Shemaiah

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

1. A prophet under Rehoboam, commissioned to charge the king and his 180,000 warriors of Judah not to fight against their brethren of Israel, but to return every man to his house, instead of striving to regain northern Israel from Jeroboam ( 1 Kings 12:22;  2 Chronicles 11:2), for that the severance is Jehovah's doing; so they desisted in obedience to the Lord. Upon Rehoboam and his people forsaking Jehovah, and building high places, standing images, and groves, God sent Shishak of Egypt against Jerusalem; he then took all the fenced cities, and Shemaiah told Rehoboam and his princes, "thus saith Jehovah, Ye have forsaken Me, therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak." The princes then humbled themselves, saying, The Lord is righteous ( Psalms 51:4;  Leviticus 26:43). When Jehovah saw they humbled themselves He declared by Shemaiah, "I will not destroy them but grant them some deliverance, and My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak" (See Rehoboam .) Shemaiah wrote a chronicle of Rehoboam's reign.

2.  1 Chronicles 3:22. The words ( 1 Chronicles 3:21) "the sons of Rephaiah" to the end of the chapter are a genealogical fragment inserted subsequently; the copula is wanting before "the sons of Rephaiah"; their connection with Zerubbabel's descendants who are mentioned before is not stated ( Nehemiah 3:29).

3.  1 Chronicles 4:37.

4.  1 Chronicles 5:4.

5.  Nehemiah 11:15-16.

6.  1 Chronicles 9:16; Shammua  Nehemiah 11:17.

7.  1 Chronicles 15:8;  1 Chronicles 15:11.

8.  1 Chronicles 24:6.

9.  1 Chronicles 26:1;  1 Chronicles 26:4;  1 Chronicles 26:6-7.

10.  2 Chronicles 29:14.

11.  Ezra 8:13.

12.  Ezra 8:16.

13.  Ezra 10:21.

14.  Ezra 10:31.

15. Son of Delaiah; a prophet bribed by Sanballat and Tobiah to frighten Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 6:10, etc.); Shemaiah pretended to be "shut up" through fear, his action corroborating his word, and proposed all should meet in the temple and shut its doors; Nehemiah heroically replied, "should such a man as I flee?" (compare  Psalms 11:1.) Shemaiah's aim was to entrap Nehemiah into sinful fear, so as to have matter of "evil reproach" against him.

16.  Nehemiah 10:8;  Nehemiah 12:6;  Nehemiah 12:18;  Nehemiah 12:35.

17.  Nehemiah 12:34.

18.  Nehemiah 12:36.

19.  Nehemiah 12:42.

20. The Nehelamite, a false prophet at Babylon, who wrote urging Zephaniah the deputy priest to show his gratitude to God for his promotion to Jehoiada's place by exercising his power in imprisoning Jeremiah as "mad" (Compare  2 Kings 9:11 ;  Matthew 21:23 ;  Acts 26:24 ;  John 10:20 The Antitype) and putting him in stocks, because he had recommended the Jewish captives at Babylon to build, plant, and settle there as for a long time, in opposition to those who flattered them with promises of a speedy release. Jeremiah on hearing Shemaiah's letter read by Zephaniah, who was less prejudiced against him, declared from Jehovah, "Shemaiah shall not have a man to dwell among this people, neither shall he behold the good" (Namely, The Future Restoration From Babylon) , "because he caused you to trust a lie" and "hath taught rebellion against Jehovah," namely, against God's revealed will as to the time of the restoration ( Jeremiah 29:24-32, compare  Jeremiah 29:10;  Jeremiah 28:16).

21.  2 Chronicles 17:8.

22.  2 Chronicles 31:15.

23. A Levite at Josiah's Passover ( 2 Chronicles 35:9); Conaniah his brother's name occurs in Hezekiah's time, as also Shemaiah, for the same names recur in different generations.

24.  Jeremiah 26:20.

25.  Jeremiah 36:12.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

SHEMAIAH (‘Jahweh has heard’). 1 . The prophet who with Ahijah encouraged the revolution of the ten tribes from Jeroboam. In MT [Note: Massoretic Text.] he appears after the revolution has begun (  1 Kings 12:22-24 ,   2 Chronicles 11:2-4 ). In the second LXX [Note: Septuagint.] account, however, he appears at the beginning, at the assembly in Shechem (  1 Kings 12:24 ). He is mentioned further in   2 Chronicles 12:5-8 , and his history in   2 Chronicles 12:16 .   2 Chronicles 12:2 . Son of Shecaniah, descendant of Zerubbabel (  1 Chronicles 3:22 ). 3 . Son of Shecaniah, ‘keeper of the east gate,’ and assistant to Nehemiah in repairing the wall (  Nehemiah 3:29 ). 4 . A Simeonite (  1 Chronicles 4:37 ), perhaps Shimei of   1 Chronicles 4:26;   1 Chronicles 27:5 . A Reubenite (  1 Chronicles 5:4 ), apparently called Shema in   1 Chronicles 5:8 .   1 Chronicles 5:6 . A Merarite Levite dwelling in Jerusalem (  1 Chronicles 9:14 ,   Nehemiah 11:15 ). 7 . A Levite of the family of Jeduthun (  1 Chronicles 9:16 ), called Shammua in   Nehemiah 11:17 .   Nehemiah 11:8 . Head of the levitical Kohathite clan of Elizaphan in the time of David (  1 Chronicles 15:8;   1 Chronicles 15:11 ). 9 . The scribe who registered the names of the priestly courses in the time of David, son of Nethanel (  1 Chronicles 24:6 ). 10 . A Korahite Levite, oldest son of Obed-edom (  1 Chronicles 26:4;   1 Chronicles 26:6-7 ). 11 . A Levite, teacher of the Law in Judah under Jehoshaphat (  2 Chronicles 17:8 ). 12 . A Levite of the family of Jeduthun, engaged in purifying the Temple under Hezekiah (  2 Chronicles 29:14 ). 13 . A Levite ‘over the freewill offerings of God’ (  2 Chronicles 31:16 ). 14 . A chief of the Levites (  2 Chronicles 35:9 ), called Samaias in LXX [Note: Septuagint.] and in   Esther 1:9  Esther 1:9 .   Esther 1:15 . A chief man under Ezra (  Ezra 8:16 ), called Maasmas and Samaias in 1 Es 8:43; 46. 16 . One of the family of Adonikam (  Ezra 8:18 ), in 1Es 8:39 Samaias. 17 . A priest of the family of Harim who married a foreign wife (  Ezra 10:21 ), in 1E  Esther 9:21 Sam ameus. 18 . A layman of the family of Harim who did the same (  Ezra 10:31 ), in 1E  Esther 9:32 Sam abbeus . 19 . A prophet, son of Delaiah, hired by Sanballat and Tobiah to terrify Nehemiah (  Nehemiah 6:10-14 ). 20 . One of the 24 courses of priests (  Nehemiah 10:8;   Nehemiah 12:6;   Nehemiah 12:18 ). 21 . A man present at the dedication of the wall (  Nehemiah 12:34 ). 22 . A priest, descendant of Asaph (  Nehemiah 12:35 ). 23 . A singer (or clan) having part in the dedication of the wall (  Nehemiah 12:36 ). 24 . Another, or perhaps the same (  Nehemiah 12:42 ). 25 . Father of Uriah the prophet (  Jeremiah 26:20 ). 26 . A prophet, called ‘the Nehelamite,’ carried into captivity at Babylon with Jehoiachin, actively engaged in opposing Jeremiah (  Jeremiah 29:24-32 ). Jeremiah predicted the complete cutting off of his family. 27 . Father of Delaiah, who was a prince in the reign of Zedekiah (  Jeremiah 36:12 ). 28 . ‘The great,’ kinsman of Tobias ( Tob 5:13 ). In several cases two of these may be the same individual. The identification has the most probability in reference to 2 and 3, 8 and 9 , and 12 and 13 .

George R. Berry.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. Prophet who stayed Rehoboam from warring against Israel. He was also sent by God to tell Rehoboam and the princes of Judah that because of their sins God had left them in the hands of Shishak, king of Egypt, who had come to attack them; but on their repentance they were told he should not destroy them. Shishak seized their treasures, and they became tributary to Egypt. Shemaiah wrote a 'book' concerning genealogies.  1 Kings 12:22-24;  2 Chronicles 11:2-4;  2 Chronicles 12:5-15 .

2. Son of Shechaniah, a descendant of David.   1 Chronicles 3:22;  Nehemiah 3:29 .

3. A Simeonite, father of Shimri.   1 Chronicles 4:37 .

4. Son of Joel, a Reubenite.   1 Chronicles 5:4 .

5. Son of Hasshub, a Levite.   1 Chronicles 9:14;  Nehemiah 11:15 .

6. Son of Galal, a Levite.   1 Chronicles 9:16 , Called SHAMMUAin  Nehemiah 6:17 .

7. Son of Elizaphan, a Levite.   1 Chronicles 15:8,11 .

8. Son of Nethaneel, a Levite.   1 Chronicles 24:6 .

9. Son of Obed-edom, a Korhite.   1 Chronicles 26:4-7 .

10. Levite whom Jehoshaphat sent to teach the people.   2 Chronicles 17:8 .

11. Descendant of Jeduthun, a Levite.   2 Chronicles 29:14 .

12. Levite set over the freewill offerings of God.   2 Chronicles 31:15 .

13. Levite in the days of Josiah.   2 Chronicles 35:9 .

14. Son of Adonikam.   Ezra 8:13 .

15. One whom Ezra sent for Levites.   Ezra 8:16 .

16. Priest who had married a strange wife.   Ezra 10:21 .

17. One who had married a strange wife.   Ezra 10:31 .

18. Son of Delaiah: he sought to entrap Nehemiah.   Nehemiah 6:10 .

19. Priest who sealed the covenant,   Nehemiah 10:8; his family went up with Zerubbabel.  Nehemiah 12:6,18 .

20. One with Ezra at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem.   Nehemiah 12:34 .

21. Son of Mattaniah, a priest.   Nehemiah 12:35 .

22. Apparently a Levite who took part in the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem.   Nehemiah 12:36 .

23. Priest who assisted on the same occasion.   Nehemiah 12:42 .

24. Father of Urijah, a prophet.   Jeremiah 26:20 .

25. The Nehelamite, a false prophet, condemned by Jehovah through Jeremiah.   Jeremiah 29:24-32 .

26. Father of Delaiah.   Jeremiah 36:12 .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Shemai'ah. (Heard By Jehovah).

1. A prophet, in the reign of Rehoboam.  1 Kings 12:22;  2 Chronicles 11:2. (B.C. 972). He wrote a chronicle containing the events of Rehoboam's reign.  2 Chronicles 12:5;  2 Chronicles 12:15.

2. The son of Shechaniah, among the descendants of Zerubbabel.  1 Chronicles 3:23;  Nehemiah 3:28.

3. A prince of the tribe of Simeon.  1 Chronicles 4:27.

4. Son of Joel, Reubenite.  1 Chronicles 5:4. (B.C. after 1706).

5 . Son of Hasshub, a Merarite Levite.  1 Chronicles 9:14;  Nehemiah 11:15.

6. Father of Obadiah, or Abda, a Levite.  1 Chronicles 9:16.

7. Son of Elizaphan, and chief of his house, in the reign of David.  1 Chronicles 15:8;  1 Chronicles 15:11. (B.C. 1043).

8. A Levite, son of Nethaneel, and also a scribe, in the time of David.  1 Chronicles 24:6. (B.C. 1014).

9. The eldest son of Obed-edom, the Gittite.  1 Chronicles 26:4;  1 Chronicles 26:6-7. (B.C. 1014).

10. A descendant of Jeduthun, the singer, who lived in the reign of Hezekiah  2 Chronicles 29:14.

11. One of the sons of Adonikam, who returned with Ezra.  Ezra 5:13.

12. One of Ezra's messengers.  Ezra 8:16.

13. A priest, of the family of Harim, who put away his foreign wife at Ezra's bidding.  Ezra 10:21. (B.C. 455).

14. A layman, of Israel, son of another Harim, who had also married a foreigner.  Ezra 10:31. (B.C. 458).

15. Son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, a prophet, in the time of Nehemiah.  Nehemiah 6:10. (B.C. 446).

16. he head of a priestly house, who signed the covenant with Nehemiah.  Nehemiah 10:8;  Nehemiah 10:12:6;  Nehemiah 10:12:18. (B.C. 410).

17. One of the princes of Judah, at the time of the dedication of Jerusalem.  Nehemiah 12:34.

18. One of the choir, on the same occasion.  Nehemiah 12:38.

19. A priest.  Nehemiah 12:42.

20. A false prophet, in the time of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah 29:24-32.

21. A Levite, in the reign of Jehoshaphat.  2 Chronicles 17:8. (B.C. 909).

22. A Levite, in the reign of Hezekiah.  2 Chronicles 31:15. (B.C. 726).

23. A Levite, in the reign of Josiah.  2 Chronicles 35:9. (B.C. 628).

24. The father of Urijah, of Kirjath-jearim.  Jeremiah 26:20. (B.C. before 608).

25. The father of Delaiah.  Jeremiah 36:12. (B.C. before 605).

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Kings 12:22 2 Chronicles 12:1 2 Jeremiah 29:24-32 3 1 Chronicles 3:22 4 1 Chronicles 4:37 5 1 Chronicles 5:4 Shema   1 Chronicles 5:8 6 Nehemiah 11:15 1 Chronicles 9:14 7 1 Chronicles 9:16 Nehemiah 11:17 8 1 Chronicles 15:11 9 1 Chronicles 24:6 10 1 Chronicles 24:4-8 11 2 Chronicles 29:14 2 Chronicles 31:15 12 Ezra 8:13 Ezra 8:16

13. Priest married to a foreign woman ( Ezra 10:21 ).  14 . Man married to a foreign woman ( Ezra 10:31 ).  15 . Keeper of east gate who helped Nehemiah repair Jerusalem's wall about 445 B.C. ( Nehemiah 3:29 ).  16 . Prophet Tobiah and Sanballat hired against Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 6:10-12 ).  17 . Original ancestor of a priestly family ( Nehemiah 10:8;  Nehemiah 12:6 ,Nehemiah 12:6, 12:18 ).  18 . Leader of Judah who participated with Nehemiah in dedicating the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem ( Nehemiah 12:34 ).  19 . Priest who helped Nehemiah dedicate the walls ( Nehemiah 12:42 ).  20 . Priest whose grandson helped Nehemiah dedicate the walls ( Nehemiah 12:35 ).  21 . Levitical musician who helped Nehemiah dedicate the walls ( Nehemiah 12:36 ).  22 . Father of the prophet Urijah ( Jeremiah 26:20 ).  23 . Father of an official at Jehoikim's court about 600 B.C. ( Jeremiah 36:12 ).  24 . Levite in days of Jehoshaphat (873-848 B.C.) who taught God's law to the people ( 2 Chronicles 17:8 ).  25 . Levite in days of Josiah about 621 B.C. ( 2 Chronicles 35:9 ).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. A prophet of Israel, by whom God forbade Rehoboam to endeavor to coerce the ten tribes back to their allegiance, and called the king and his court to repent at the invasion of Shishak. He is said to have written the history of Rehoboam's reign,  1 Kings 12:22-24   2 Chronicles 12:5-8,15 .

2. A Levite, who made a registry of the twenty-four priestly classes,  1 Chronicles 15:8,11   24:6 .

3. A false prophet among the exiled Jews in Babylon, who opposed the prophet Jeremiah, and incurred divine judgments on himself and his family. For his name, Nehelamite, a dreamer,  Jeremiah 29:24-32 .

4. A false prophet in the pay of Sanballat and Tobiah, who sought to terrify Nehemiah into the cowardly in forbidden step of taking refuge within the temple,  Numbers 3:38   Nehemiah 6:10-14 .

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

A prophet of the Lord. His history we have,  2 Chronicles 11:1-23. His name means, that hears the Lord, from Thamah that hears—and Jah, the Lord. There are many of this name in the Old Testament. ( 1 Chronicles 4:37;  Ezra 8:16;  Nehemiah 6:10;  Jeremiah 29:24-25; Jer 36:12)

Easton's Bible Dictionary

The father of a prince in the reign of Jehoiakim ( Jeremiah 36:12 ).

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Shemaiah'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/s/shemaiah.html. 1897.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

shḗ - mā´ya , shḗ - mı̄´a ( שׁמעיה , shema‛yāh (in   2 Chronicles 11:2;  2 Chronicles 17:8;  2 Chronicles 31:15;  2 Chronicles 35:9;  Jeremiah 26:20;  Jeremiah 29:24;  Jeremiah 36:12 , shema‛yāhū ), "Jahveh hears"): The name is most frequently borne by priests, Levites and prophets.

(1) Codex Vaticanus Σαμμαίας , Sammaı́as  ; Codex Alexandrinus Σαμαίας , Samaı́as (  2 Chronicles 12:5 ,  2 Chronicles 12:7 ). A prophet who, together with Ahijah, protested against Rehoboam's contemplated war against the ten revolted tribes ( 1 Kings 12:22-24 =   2 Chronicles 11:2-4 ). He declared that the rebellion had divine sanction. The second Greek account knows nothing of Ahijah in this connection and introduces Shemaiah at the gathering at Shechem where both Jeroboam and Rehoboam were present; it narrates that on this occasion Shemaiah (not Ahijah) rent his garment and gave ten parts to Jeroboam to signify the ten tribes over which he was to become king. (This version, however, is not taken very seriously, because of its numerous inconsistencies.) Shemaiah also prophesied at the invasion of Judah by Shishak ( 2 Chronicles 12:5-7 ). His message was to the effect that as the princes of Israel had humbled themselves, God's wrath against their idolatrous practices would not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak ( 2 Chronicles 13:7 ). He is mentioned as the author of a history of Rehoboam ( 2 Chronicles 12:15 ).

(2) Son of Shecaniah ( 1 Chronicles 3:22 , Σαμαιά , Samaiá ), a descendant of Zerubbabel. This is also the name of one of the men who helped to repair the wall ( Nehemiah 3:29 , Σεμεία , Semeı́a א compare Curtis, ICC , in  1 Chronicles 3:17-24 )).

(3) A S imeonite ( 1 Chronicles 4:37 , Codex Vaticanus Συμεών , Sumeṓn  ; Codex Alexandrinus Σαμαίας , Samaı́as ), identical, perhaps, with the Shimei of  1 Chronicles 4:26 ,  1 Chronicles 4:27 .

(4) A R eubenite ( 1 Chronicles 5:4 , Codex Vaticanus Σεμεεί , Semeeı́  ; Codex Alexandrinus Σεμείν , Semeı́n ), called Shema in  1 Chronicles 5:8 .

(5) A M erarite Levite ( 1 Chronicles 9:14;  Nehemiah 11:15 , Σαμαιά , Samaiá ), one of those who dwelt in Jerusalem.

(6) A L evite of the family of Jeduthun, father of Obadiah or Abda ( 1 Chronicles 9:16 , Σαμειά , Sameiá , Codex Alexandrinus Σαμίας , Samı́as , called "Shammua" in  Nehemiah 11:17 ).

(7) Head of the Levitical Kohathite clan of Elizaphan in the time of David ( 1 Chronicles 15:8 , Codex Vaticanus Σαμαίας , Samaı́as  ; Codex Alexandrinus Σαμαιά , Samaiá  ; Codex Sinaiticus Σαμέας , Saméas  ;  1 Chronicles 15:11 , Codex Vaticanus Σαμίας , Samı́as  ; Codex Alexandrinus Σεμείας , Semeı́as  ; Codex Sinaiticus Σαμαί , Samaı́ ). He may be the same person as (8).

(8) The scribe ( 1 Chronicles 24:6 ), the son of Nethanel, who registered the names of the priestly courses.

(9) A K orahite Levite, eldest son of Obed-edom ( 1 Chronicles 26:4 ,  1 Chronicles 26:6 , Codex Vaticanus Σαμαίας , Samaı́as  ; Codex Alexandrinus Σαμείας , Sameı́as  ;  1 Chronicles 26:7 , Codex Vaticanus Σαμαί , Samaı́  ; Codex Alexandrinus Σεμεία , Semeı́a ).

(10) A L evite ( 2 Chronicles 17:8 , Codex Vaticanus Σαμούας , Samoúas  ; Codex Alexandrinus Σαμουίας , Samouı́as ). One of the commission appointed by Jehoshaphat to teach the book of the Law in Judah. The names of the commissioners as a whole belong to a period later than the 9th century. (Gray, HPN , 231).

(11) One of the men "over the free-will offerings of God" ( 2 Chronicles 31:15 , Σεμεεί , Semeeı́ ).

(12) A L evite of the family of Jeduthun in the reign of Hezekiah ( 2 Chronicles 29:14 ), one of those who assisted in the purification of the Temple.

(13) A chief of the Levites ( 2 Chronicles 35:9 ), called "Samaias" in Septuagint and 1 Esdras 1:9.

(14) A "chief man" under Ezra ( Ezra 8:16 ), called "Maasmas" and "Samaias" in 1 Esdras 8:43, 44.

(15) A member of the family of Adonikam ( Ezra 8:13 , Codex Vaticanus Σαμαία , Samaı́a  ; Codex Alexandrinus Σαμαειά , Samaeiá  ; "Samaias" in 1 Esdras 8:39).

(16) A priest of the family of Harim who married a foreign wife ( Ezra 10:21 ), called "Sameus" in 1 Esdras 9:21.

(17) A layman of the family of Harim who married a foreign wife ( Ezra 10:31 ), called "Sabbeus" in 1 Esdras 9:32.

(18) A prophet ( Nehemiah 6:10-14 , Codex Vaticanus σεμεεί , Semeeı́  ; Codex Alexandrinus Σεμεί , Semeı́ ), employed by Sanballat and Tobiah to frighten Nehemiah and hinder the rebuilding of the wall.

(19) One of the 24 courses of priests, 16th under Zerubbabel ( Nehemiah 12:6 , Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Alexandrinus Σεμείας , Semeı́as ), 15th under Joiakim ( Nehemiah 12:18; Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Alexandrinus Σεμεία , Semeı́a ), and 21st under Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 10:8 , Σαμαιά , Samaiá ), mentioned in connection with the dedication of the wall.

(20) A priest, descendant of Asaph ( Nehemiah 12:35 ).

(21) A singer (or clan) participating in the dedication of the wall ( Nehemiah 12:36 ).

(22) Father of the prophet Urijah ( Jeremiah 26:20 , Codex Vaticanus and Codex Alexandrinus Σαμαίας , Samaı́as  ; Codex Sinaiticus Μασέας , Maséas ).

(23) A false prophet who was upbraided by Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 29:24-32 ) for attempting to hinder his work. He is styled "the Nehelamite" and was among those carried into captivity with Jehoiachin. In opposition to Jeremiah, he predicted a speedy ending to the captivity. Jeremiah foretold the complete destruction of Shemaiah's family.

(24) Father of Delaiah, who was a prince in the reign of Zedekiah ( Jeremiah 36:12 ).

(25) "The great," kinsman of Tobias ( Tobit 5:13 ).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Shemayah', שְמִעְיָה , Heard [or Rumor ] Of Jehovah [twice in the prolonged form, SheMaya ' Hu, שְׂמִעְיָהוּ ,  2 Chronicles 11:2;  Jeremiah 29:24]; Sept. Σαμαίας , v.r. Σαμα῏Ια , Σαμε῏Ι , etc.), the name of a large number of Hebrews.

1. A Reubenite son of Joel. and father of Gog (1 Chronicles 5, 4). B.C. post 1874. He was perhaps the same as the Shema (q.v.) of 1 Chronicles 5, 4:8.

2. Son of Elizaphan, and chief of his house (of two hundred men) in the reign of David, who took part in the ceremonial with which the king brought the ark from the house of Obed-edom ( 1 Chronicles 15:8;  1 Chronicles 15:11). B.C. 1043.

3. A Levite, son of Nethaneel, and also a scribe in the time of David, who registered the divisions of the priests by lot into twenty-four orders ( 1 Chronicles 24:6). B.C. 1014.

4. Eldest of the eight sons of Obed-edom the Levite. He and his four valiant sons and other relatives, to the number of sixty-two, were gate keepers of the Temple ( 1 Chronicles 26:4;  1 Chronicles 26:6-7). B.C. 1014.

5. A prophet in the reign of Rehoboam who, when the king had assembled 180, 000 men of Benjamin and Judah to reconquer the northern kingdom after its revolt, was commissioned to charge them to return to their homes and not to war against their brethren ( 1 Kings 12:22;  2 Chronicles 11:2). B.C. 972. His second and last appearance upon the stage was upon the- occasion of the invasion of Judah and siege of Jerusalem by Shishak, king of Egypt. B.C. 969. His message was then one of comfort, to assure the princes of Judah that the punishment of their idolatry should not come by the hand of Shishak. ( 2 Chronicles 12:5;  2 Chronicles 12:7). From the circumstance that in  2 Chronicles 11:1 the people of Rehoboam are called "Israel, " whereas in  2 Chronicles 11:5-6 the princes are called indifferently "of Judah" and "of Israel, " some have unwarrantably inferred that the latter event occurred before the disruption of the kingdom. Shemaiah wrote a chronicle containing the events of Rehoboam's reign ( 2 Chronicles 11:15).

6. One of the Levites who, in the third year of Jehoshaphat accompanied two priests and some of the princes of Judah to teach the people the book of the law ( 2 Chronicles 17:8). B.C. 909.

7. Father of Shimri and ancestor of Ziza, which last was a chief of the. tribe of Simeon ( 1 Chronicles 4:37). B.C. long ante 726. He was perhaps the same with the Shimei (q.v.) of  1 Chronicles 4:26-27.

8. A descendant of Jeduthun the singer who lived in the reign of Hezekiah. He assisted in the purification of the Temple and the reformation of the service, and with Uzziel represented his family on that occasion ( 2 Chronicles 29:14). B.C. 726. (See No. 9.)

9. One of the Levites in the reign of Hezekiah who were placed in the cities of the priests to distribute the tithes among their brethren ( 2 Chronicles 31:15). B.C. 726. He was perhaps identical with No. 8.

10. A chief Levite in the reign of Josiah who, with his brethren Conaniah. and Nathaneel, contributed sacrifices for the Passover ( 2 Chronicles 35:9). B.C. 628.

11. Father of the prophet Urijah of Kirjath-jearim (Jerimiah 26:20). B.C. ante 608.

12. Father of Delilah, which latter was one of the princes who heard Baruch's roll ( Jeremiah 36:12). B.C. ante 605.

13. A Nehelamite and a false prophet in the time of Jeremiah. B.C. 606. He prophesied to the people of the captivity in the name of Jehovah, and attempted to counteract the influence of Jeremiah's advice that they should settle quietly in the land of their exile, build houses, plant vineyards, and wait patiently for the period of their return at the end of seventy years. His animosity to Jeremiah exhibited itself in the more active form of a letter to the high priest Zephaniah, urging him to exercise the functions of his office and lay the prophet in prison, and in the stocks. The letter was read by Zephaniah to Jeremiah, who instantly pronounced the message of doom against Shemaiah for his presumption that he should have none of his family to dwell among the people, and that himself should not live to see their return from captivity ( Jeremiah 29:24-32). (See Jeremiah).

14. A chief priest who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel ( Nehemiah 12:6;  Nehemiah 12:18). B.C. 536. He lived to sign the sacred covenant with Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 10:8).B.C. 410.

15. One of the three "last sons" (i.e. supplementary heads of families) of Adonikam who returned with sixty males from Babylon with Ezra ( Ezra 8:13) B.C. 459.

16. One of the "heads" of the Jewish families whom Ezra sent for to his camp by the river of Ahava, for the purpose of obtaining Levites and ministers for the Temple from "the place Casiphia" ( Ezra 8:16). B.C. 459.

17 . One of the priests of the "sons of Harim" who renounced their Gentile wives after the captivity ( Ezra 10:21). B.C. 458. (Comp. No. 18.).

18. An Israelite of the "sons of Harim" who divorced his Gentile wife after the captivity ( Ezra 10:31). B.C. 458. (See No. 17.)

19. A priest, son of Mattauniah (q.v.) and father of Jonathan in the lineage of "Asaph" ( Nehemiah 12:35). B.C. ante 446.

20. Son of Galal and father of the Levite Obadiah (or Abda) who "dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites" after the return from Babylon (1 Chronicles 9:6). B.C. ante 446. He is elsewhere ( Nehemiah 11:17), called SHAMMUA (See Shammua) (q.v.).

21. Son of Shechaniah and keeper of the east gate at Jerusalem, who assisted in repairing the wall after the captivity ( Nehemiah 3:29). B.C. 446.

22. Son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, a prophet in the time of Nehemiah who was bribed by Sanballat and his confederates to frighten the Jews from their task of rebuilding the wall, and to put Nehemiah in fear. In his assumed terror, he appears to have shut up his house and to have proposed that all should retire into the Temple and close the doors ( Nehemiah 6:10). B.C. 446.

23. Son of Hasshub, a Merarite Levite who lived in Jerusalem after the captivity ( 1 Chronicles 9:14), and one of those who had oversight of the outward business of the house of God ( Nehemiah 11:15). B.C. 446.

24. One of the princes of Judah. who was in the procession that went towards the south when the two thanksgiving companies celebrated the solemn dedication of the wall of Jerusalem ( Nehemiah 12:34). B.C. 446.

25. One of the choir who took part in the procession with which the dedication of the new wall of Jerusalem by Ezra was accompanied ( Nehemiah 12:36). B.C. 446. He appears to have been a Gershonite Levite and descendant of Asaph, for reasons which are given under Mattaniah 8

26. One of the priests who blew with trumpets in the procession upon the newly completed walls of Jerusalem after the captivity ( Nehemiah 12:42). B.C. 446.

27. The son of Shechaniah and father of five sons among the descendants of Zerubbabel ( 1 Chronicles 3:22). He was possibly the same with No. 21. Lord Hervey. (Geneal. p. 107) uncritically proposes to omit the words at the beginning of  1 Chronicles 3:22 as spurious, and, to consider Shemaiah identical with Shimei (q.v.), the brother of Zerubbabel ( 1 Chronicles 3:19). This Shemaiah seems to be the same as the Semei of  Luke 3:26. B.C. cir. 380. (See Genealogy Of Christ).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Shemaiah, 1

Shemai´ah (whom Jehovah hears), a prophet of the time of Rehoboam, who was commissioned to enjoin that monarch to forego his design of reducing the ten tribes to obedience . In , this Shemaiah is stated to have written the Chronicles of the reign in which he flourished.

Shemaiah, 2

Shemaiah, a person who, without authority, assumed the functions of a prophet among the Israelites in exile. He was so much annoyed by the prophecies which Jeremiah sent to Babylon, the tendency of which was contrary to his own, that he wrote to Jerusalem, denouncing the prophet as an impostor, and urging the authorities to enforce his silence. In return he received new prophecies, announcing that he should never behold that close of the bondage which he fancied to be at hand, and that none of his race should witness the reestablishment of the nation .