicles 11:33) He was a native of a place named Shaalbon, but where it was is unknown. (B.C. 1048.)

Shaaph

(division).

1. The son of Jahdai. (1 Chronicles 2:47)

2. The son of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel, by his concubine Maachah. (1 Chronicles 2:49) (B.C. after 1445.)

Shaaraim

(two gates), a city in the territory allotted to Judah, (Joshua 15:36) in Authorized Version incorrectly Sharaim. (1 Samuel 17:52) Shaaraim one of the towns of Simeon, (1 Chronicles 4:31) must be a different place.

Shaasgaz

(servant of the beautiful), the eunuch in the palace of Xerxes who had the custody of the women in the second house. (Esther 2:14)

Shabbethai

(sabbatical) a Levite in the time of Ezra. (Ezra 10:15) It is apparently the same who with Jeshua and others instructed the people in the knowledge of the law. (Nehemiah 8:7) (B.C. 450.)

Shachia

(announcemant) a son of Shaharaim by his wife Hodesh. (1 Chronicles 8:10)

Shaddai

(the Mighty), an ancient name of God, rendered "Almighty" everywhere in the Authorized Version, is found in connection with el , "God," El Shaddai being then rendered "God Almighty." By the name or in the character of El-Shaddai God was known to the patriarchs, (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; 43:14; 48:3; 40:25) before the name Jehovah, in its full significance, was revealed. (Exodus 6:3) [GOD]

Shadrach

(royal , or the great scribe) the Hebrew, or rather Chaldee, name of Hananiah. The history of Shadrach or Hananiah, as told in Dani 1-3 is well known. After their deliverance from the furnace, we hear no more of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, except in (Hebrews 11:33,34) but there are repeated allusions to them in the later apocryphal books, and the martyrs of the Maccabaean period seem to have been much encouraged by their example.

Shage

(erring), father of Jonathan the Hararite, one of David’s guard. (1 Chronicles 11:34) [See SHAMMAH, 5] (B.C. about 1050.)

Shaharaim

(double dawn) a Benjamite. (1 Chronicles 8:8) (B.C. about 1546.)

Shahazimah

(toward the heights), one of the towns of the allotment of Issachar. (Joshua 10:22) only.

Shalem

(safe). (Genesis 33:18) Probably not a proper name, but a place. It is certainly remarkable that there should be a modern village hearing the name of Salim three miles east of Nablus , the ancient Shechem.

Shalim, The Land Of

(the land of foxes), a district through which Saul passed on his journey in quest of his father’s asses. (1 Samuel 9:4) only. It probably was east of Shalisha.

Shalisha, The Land Of

one of the districts traversed by Saul when in search of the asses of Kish. (1 Samuel 9:4) only. It was a district near Mount Ephraim. In it perhaps was situated the place called Baal-shalisha, (2 Kings 4:42) 15 Miles north of Lydda.

Shallecheth

(overthrow), The gate, one of the gates of the "house of Jehovah." (1 Chronicles 26:16) It was the gate "to the causeway of the ascent." As the causeway is actually in existence, the gate Shallecheth can hardly fail to be identical with the Bab Silsileh or Sinsleh which enters the west wall of the Haram about 600 feet from the southwest corner of the Haram wall.

Shallum

(retribution).

1. The fifteenth king of Israel, son of Jabesh, conspired against Zachariah, killed him, and brought the dynasty of Jehu to a close, B.C. 770. Shallum, after reigning in Samaria for a month only, was in his turn dethroned and killed by Menahem. (2 Kings 15:10-14)

2. The husband of Huldah the prophetess, (2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:23) in the reign of Josiah. (B.C. 830.)

3. A descendant of Shesham. (1 Chronicles 2:40,41)

4. The third son of Josiah king of Judah, known in the books of Kings and Chronicles as Jehoahaz. (1 Chronicles 3:15; Jeremiah 22:11) [JEHOAHAZ] (B.C. 610.)

5. Son of Shaul the son of Simeon. (1 Chronicles 4:25)

6. A high priest. (1 Chronicles 6:12,13; Ezra 7:2)

7. A son of Naphtali. (1 Chronicles 7:13)

8. The chief of a family of porters or gate-keepers of the east gate of the temple. (1 Chronicles 9:17) (B.C. 1050.)

9. Son of Kore, a Korahite. (1 Chronicles 9:19,31)

10. Father of Jehizkiah, an Ephraimite. (2 Chronicles 28:12)

11. One of the porters of the temple who had married a foreign wife. (Ezra 10:24)

12. One of the sons of Bani. (Ezra 10:42)

13. The son of Halohesh and ruler of a district of Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 3:12)

14. The uncle of Jeremiah, (Jeremiah 32:7) perhaps the same as 2.

15. Father or ancestor of Maaseiah (Jeremiah 35:4) perhaps the same as 9. (B.C. 630.)

Shallun

(retribution), the son of Cohozeh, and ruler of a district of the Mizpah. (Nehemiah 3:15)

Shalmai

(my thanks). The children of Shalmai were among the Nethinim who returned with Zerubbabel. (Ezra 2:46; Nehemiah 7:48) In Nehemiah SALMAI. (B.C. 536.)

Shalman

(fire-worshipper), a contraction for Shalmaneser king of Assyria. (Hosea 10:14) Others think it the name of an obscure Assyrian king, predecessor of Pul.

Shalmaneser

(fire-worshipper) was the Assyrian king who reigned probably between Tiglath-Pileser and Sargon, B.C. 727-722. He led the forces of Assyria into Palestine, where Hoshea, the last king of Israel, had revolted against his authority. (2 Kings 17:3) Hoshea submitted and consented to pay tribute; but he soon after concluded all alliance with the king of Egypt, and withheld his tribute in consequence. In B.C. 723 Shalmaneser invaded Palestine for the second time, and, as Hoshea refused to submit, laid siege to Samaria. The siege lasted to the third year, B.C. 721, when the Assyrian arms prevailed. (2 Kings 17:4-6; 18:9-11) It is uncertain whether Shalmaneser conducted the siege to its close, or whether he did not lose his crown to Sargon before the city was taken.

Shama

(obedient), one of David’s guard. (1 Chronicles 11:44) (B.C. 1020.)

Shamariah

(kept by Jehovah), son of Rehoboam. (2 Chronicles 11:19)

Shamed

(keeper), properly Shamer or Shemer; one of the pens of Elpaal the Benjamite. (1 Chronicles 8:12)

Shamer

(keeper).

1. Merarite Levite. (1 Chronicles 6:46)

2. Shomer, an Asherite. (1 Chronicles 7:34)

Shamgar

(sword), son of Anath, judge of Israel. When Israel was in a most depressed condition, Shamgar was raised up to be a deliverer. With no arms in his hand but an ox-goad, (Judges 3:31) comp. 1Sam 13:21 He made a desperate assault upon the Philistines, and slew 600 of them. (B.C. about 1290.)

Shamhuth

(desolation), the fifth captain for the fifth month in David’s arrangement of his army. (1 Chronicles 27:8) (B.C. 1020.)

Shamir

(n point or thorn.)

1. A town in the mountain district of Judah. (Joshua 15:48) only. It probably lay some eight or ten miles south of Hebron.

2. A place in Mount Ephraim, the residence and burial-place of Tola the judge. (Judges 10:1,2) Perhaps Samur , half-way between Samaria and Jenin .

3. A Kohathite, son of Micah or Michal, the first-born of Uzziel. (1 Chronicles 24:24)

Shamma

(astonishment), one of the sons of Zophar, an Asherite. (1 Chronicles 7:37)

Shammah

(astonishment).

1. The son of Reuel the son of Esau. (Genesis 36:13,17; 1 Chronicles 1:37) (B.C. about 1700.)

2. The third son of Jesse, and brother of David. (1 Samuel 16:9; 17:13) Called also Shimea., Shimeah and Shimma.

3. One of the three greatest of David’s mighty men. (2 Samuel 23:11-17) (B.C. 1061.)

4. The Harodite, one of David’s mighties. (2 Samuel 23:25) He is called "SHAMMOTH the Harorite" in (1 Chronicles 11:27) and "SHAMHUTH the Izrahite" ibid. (1 Chronicles 27:8)

5. In the list of David’s mighty men in (2 Samuel 23:32,33) we find "Jonathan, Shammah the Hararite;" while in the corresponding verse of (1 Chronicles 11:34) it is Jonathan.

Shammai

(desolate).

1. The son of Onam. (1 Chronicles 2:28,32)

2. Son of Rekem. (1 Chronicles 2:44,45)

3. One of the descendants of Judah. (1 Chronicles 4:17)

Shammoth

[SHAMMAH]

Shammua

(renowned).

1. Reubenite spy, son of Zaccur. (Numbers 13:4) (B.C. 1490.)

2. Son of David, by his wife Bathsheba. (1 Chronicles 14:4) (B.C. 1045.)

3. A Levite, the father of Abda. (Nehemiah 11:17) The same as SHEMAIAH, 6.

4. The representative of the priestly family of Bilgah or Bilgai, in the days of Joiakim. (Nehemiah 12:18) (B.C. about 500.)

Shammuah

son of David, (2 Samuel 5:14) elsewhere called Shammua and Shimea.

Shamsherai

(sunlike), a Benjamite. (1 Chronicles 8:26)

Shapham

(bold), a Gadite of Bashan. (1 Chronicles 5:12) (B.C. 750.)

Shaphan

(coney), the scribe or secretary of King Josiah. (2 Kings 22:3,14; 2 Chronicles 34:8,20) (B.C. 628.) He appears on an equality with the governor of the city and the royal recorder. (2 Kings 22:4; 2 Chronicles 34:9)

Shaphat

(judge). 1.The Simeonite spy, son of Hori. (Numbers 13:5) (B.C. 1490).

1. The father of the prophet Elisha. (1 Kings 19:18,19; 2 Kings 3:11; 6:31) (B.C. before 900.)

2. One of the six sons of Shemaiah in the royal line of Judah. (1 Chronicles 3:22) (B.C. 350.)

3. One of the chiefs of the Gadites in Bashan. (1 Chronicles 5:12) (B.C. 750.)

4. The son of Adlai, who was over David’s oxen in the valleys. (1 Chronicles 27:29) (B.C. 1020.)

Shapher

(brightness), Mount, (Numbers 33:23) the name of a desert station where the Israelites encamped during the wanderings in the wilderness.

Sharai

(releaser), one of the sons of Bani. (Ezra 10:40) (B.C. 457.)

Sharaim

[SHAARAIM]

Sharar

(strong), the father of Ahiam the Hararite. (2 Samuel 23:33) In (1 Chronicles 11:35) he is called SACAR. (B.C. 1040.)

Sharezer

(prince of fire) was a son of Sennacherib, whom, In conjunction with his brother Adrammelech, he murdered. (2 Kings 19:37) (B.C. after 711.)

Sharon

(a plain), a district of the holy land occasionally referred to in the Bible. (1 Chronicles 5:16; Isaiah 33:9) In (Acts 9:35) called SARON. The name has on each occurrence with one exception only, (1 Chronicles 5:16) the definite article; it would therefore appear that "the Sharon" was some well-defined region familiar to the Israelites. It is that broad, rich tract of land which lies between the mountains of the central part of the holy land and the Mediterranean --the northern continuation of the Shefelah. [PALESTINA AND PALESTINE] The Sharon of (2 Chronicles 5:16) to which allusion has already been made, is distinguished front the western plain by not having the article attached to its name, as the other invariably has. It is also apparent from the passage itself that it was some district on the east of the Jordan, in the neighborhood of Gilead and Bashan. The name has not been met with in that direction.

Sharonite

(belonging to Sharon), The Shitrai, who had charge of the royal herds in the plain of Sharon, (1 Chronicles 27:29) is the only Sharonite mentioned in the Bible.

Sharuhen

(refuge of grace), a town named in (Joshua 19:6) only among those which were in Jadah to Simeon. It is identified with Sheriah a large ruin in the south country, northwest of Beersheba.

Shashai

(noble), one of the sons of Bani in the time of Ezra. (Ezra 10:40) (B.C. 457.)

Shashak

(longing), a Benjamite, one of the sons of Beriah. (1 Chronicles 8:14,25) (B.C. after 1450.)

Shaul

(asked).

1. The son of Simeon by a Canaanitish woman, (Genesis 48:10; Exodus 6:15; Numbers 26:13; 1 Chronicles 4:24) and founder of the family of the Shaulites. (B.C. 1712.)

2. One of the kings of Edom. (1 Chronicles 1:48,49) In the Authorized Version of (Genesis 36:37) he is less accurately called SAUL.

Shaveh

(plain), The valley of, described (Genesis 14:17) as "the valley of the king," is mentioned again in (2 Samuel 18:18) as the site of a pillar set up by Absalom.

Shaveh Kiriathaim

(plain of the double city), mentioned (Genesis 14:5) as the residence of the Emim at the time of Chedorlaomer’s incursion. Kiriathaim is named in the later history, though it has not been identified; and Shaveh Kiriathaim was probably the valley in or by which the town lay.

Shavsha

(nobility), the royal secretary in the reign of David, (1 Chronicles 18:16) called also SERAIAH in (2 Samuel 8:17) And SHEVA in (2 Samuel 20:25) End in (1 Kings 4:3) SHISHA.

Shawm

In the Prayer-book version of (Psalms 98:6) "with trumpets also stands also and shawms " is the rendering of what stands in the Authorized Version "with trumpets and sound of cornet ." The Hebrew word translated cornet is treated under the head. The "shawm" was a musical instrument resembling the clarinet.

Sheal

(asking), one of the sons of Bani who had married a foreign wife. (Ezra 10:29) (B.C. 452.)

Shealtiel

(asked of God), father of Zerubbabel. (Ezra 3:2,8; 5:2; Nehemiah 12:1; Haggai 1:1,12,14; 2:2,23) (B.C. about 580.)

Sheariah

(valued by Jehovah), one of the six sons of Azel a descendant of Saul. (1 Chronicles 8:38; 9:41)

Shearinghouse, The

a place on the road between Jezreel and Samaria, at which Jehu, on his way to the latter, encountered forty-two members of the royal family of Judah, whom he slaughtered. (2 Kings 10:12,14) Eusebius mentions it as a village of Samaria "in the great plain [of Esdraelon], 15, miles from Legion."

Shearjashub

(lit. a remnant shall return), the symbolical name of the son of Isaiah the prophet. (Isaiah 7:3)

Sheba

one of the towns of the allotment of Simeon, (Joshua 19:2) probably the same as Shema. (Joshua 15:26)

Sheba

(seven , or all oath).

1. A son of Raamah son of Cush. (Genesis 10:7; 1 Chronicles 1:9)

2. A soil of Joktan. (Genesis 10:28; 1 Chronicles 1:22)

3. A son of Jokshan son of Keturah. (Genesis 25:3; 1 Chronicles 1:32) We shall consider, first, the history of the Joktanite Sheba; and secondly, the Cushite Sheba and the Keturahite Sheba together. I. The Joktanites were among the early colonists of southern Arabia, and the kingdom which they there founded was for many centuries called the kingdom of Sheba, after one of the sons of Joktan. The visit of the queen of Sheba to King Solomon. (1 Kings 10:1) is one of the familiar Bible incidents. The kingdom of Sheba embraced the greater part of the Yemen, or Arabia Felix. It bordered on the Red Sea, and was one of the most fertile districts of Arabia. Its chief cities, and probably successive capitals, were Seba, San’a (Uzal), and Zafar (Sephar). Seba was probably the name of the city, and generally of the country and nation. II. Sheba, son of Raamah son of Cush settled somewhere on the shores of the Persian Gulf. It was this Sheba that carried on the great Indian traffic with Palestine, in conjunction with, as we hold, the other Sheba, son of Jokshan son of Keturah, who like Dedan appears to have formed, with the Cushite of the same name, one tribe.

Sheba

(on oath), the son of Bichri, a Benjamite, (2 Samuel 20:1-22) the last chief of the Absalom insurrection. The occasion seized by Sheba was the emulation between the northern and southern tribes on David’s return. (2 Samuel 20:1,2) Sheba traversed the whole of Palestine apparently rousing the population, Joab following in full pursuit to the fortress Abel Beth-maachah, where Sheba was beheaded. (2 Samuel 20:3-22)

Shebah

(an oath), the famous well which gave its name to the city of Beersheba. (Genesis 26:53) [BEERSHEBA, OR BEERSHEBA]

Shebam

(fragrance), one of the towns in the pastoral district on the east of Jordan; demanded by and finally ceded to the tribes of Reuben and Gad. (Numbers 32:3) It is probably the same as SHIBMAH, (Numbers 32:38) and SIBMAH. (Joshua 13:13; Isaiah 16:8,9; Jeremiah 48:32)

Shebaniah

(increased by Jehovah).

1. A Levite in the time of Ezra. (Nehemiah 9:4,5) He sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:10) (B.C. 459.)

2. A priest or priestly family who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:4; 12:14) Called SHECHANIAH, SHECHANIAH in (Nehemiah 12:3)

3. Another Levite who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:12)

4. One of the priests appointed by David to blow with the trumpets before the ark of God. (1 Chronicles 15:24) (B.C. 1043.)

Shebarim

(the breaches), a place named in (Joshua 7:5) only, as one of the points in the flight from Ai.

Sheber

(breaking), son of Caleb ben-Hezron by his concubine Maachah. (1 Chronicles 2:48) (B.C. after 1690.)

Shebna

(vigor), a person of high position in Hezekiah’s court, holding at one time the office of prefect of the palace, (Isaiah 22:15) but subsequently the subordinate office of secretary. (Isaiah 36:3; 2 Kings 19:2) (B.C. 713.)

Shebuel, Or Shebuel

(captive of God).

1. A descendant of Moses, (1 Chronicles 23:16; 26:24) called also SHUBAEL. (1 Chronicles 24:20) (B.C. 1013).

2. One of the fourteen sons of Heman the minstrel, (1 Chronicles 25:4) called also SHUBAEL. (1 Chronicles 25:20) (B.C. 1013.)

Shechaniah

(dweller with Jehovah).

1. A descendant of Zerubbabel. (1 Chronicles 3:21,22)

2. Some descendants of Shechaniah returned with Ezra. (Ezra 8:3)

3. The sons of Shechaniah were another family who returned with Ezra. (Ezra 8:5) (B.C. 459.)

4. The son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam. (Ezra 10:2)

5. The father of Shemaiah, 2. (Nehemiah 3:29)

6. The son of Arah. (Nehemiah 6:18)

7. The head of a priestly family who returned with Zerubbabel. (Nehemiah 12:3)

Shechaniah

(dweller with Jehovah).

1. The tenth in order of the priests who were appointed by lot in the reign of David. (1 Chronicles 24:11) (B.C. 1014.)

2. A priest in the reign of Hezekiah. (2 Chronicles 31:15) (B.C. 925.)

Shechem

(back or shoulder).

1. An important city in central Palestine, in the valley between mounts Ebal and Gerizim, 34 miles north of Jerusalem and 7 miles southeast of Samaria. Its present name, Nablus , is a corruption of Neapolis, which succeeded the more ancient Shechem, and received its new name from Vespasian. On coins still extant it is called Flavia Neapolis. The situation of the town is one of surpassing beauty. It lies in a sheltered valley, protected by Gerizim on the south and Ebal on the north. The feet of these mountains, where they rise from the town, are not more than five hundred yards apart. The bottom of the valley is about 1800 feet above the level of the sea, and the top of Gerizim 800 feet higher still. The sit of the present city, which was also that of the Hebrew city, occurs exactly on the water-summit; and streams issuing from the numerous springs there flow down the opposite slopes of the valley, spreading verdure and fertility in every direction. Travellers vie with each other in the language which they employ to describe the scene that here bursts so suddenly upon them on arriving in spring or early summer at this paradise of the holy land. "The whole valley," says Dr. Robinson, "was filled with gardens of vegetables and orchards of all kinds of fruits, watered by fountains which burst forth in various parts and flow westward in refreshing streams. it came upon us suddenly like a scene of fairy enchantment. We saw nothing to compare with it in all Palestine." The allusions to Shechem in the Bible are numerous, and show how important the place was in Jewish history. Abraham, on his first migration to the land of promise, pitched his tent and built an altar under the oak (or terebinth) of Moreh at Shechem. "The Canaanite was then in the land;" and it is evident that the region, if not the city, was already in possession of the aboriginal race. See (Genesis 12:6) At the time of Jacob’s arrival here, after his sojourn in Mesopotamia, (Genesis 33:18; 34) Shechem was a Hivite city, of which Hamor, the father of Shechem, was the headman. it was at this time that the patriarch purchased from that chieftain "the parcel of the field" which he subsequently bequeathed, as a special patrimony, to his son Joseph. (Genesis 33:19; Joshua 24:32; John 4:5) The field lay undoubtedly on the rich plain of the Mukhna , and its value was the greater on account of the well which Jacob had dug there, so as not to be dependent on his neighbors for a supply of water. In the distribution of the land after its conquest by the Hebrews, Shechem fell to the lot of Ephraim, (Joshua 20:7) but was assigned to the Levites, and became a city of refuge. (Joshua 21:20,21) It acquired new importance as the scene of the renewed promulgation of the law, when its blessings were heard from Gerizim and its curses from Ebal, and the people bowed their heads and acknowledged Jehovah as their king and ruler. (27:11; Joshua 24:23-25) it was here Joshua assembled the people, shortly before his death, and delivered to them his last counsels. (Joshua 24:1,25) After the death of Gideon, Abimelech, his bastard son, induced the Shechemites to revolt from the Hebrew commonwealth and elect him as king. (Judges 9:1) ... In revenge for his expulsion after a reign of three years, Abimelech destroyed the city, and as an emblem of the fate to which he would consign it, sowed the ground with salt. (Judges 9:34-45) It was soon restored, however, for we are told in (1 Kings 12:1) ... that all Israel assembled at Shechem, and Rehoboam, Solomon’s successor, went thither to be inaugurated as king. here, at this same place, the ten tribes renounced the house of David, and transferred their allegiance to Jeroboam, (1 Kings 12:16) under whom Shechem became for a time the capital of his kingdom. From the time of the origin of the Samaritans, the history of Shechem blends itself with that of this people and of their sacred mount, Gerizim. [SAMARIA] Shechem reappears in the New Testament. It is the SYCHAR of (John 4:5) near which the Saviour conversed with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. The population of Nablus consists of about 5000, among whom are 500 Greek Christians, 150 Samaritans, and a few Jews. The enmity between the Samaritans and jews is as inveterate still as it was in the days of Christ. The Mohammedans, of course, make up the bulk of the population. The well of Jacob and the tomb of Joseph are still shown in the neighborhood of the town. The well of Jacob lies about a mile and a half east of the city, close to the lower road, and just beyond the wretched hamlet of Balata . The Christians sometimes call it Bir es-Samariyeh -- "the well of the Samaritan woman." The well is deep --75 feet when last measured --and there was probably a considerable accumulation of rubbish at the bottom. Sometimes it contains a few feet of water, but at others it is quite dry. It is entirely excavated in the solid rock, perfectly round, 9 feet in diameter, with the sides hewn smooth and regular. Of all the special localities of our Lord’s life, this is almost the only one absolutely undisputed. The tomb of Joseph lies about a quarter of a mile north of the well, exactly in the centre of the opening of the valley. It is a small between Gerizim and Ebal. It is a small, square enclosure of high whitewashed walls, surrounding a tomb of the ordinary kind, but with the peculiarity that it is placed diagonally to the walls, instead of parallel as usual. A rough pillar used as an altar and black with the traces of fire is at the head and another at the foot of the tome. In the walls are two slabs with Hebrew inscriptions, and the interior is almost covered with the names of pilgrims in Hebrew Arabic and Samaritan. Beyond this there is nothing to remark in the structure itself. The local tradition of the tomb, like that of the well is as old as the beginning of the fourth century.

2. The son of Hamor, the chieftain of the Hivite settlement of Shechem at the time of Jacob’s arrival. (Genesis 33:19; 34:2-26; Joshua 24:32; Judges 9:28)

3. A man of Manasseh, of the clan of Gilead. (Numbers 26:31)

4. A Gileadite, son of Shemida, the younger brother of the foregoing. (1 Chronicles 7:19)

Shechemites, The

the family of Shechem son of Gilead. (Numbers 26:31) comp. Josh 17:2

Shechinah

(dwelling). This term is not found in the Bible. It was used by the later Jews, and borrowed by Christians from them, to express the visible majesty of the divine Presence especially when resting or dwelling between the cherubim on the mercyseat. In the tabernacle and in the temple of Solomon, but not in the second temple. The use of the term is first found in the Targums, where it forms a frequent periphrasis for God, considered its dwelling among the children of Israel. The idea which the different accounts in Scripture convey is that of a most brilliant and glorious light, enveloped in a cloud, and usually concealed by the cloud, so that the cloud itself was for the most part alone visible but on particular occasions the glory appeared. The allusions in the New Testament to the shechinah are not unfrequent. (Luke 2:9; John 1:14; Romans 9:4) and we are distinctly taught to connect it with the incarnation and future coming of the Messiah as type with antitype.

Shedeur

(darter of light), the father of Elizur, chief of the tribe of Reuben at the time of the exodus. (Numbers 1:5; 2:10; 7:30,35; 10:18) (B.C. 1491.)

Sheep

Sheep were an important part of the possessions of the ancient Hebrews and of eastern nations generally. The first mention of sheep occurs in (Genesis 4:2) They were used in the sacrificial offering,as, both the adult animal, (Exodus 20:24) and the lamb. See (Exodus 29:28; Leviticus 9:3; 12:6) Sheep and lambs formed an important article of food. (1 Samuel 25:18) The wool was used as clothing. (Leviticus 13:47) "Rams skins dyed red" were used as a covering for the tabernacle. (Exodus 25:5) Sheep and lambs were sometimes paid as tribute. (2 Kings 3:4) It is very striking to notice the immense numbers of sheep that were reared in Palestine in biblical times. (Chardin says he saw a clan of Turcoman shepherds whose flock consisted of 3,000,000 sheep and goats, besides 400,000 Feasts of carriage, as horses, asses and camels.) Sheep-sheering is alluded to (Genesis 31:19) Sheepdogs were employed in biblical times. (Job 30:1) Shepherds in Palestine and the East generally go before their flocks, which they induce to follow by calling to them, comp. (John 10:4; Psalms 77:20; 80:1) though they also drive them. (Genesis 33:13) The following quotation from Hartley’s "Researches in Greece and the Levant," p. 321, is strikingly illustrative of the allusions in (John 10:1-16) "Having had my attention directed last night to the words in (John 10:3) I asked my man if it was usual in Greece to give names to the sheep. He informed me that it was, and that the sheep obeyed the shepherd when he called them by their names. This morning I had an opportunity of verifying the truth of this remark. Passing by a flock of sheep I asked the shepherd the same question which I had put to the servant, and he gave me the same answer. I then had him call one of his sheep. He did so, and it instantly left its pasturage and its companions and ran up to the hands of the shepherd with signs of pleasure and with a prompt obedience which I had never before observed in any other animal. It is also true in this country that a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him. The shepherd told me that many of his sheep were still wild, that they had not yet learned their names, but that by teaching them they would all learn them." The common sheer, of Syria and Palestine are the broad-tailed. As the sheep is an emblem of meekness, patience and submission, it is expressly mentioned as typifying these qualities in the person of our blessed Lord. (Isaiah 53:7; Acts 8:32) etc. The relation that exists between Christ, "the chief Shepherd," and his members is beautifully compared to that which in the East is so strikingly exhibited by the shepherds to their flocks [SHEPHERD]

Sheepgate, The

one of the gates of Jerusalem as rebuilt by Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 3:1,32; 12:39) It stood between the tower of Meah and the chamber of the corner, ch. (Nehemiah 3:1,32) or gate of the guard-house, ch. (Nehemiah 12:39) Authorized Version, "prison-gate." The latter seems to have been at the angle formed by the junction of the wall of the city of David with that of the city of Jerusalem proper, having the sheep-gate on the north of it. The position of the sheep-gate may therefore have been on or near that of the Bab el Kattanin.

Sheepmarket, The

(John 5:2) The world "market" is an interpolation of our translators. We ought probably to supply the word "gate."

Shehariah

(dawning of Jehovah), a Benjamite, son of Jehoram. (1 Chronicles 8:26) (B.C. 588.)

Shekel

[MONEY]

Shelah

(a petition).

1. The youngest son of Judah. (Genesis 38:5,11,14,26; 46:10; Numbers 26:20; 1 Chronicles 2:3; 4:21) (B.C. before 1706.)

2. The proper form of the name of Salah. (1 Chronicles 1:18,24)

Shelanites, The

the descendants of Shelah. 1. (Numbers 26:20)

Shelemiah

(repaid by Jehovah).

1. One of the sons of Bani in the time of Ezra. (Ezra 10:30) (B.C. 458.)

2. The father of Hananiah. (Nehemiah 3:30)

3. A priest in the time of Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 13:13)

4. The father of Jehueal, or Jucal, in the time of Zedekiah. (Jeremiah 37:3)

5. The father of Irijah, the captain of the ward who arrested Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 37:13) (B.C. before 589.)

6. The same as Meshelemiah and Shallum, 8. (1 Chronicles 26:14)

7. Another of the sons of Bani in the time of Ezra. (Ezra 10:41)

8. Ancestor of Jehudi in the time of Jehoiakim. (Jeremiah 36:14)

9. Son of Abdeel; one of those who received the orders of Jehoiakim to take Baruch and Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 36:26) (B.C. 604.)

Sheleph

(a drawing forth), the second in order of the sons of Joktan. (Genesis 10:26; 1 Chronicles 1:20)

Shelesh

(might), son of Helem. (1 Chronicles 7:35)

Shelomi

(peaceful), an Asherite, father of Ahihud. (Numbers 34:27) (B.C. before 1450.)

Shelomith

(peaceful).

1. The daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. (Leviticus 24:11)

2. The daughter of Zerubbabel. (1 Chronicles 3:19) (B.C. after 536.)

3. Chief of the Izharites. (1 Chronicles 23:18)

4. A descendant of Eliezer the son of Moses, in the reign of David. (1 Chronicles 26:25,26,28) (B.C. 1013.)

5. A Gershonite. (1 Chronicles 23:9)

6. One whose sons returned from Babylon with Ezra. (Ezra 8:10)

Shelomoth

the same as Shelomith, 3. (1 Chronicles 24:22)

Shelumiel

(friend of God), the son of Zurishaddai, and prince of the tribe of Simeon at the time of the exodus. (Numbers 1:6; 2:12; 7:36,41; 10:19) (B.C. 1431.)

Shem

(name), the eldest son of Noah. (Genesis 5:32) He was 98 years old, married, and childless at the time of the flood. After it, he, with his father, brothers, sisters-in-law and wife, received the blessing of God, (Genesis 9:1) and entered into the covenant. With the help of his brother Japheth, he covered the nakedness of their father and received the first blessing. (Genesis 9:25-27) He died at the age of 630 years. The portion of the earth occupied by the descendants of Shem, (Genesis 10:21,31) begins at its northwestern extremity with Lydia, and includes Syria (Aram), Chaldaea (Arphaxad), parts Of Assyria (Asshur), of Persia (Elam), and of the Arabian peninsula (Joktan). Modern scholars have given the name of Shemitic or Semitic to the languages spoken by his real or supposed descendants. [HEBREW LANGUAGE]

Shema

1. A Reubenite, ancestor of Bela. (1 Chronicles 5:8) (B.C. before 1090.)

2. Son of Elpaal. (1 Chronicles 8:13) Probably the same as Shimhi. (B.C. after 1450.)

3. One of those who stood at Ezra’s right hand when he read the law to the people. (Nehemiah 8:4) (B.C. 458.)

4. (Joshua 15:26) [SHEBA]

Shemaah

(the rumor), a Benjamite of Gibeah, and father of Ahiezer and Joash. (1 Chronicles 12:3) (B.C. before 1054.)