BIBLES NET. COM
Dictionary]
Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Shadow – used in Col. 2:17; Heb.
8:5; 10:1 to denote the typical relation of the Jewish to
the Christian dispensation.
Chaldean name given to Hananiah, one of the Hebrew youths
whom Nebuchadnezzar carried captive to Babylon (Dan. 1:6,
7; 3:12-30). He and his two companions refused to bow down
before the image which Nebuchadnezzar had set up on the
plains of Dura. Their conduct filled the king with the
greatest fury, and he commanded them to be cast into the
burning fiery furnace. Here, amid the fiery flames, they
were miraculously preserved from harm. Over them the fire
had no power, “neither was a hair of their head
singed, neither had the smell of fire passed on them.”
Thus Nebuchadnezzar learned the greatness of the God of
ABEDNEGO.)
(probably the village of Salim) some 2 miles east of
Jacob’s well. There is an abundant supply of water,
which may have been the reason for Jacob’s settling at
this place (Gen. 33:18-20). The Revised Version translates
this word, and reads, “Jacob came in peace to the city
of Shechem,” thus not regarding it as a proper name at
all.
Shalim, Land of – land of foxes,
a place apparently to the north-west of Jerusalem (1 Sam.
9:4), perhaps in the neighbourhood of Shaalabbin in Dan
(Josh. 19:42).
Shalisha, Land of – probably the
district of Baal-shalisha (2 Kings 4:42), lying about 12
miles north of Lydda (1 Sam. 9:4).
Shallecheth, The gate of – i.e.,
“the gate of casting out,” hence supposed to be
the refuse gate; one of the gates of the house of the Lord,
“by the causeway of the going up” i.e., the
causeway rising up from the Tyropoeon valley = valley of
the cheesemakers (1 Chr. 26:16).
Shallum – retribution. (1.) The
son of Jabesh, otherwise unknown. He “conspired
against Zachariah, and smote him before the people, and
slew him, and reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 15:10).
He reigned only “a month of days in Samaria”
(15:13, marg.). Menahem rose up against Shallum and put him
to death (2 Kings 15:14, 15, 17), and became king in his
stead.
(2.) Keeper of the temple vestments in the reign of Josiah
(2 Kings 22:14).
(3.) One of the posterity of Judah (1 Chr. 2:40, 41).
(4.) A descendant of Simeon (1 Chr. 4:25).
(5.) One of the line of the high priests (1 Chr. 6:13).
(6.) 1 Chr. 7:13.
(7.) A keeper of the gate in the reign of David (1 Chr.
9:17).
(8.) A Levite porter (1 Chr. 9:19, 31; Jer. 35:4).
(9.) An Ephraimite chief (2 Chr. 28:12).
(10.) The uncle of the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 32:7).
(11.) A son of king Josiah (1 Chr. 3:15; Jer. 22:11), who
was elected to succeed his father on the throne, although
he was two years younger than his brother Eliakim. He
assumed the crown under the name of Jehoahaz (q.v.). He did
not imitate the example of his father (2 Kings 23:32), but
was “a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey;
it devoured men” (Ezek. 19:3). His policy was
anti-Egyptian therefore. Necho, at that time at Riblah,
sent an army against Jerusalem, which at once yielded, and
Jehoahaz was carried captive to the Egyptian camp, Eliakim
being appointed king in his stead. He remained a captive in
Egypt till his death, and was the first king of Judah that
died in exile.
Shalman – an Assyrian king (Hos.
10:14), identified with Shalmaneser II. (Sayce) or IV.
(Lenormant), the successor of Pul on the throne of Assyria
(B.C. 728). He made war against Hoshea, the king of Israel,
whom he subdued and compelled to pay an annual tribute.
Hoshea, however, soon after rebelled against his Assyrian
conquerer. Shalmaneser again marched against Samaria,
which, after a siege of three years, was taken (2 Kings
17:3-5; 18:9) by Sargon (q.v.). A revolution meantime had
broken out in Assyria, and Shalmaneser was deposed. Sargon
usurped the vacant throne. Schrader thinks that this is
probably the name of a king of Moab mentioned on an
inscription of Tiglath-pileser as Salamanu.
Shamgar – The Philistines from
the maritime plain had made incursions into the Hebrew
upland for the purposes of plunder, when one of this name,
the son of Anath, otherwise unknown, headed a rising for
the purpose of freeing the land from this oppression. He
repelled the invasion, slaying 600 men with an “ox
goad” (q.v.). The goad was a formidable sharpointed
instrument, sometimes ten feet long. He was probably
contemporary for a time with Deborah and Barak (Judg. 3:31;
5:6).
Shamir – a sharp thorn. (1.) One
of the sons of Michah (1 Chr. 24:24).
(2.) A town among the mountains of Judah (Josh. 15:48);
probably Somerah, 2 1/2 miles north-west of Debir.
(3.) The residence of Tola, one of the judges, on Mount
Ephraim (Judg. 10:1, 2).
Shammah – desert. (1.) One of the
“dukes” of Edom (Gen. 36:13, 17).
(2.) One of the sons of Jesse (1 Sam. 16:9). He is also
called Shimeah (2 Sam. 13:3) and Shimma (1 Chr. 2:13).
(3.) One of David’s three mighty men (2 Sam. 23:11,
12).
(4.) One of David’s mighties (2 Sam. 23:25); called
also Shammoth (1 Chr. 11:27) and Shamhuth (27:8).
Shammua – heard. (1.) One of the
spies sent out by Moses to search the land (Num. 13:4). He
represented the tribe of Reuben.
(2.) One of David’s sons (1 Chr. 14:4; 3:5,
“Shimea;” 2 Sam. 5:14).
(3.) A Levite under Nehemiah (11:17).
Shaphan – a coney, a scribe or
secretary of king Josiah (2 Kings 22:3-7). He consulted
Huldah concerning the newly-discovered copy of the law
which was delivered to him by Hilkiah the priest (8-14).
His grandson Gedaliah was governor of Judea (25:22).
Shaphat – judge. (1.) One of the
spies. He represented the tribe of Simeon (Num. 13:5).
(2.) The father of Elisha (1 Kings 19:16-19).
(3.) One of David’s chief herdsmen (1 Chr. 27:29).
Shapher – brightness, one of the
stations where Israel encamped in the wilderness (Num.
33:23, 24).
15:36), more correctly Shaaraim (1 Sam. 17:52), probably
Tell Zakariya and Kefr Zakariya, in the valley of Elah, 3
1/2 miles north-west of Socoh.
king!, a son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria. He and his
brother Adrammelech murdered their father, and then fled
into the land of Armenia (2 Kings 19:37).
Sharon, Saron – a plain, a level
tract extending from the Mediterranean to the hill country
to the west of Jerusalem, about 30 miles long and from 8 to
15 miles broad, celebrated for its beauty and fertility (1
Chr. 27:29; Isa. 33:9; 35:2; 65:10). The “rose of
Sharon” is celebrated (Cant. 2:1). It is called
Lasharon (the article la being here a part of the word) in
Josh. 12:18.
Kirja-thaim where Chedorlaomer defeated the Emims, the
original inhabitants (Gen. 14:5). Now Kureiyat, north of
Dibon, in the land of Moab.
Shaveh, Valley of – valley of the
plain the ancient name of the “king’s dale”
(q.v.), or Kidron, on the north side of Jerusalem (Gen.
14:17).
Sam. 8:17; “Shisha,” 1 Kings 4:3), one of
David’s secretaries (1 Chr. 18:16).
father of Zerubbabel (Ezra 3:2, 8; Neh. 12:1).
Shearing-house – (2 Kings 10:12,
14; marg., “house of shepherds binding sheep.”
R.V., “the shearing-house of the shepherds;”
marg., “house of gathering”), some place between
Samaria and Jezreel, where Jehu slew “two and forty
men” of the royal family of Judah. The Heb. word
Beth-eked so rendered is supposed by some to be a proper
name.
Shear-Jashub – a remnant shall
escape or return (i.e., to God), a symbolical name which
the prophet Isaiah gave to his son (Isa. 7:3), perhaps his
eldest son.
Sheba – an oath, seven. (1.) Heb.
shebha, the son of Raamah (Gen. 10:7), whose descendants
settled with those of Dedan on the Persian Gulf.
(2.) Heb. id. A son of Joktan (Gen. 10:28), probably the
founder of the Sabeans.
(3.) Heb. id. A son of Jokshan, who was a son of Abraham by
Keturah (Gen. 25:3).
(4.) Heb. id. A kingdom in Arabia Felix. Sheba, in fact,
was Saba in Southern Arabia, the Sabaeans of classical
geography, who carried on the trade in spices with the
other peoples of the ancient world. They were Semites,
speaking one of the two main dialects of Himyaritic or
South Arabic. Sheba had become a monarchy before the days
of Solomon. Its queen brought him gold, spices, and
precious stones (1 Kings 10:1-13). She is called by our
Lord the “queen of the south” (Matt. 12:42).
(5.) Heb. shebha’, “seven” or “an
oak.” A town of Simeon (Josh. 19:2).
(6.) Heb. id. A “son of Bichri,” of the family of
Becher, the son of Benjamin, and thus of the stem from
which Saul was descended (2 Sam. 20:1-22). When David was
returning to Jerusalem after the defeat of Absalom, a
strife arose between the ten tribes and the tribe of Judah,
because the latter took the lead in bringing back the king.
Sheba took advantage of this state of things, and raised
the standard of revolt, proclaiming, “We have no part
in David.” With his followers he proceeded northward.
David seeing it necessary to check this revolt, ordered
Abishai to take the gibborim, “mighty men,” and
the body-guard and such troops as he could gather, and
pursue Sheba. Joab joined the expedition, and having
treacherously put Amasa to death, assumed the command of
the army. Sheba took refuge in Abel-Bethmaachah, a
fortified town some miles north of Lake Merom. While Joab
was engaged in laying siege to this city, Sheba’s head
was, at the instigation of a “wise woman” who had
held a parley with him from the city walls, thrown over the
wall to the besiegers, and thus the revolt came to an end.
Shebaniah – whom Jehovah hides,
or has made grow up. (1.) A Levite appointed to blow the
trumpet before the ark of God (1 Chr. 15:24).
(2.) Another Levite (Neh. 9:4, 5).
(3.) A priest (Neh. 10:12).
(4.) A Levite (Neh. 10:4).
Shebarim – breaks; ruins, a place
near Ai (Josh. 7:5; R.V. marg., “the
quarries”).
“treasurer” over the house in the reign of
Hezekiah, i.e., comptroller or governor of the palace. On
account of his pride he was ejected from his office, and
Eliakim was promoted to it (Isa. 22:15-25). He appears to
have been the leader of the party who favoured an alliance
with Egypt against Assyria. It is conjectured that
“Shebna the scribe,” who was one of those whom
the king sent to confer with the Assyrian ambassador (2
Kings 18:18, 26, 37; 19:2; Isa. 36:3, 11, 22; 37:2), was a
different person.
Shebuel – captive of God. (1.)
One of the descendants of Gershom, who had charge of the
temple treasures in the time of David (1 Chr. 23:16;
26:24).
(2.) One of the sons of Heman; one of those whose duty it
was to “lift up the horn” in the temple service
(1 Chr. 25:4, 5); called also Shubael (ver. 20).
Jehovah. (1.) A priest to whom the tenth lot came forth
when David divided the priests (1 Chr. 24:11).
(2.) One of the priests who were set “to give to their
brethren by courses” of the daily portion (2 Chr.
31:15).
Shechani’ah, id. (1.) A priest whose sons are mentioned
in 1 Chr. 3:21, 22.
(2.) Ezra 8:5.
(3.) Ezra 10:2-4.
(4.) The father of Shemaiah, who repaired the wall of
Jerusalem (Neh. 3:29).
(5.) The father-in-law of Tobiah (Neh. 6:18).
(6.) A priest who returned from the Captivity with
Zerubbabel (Neh. 12:3; marg., or Shebaniah).
Shechem – shoulder. (1.) The son
of Hamor the Hivite (Gen. 33:19; 34).
(2.) A descendant of Manasseh (Num. 26:31; Josh. 17:2).
(3.) A city in Samaria (Gen. 33:18), called also Sichem
(12:6), Sychem (Acts 7:16). It stood in the narrow
sheltered valley between Ebal on the north and Gerizim on
the south, these mountains at their base being only some
500 yards apart. Here Abraham pitched his tent and built
his first altar in the Promised Land, and received the
first divine promise (Gen. 12:6, 7). Here also Jacob
“bought a parcel of a field at the hands of the
children of Hamor” after his return from Mesopotamia,
and settled with his household, which he purged from
idolatry by burying the teraphim of his followers under an
oak tree, which was afterwards called “the oak of the
sorcerer” (Gen. 33:19; 35:4; Judg. 9:37). (See
MEONENIM.) Here too, after a while, he dug a well,
which bears his name to this day (John 4:5, 39-42). To
Shechem Joshua gathered all Israel “before God,”
and delivered to them his second parting address (Josh.
24:1-15). He “made a covenant with the people that
day” at the very place where, on first entering the
land, they had responded to the law from Ebal and Gerizim
(Josh. 24:25), the terms of which were recorded “in
the book of the law of God”, i.e., in the roll of the
law of Moses; and in memory of this solemn transaction a
great stone was set up “under an oak” (comp. Gen.
28:18; 31:44-48; Ex. 24:4; Josh. 4:3, 8, 9), possibly the
old “oak of Moreh,” as a silent witness of the
transaction to all coming time.
Shechem became one of the cities of refuge, the central
city of refuge for Western Palestine (Josh. 20:7), and here
the bones of Joseph were buried (24:32). Rehoboam was
appointed king in Shechem (1 Kings 12:1, 19), but Jeroboam
afterwards took up his residence here. This city is
mentioned in connection with our Lord’s conversation
with the woman of Samaria (John 4:5); and thus, remaining
as it does to the present day, it is one of the oldest
cities of the world. It is the modern Nablus, a contraction
for Neapolis, the name given to it by Vespasian. It lies
about a mile and a half up the valley on its southern
slope, and on the north of Gerizim, which rises about 1,100
feet above it, and is about 34 miles north of Jerusalem. It
contains about 10,000 inhabitants, of whom about 160 are
Samaritans and 100 Jews, the rest being Christians and
Mohammedans.
The site of Shechem is said to be of unrivalled beauty.
Stanley says it is “the most beautiful, perhaps the
only very beautiful, spot in Central Palestine.”
Gaza, near Shechem, only mentioned 1 Chr. 7:28, has
entirely disappeared. It was destroyed at the time of the
Conquest, and its place was taken by Shechem. (See
SYCHAR.)
meaning resting-place, not found in Scripture, but used by
the later Jews to designate the visible symbol of God’s
presence in the tabernacle, and afterwards in Solomon’s
temple. When the Lord led Israel out of Egypt, he went
before them “in a pillar of a cloud.” This was
the symbol of his presence with his people. For references
made to it during the wilderness wanderings, see Ex. 14:20;
40:34-38; Lev. 9:23, 24; Num. 14:10; 16:19, 42.
It is probable that after the entrance into Canaan this
glory-cloud settled in the tabernacle upon the ark of the
covenant in the most holy place. We have, however, no
special reference to it till the consecration of the temple
by Solomon, when it filled the whole house with its glory,
so that the priests could not stand to minister (1 Kings
8:10-13; 2 Chr. 5:13, 14; 7:1-3). Probably it remained in
the first temple in the holy of holies as the symbol of
Jehovah’s presence so long as that temple stood. It
CLOUD.)
varieties. Probably the flocks of Abraham and Isaac were of
the wild species found still in the mountain regions of
Persia and Kurdistan. After the Exodus, and as a result of
intercourse with surrounding nations, other species were no
doubt introduced into the herds of the people of Israel.
They are frequently mentioned in Scripture. The care of a
shepherd over his flock is referred to as illustrating
God’s care over his people (Ps. 23:1, 2; 74:1; 77:20;
Isa. 40:11; 53:6; John 10:1-5, 7-16).
“The sheep of Palestine are longer in the head than
ours, and have tails from 5 inches broad at the narrowest
part to 15 inches at the widest, the weight being in
proportion, and ranging generally from 10 to 14 lbs., but
sometimes extending to 30 lbs. The tails are indeed huge
masses of fat” (Geikie’s Holy Land, etc.). The
tail was no doubt the “rump” so frequently
referred to in the Levitical sacrifices (Ex. 29:22; Lev.
3:9; 7:3; 9:19). Sheep-shearing was generally an occasion
of great festivity (Gen. 31:19; 38:12, 13; 1 Sam. 25:4-8,
36; 2 Sam. 13:23-28).
enclosure for the protection of the sheep gathered within
it (Num. 32:24; 1 Chr. 17:7; Ps. 50:9; 78:70). In John
10:16 the Authorized Version renders by “fold”
two distinct Greek words, aule and poimne, the latter of
which properly means a “flock,” and is so
rendered in the Revised Version. (See also Matt. 26:31;
FOLD.)
Sheep-gate – one of the gates of
Jerusalem mentioned by Nehemiah (3:1, 32; 12:39). It was in
the eastern wall of the city.
John 5:2 (marg., also R.V., “sheep-gate”). The
word so rendered is an adjective, and it is uncertain
whether the noun to be supplied should be “gate”
or, following the Vulgate Version, “pool.”
standard both of weight and value among the Hebrews. It is
estimated at 220 English grains, or a little more than half
an ounce avoirdupois. The “shekel of the
sanctuary” (Ex. 30:13; Num. 3:47) was equal to twenty
gerahs (Ezek. 45:12). There were shekels of gold (1 Chr.
21:25), of silver (1 Sam. 9:8), of brass (17:5), and of
iron (7). When it became a coined piece of money, the
shekel of gold was equivalent to about 2 pound of our
money. Six gold shekels, according to the later Jewish
system, were equal in value to fifty silver ones.
The temple contribution, with which the public sacrifices
were bought (Ex. 30:13; 2 Chr. 24:6), consisted of one
common shekel, or a sanctuary half-shekel, equal to two
Attic drachmas. The coin, a stater (q.v.), which Peter
found in the fish’s mouth paid this contribution for
both him and Christ (Matt. 17:24, 27). A zuza, or quarter
of a shekel, was given by Saul to Samuel (1 Sam. 9:8).
Judah’s third son (Gen. 38:2, 5, 11, 14).
(2.) A son of Arphaxad (1 Chr. 1:18).
Shelemiah – whom Jehovah repays.
(1.) Ezra 10:39.
(2.) The father of Hananiah (Neh. 3:30).
(3.) A priest in the time of Nehemiah (13:13).
(4.) Father of one of those who accused Jeremiah to
Zedekiah (Jer. 37:3; 38:1).
(5.) Father of a captain of the ward (Jer. 37:13).
(6.) Jer. 36:14.
Shem – a name; renown, the first
mentioned of the sons of Noah (Gen. 5:32; 6:10). He was
probably the eldest of Noah’s sons. The words
“brother of Japheth the elder” in Gen. 10:21 are
more correctly rendered “the elder brother of
Japheth,” as in the Revised Version. Shem’s name
is generally mentioned first in the list of Noah’s
sons. He and his wife were saved in the ark (7:13). Noah
foretold his preeminence over Canaan (9:23-27). He died at
the age of six hundred years, having been for many years
contemporary with Abraham, according to the usual
chronology. The Israelitish nation sprang from him (Gen.
11:10-26; 1 Chr. 1:24-27).
Shema – rumour. (1.) A Reubenite
(1 Chr. 5:8).
(2.) A Benjamite (1 Chr. 8:13).
(3.) One who stood by Ezra when he read the law (Neh. 8:4).
(4.) A town in the south of Judah (Josh. 15:26); the same
as Sheba (ver. 5).
whose sons “came to David to Ziklag” (1 Chr.
12:3).
Shemaiah – whom Jehovah heard.
(1.) A prophet in the reign of Rehoboam (1 Kings
12:22-24).
(2.) Neh. 3:29.
(3.) A Simeonite (1 Chr. 4:37).
(4.) A priest (Neh. 12:42).
(5.) A Levite (1 Chr. 9:16).
(6.) 1 Chr. 9:14; Neh. 11:15.
(7.) A Levite in the time of David, who with 200 of his
brethren took part in the bringing up of the ark from
Obed-edom to Hebron (1 Chr. 15:8).
(8.) A Levite (1 Chr. 24:6).
(9.) The eldest son of Obed-edom (1 Chr. 26:4-8).
(10.) A Levite (2 Chr. 29:14).
(11.) A false prophet who hindered the rebuilding of
Jerusalem (Neh. 6:10).
(12.) A prince of Judah who assisted at the dedication of
the wall of Jerusalem (Neh. 12:34-36).
(13.) A false prophet who opposed Jeremiah (Jer. 29:24-32).
(14.) One of the Levites whom Jehoshaphat appointed to
teach the law (2 Chr. 17:8).
(15.) A Levite appointed to “distribute the oblations
of the Lord” (2 Chr. 31:15).
(16.) A Levite (2 Chr. 35:9).
(17.) The father of Urijah the prophet (Jer. 26:20).
(18.) The father of a prince in the reign of Jehoiakim
(Jer. 36:12).
Shemariah – whom Jehovah guards.
(1.) One who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:5).
(2.) Ezra 10:32, 41.
Shemeber – soaring on high, the
king of Zeboiim, who joined with the other kings in casting
off the yoke of Chedorlaomer. After having been reconquered
by him, he was rescued by Abraham (Gen. 14:2).
musical term, supposed to denote the lowest note sung by
men’s voices (1 Chr. 15:21; Ps. 6; 12, title).
(1.) A Levite in the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chr.
17:8).
(2.) A Levite in David’s time (1 Chr. 15:18, 20).
Shemuel – heard of God. (1.) The
son of Ammihud. He represented Simeon in the division of
the land (Num. 34:20).
(2.) Used for “Samuel” (1 Chr. 6:33, R.V.).
(3.) A prince of the tribe of Issachar (1 Chr. 7:2).
conspicuous tooth-shaped rock or crag (1 Sam. 7:12), a
place between which and Mizpeh Samuel set up his
“Ebenezer.” In the Hebrew the word has the
article prefixed, “the Shen.” The site is
unknown.
Cant. 4:8), the name given to Mount Hermon (q.v.) by the
Sidonians.
all-demanding world” = Gr. Hades, “the unknown
region”), the invisible world of departed souls. (See
HELL.)
Shepham – a treeless place, Num.
34:10, 11: “The coast shall go down from Shepham to
Riblah.”
Shephatiah – judged of the Lord.
(1.) A son of David by Abital (2 Sam. 3:4).
(2.) A Benjamite who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:5).
(3.) A Simeonite prince in David’s time (1 Chr. 27:16).
(4.) One of Jehoshaphat’s sons (2 Chr. 21:2).
(5.) Ezra 2:4.
(6.) Ezra 2:57; Neh. 7:59.
(7.) One of the princes who urged the putting of Jeremiah
to death (Jer. 38:1-4).
Shepherd – a word naturally of
frequent occurence in Scripture. Sometimes the word
“pastor” is used instead (Jer. 2:8; 3:15; 10:21;
12:10; 17:16). This word is used figuratively to represent
the relation of rulers to their subjects and of God to his
people (Ps. 23:1; 80:1; Isa. 40:11; 44:28; Jer. 25:34, 35;
Nahum 3:18; John 10:11, 14; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25;
5:4).
The duties of a shepherd in an unenclosed country like
Palestine were very onerous. “In early morning he led
forth the flock from the fold, marching at its head to the
spot where they were to be pastured. Here he watched them
all day, taking care that none of the sheep strayed, and if
any for a time eluded his watch and wandered away from the
rest, seeking diligently till he found and brought it back.
In those lands sheep require to be supplied regularly with
water, and the shepherd for this purpose has to guide them
either to some running stream or to wells dug in the
wilderness and furnished with troughs. At night he brought
the flock home to the fold, counting them as they passed
under the rod at the door to assure himself that none were
missing. Nor did his labours always end with sunset. Often
he had to guard the fold through the dark hours from the
attack of wild beasts, or the wily attempts of the prowling
thief (see 1 Sam. 17:34).”, Deane’s David.
Sherebiah – flame of the Lord, a
priest whose name is prominent in connection with the work
carried on by Ezra and Nehemiah at Jerusalem (Ezra 8:17,
18, 24-30; Neh. 8:7; 9:4, 5; 10:12).
Sheresh – root, a descendant of
Manasseh (1 Chr. 7:16).
Sherezer – one of the messengers
whom the children of the Captivity sent to Jerusalem
“to pray for them before the Lord” (Zech.
7:2).
Sheriffs – (Dan. 3:2), Babylonian
officers.
Sheshach – (Jer. 25:26), supposed
to be equivalent to Babel (Babylon), according to a secret
(cabalistic) mode of writing among the Jews of unknown
antiquity, which consisted in substituting the last letter
of the Hebrew alphabet for the first, the last but one for
the second, and so on. Thus the letters sh, sh, ch become
b, b, l, i.e., Babel. This is supposed to be confirmed by a
reference to Jer. 51:41, where Sheshach and Babylon are in
parallel clauses. There seems to be no reason to doubt that
Babylon is here intended by this name. (See Streane’s
Jeremiah, l.c.)
sons of Anak (Num. 13:22). When the Israelites obtained
possession of the country the sons of Anak were expelled
and slain (Josh. 15:14; Judg. 1:10).
Sheshbazzar – O sun-god, defend
the lord! (Ezra 1:8, 11), probably another name for
Zerubbabel (q.v.), Ezra 2:2; Hag. 1:12, 14; Zech. 4:6,
10.
children of Sheth” (Num. 24:17); R.V., “the sons
of tumult,” which is probably the correct rendering,
as there is no evidence that this is a proper name
here.
(2.) The antediluvian patriarch (1 Chr. 1:1).
Shethar – a star, a prince at the
court of Ahasuerus (Esther 1:14).
splendour, a Persian officer who vainly attempted to hinder
the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 5:3, 6; 6:6, 13).
Sheva – Heb. Shebher. (1.) The
son of Caleb (1 Chr. 2:49).
(2.) Heb. Sheva’, one of David’s scribes (2 Sam.
20:25).
marg., “presence bread”); 1 Chr. 9:32 (marg.,
“bread of ordering”); Num. 4:7: called
“hallowed bread” (R.V., “holy bread”)
in 1 Sam. 21:1-6.
This bread consisted of twelve loaves made of the finest
flour. They were flat and thin, and were placed in two rows
of six each on a table in the holy place before the Lord.
They were renewed every Sabbath (Lev. 24:5-9), and those
that were removed to give place to the new ones were to be
eaten by the priests only in the holy place (see 1 Sam.
21:3-6; comp. Matt. 12:3, 4).
The number of the loaves represented the twelve tribes of
Israel, and also the entire spiritual Israel, “the
true Israel;” and the placing of them on the table
symbolized the entire consecration of Israel to the Lord,
and their acceptance of God as their God. The table for the
bread was made of acacia wood, 3 feet long, 18 inches
broad, and 2 feet 3 inches high. It was plated with pure
gold. Two staves, plated with gold, passed through golden
rings, were used for carrying it.
Shibboleth – river, or an ear of
corn. The tribes living on the east of Jordan, separated
from their brethren on the west by the deep ravines and the
rapid river, gradually came to adopt peculiar customs, and
from mixing largely with the Moabites, Ishmaelites, and
Ammonites to pronounce certain letters in such a manner as
to distinguish them from the other tribes. Thus when the
Ephraimites from the west invaded Gilead, and were defeated
by the Gileadites under the leadership of Jephthah, and
tried to escape by the “passages of the Jordan,”
the Gileadites seized the fords and would allow none to
pass who could not pronounce “shibboleth” with a
strong aspirate. This the fugitives were unable to do. They
said “sibboleth,” as the word was pronounced by
the tribes on the west, and thus they were detected (Judg.
12:1-6). Forty-two thousand were thus detected, and
“Without reprieve, adjudged to death, For want of
well-pronouncing shibboleth.”
Shibmah – fragrance, a town of
Reuben, east of Jordan (Num. 32:38).
warfare, varying at different times and under different
circumstances in size, form, and material (1 Sam. 17:7; 2
Sam. 1:21; 1 Kings 10:17; 1 Chr. 12:8, 24, 34; Isa. 22:6;
Ezek. 39:9; Nahum 2:3).
Used figuratively of God and of earthly princes as the
defenders of their people (Gen. 15:1; Deut. 33:29; Ps.
33:20; 84:11). Faith is compared to a shield (Eph. 6:16).
Shields were usually “anointed” (Isa. 21:5), in
order to preserve them, and at the same time make the
missiles of the enemy glide off them more easily.
Shiggaion – from the verb shagah,
“to reel about through drink,” occurs in the
title of Ps. 7. The plural form, shigionoth, is found in
Hab. 3:1. The word denotes a lyrical poem composed under
strong mental emotion; a song of impassioned imagination
accompanied with suitable music; a dithyrambic ode.
Shihon – overturning, a town of
Issachar (Josh. 19:19).
Shihor – dark, (1 Chr. 13:5), the
southwestern boundary of Canaan, the Wady el-‘Arish.
NILE.)
Shihor-Libnath – black-white, a
stream on the borders of Asher, probably the modern Nahr
Zerka, i.e., the “crocodile brook,” or “blue
river”, which rises in the Carmel range and enters the
Mediterranean a little to the north of Caesarea (Josh.
19:26). Crocodiles are still found in the Zerka. Thomson
suspects “that long ages ago some Egyptians,
accustomed to worship this ugly creature, settled here
(viz., at Caesarea), and brought their gods with them. Once
here they would not easily be exterminated” (The Land
and the Book).
Shilhim – aqueducts, a town in
the south of Judah (Josh. 15:32); called also Sharuhen and
Shaaraim (19:6).
Shiloah, The waters of – =Siloah,
(Neh. 3:15) and Siloam (q.v.)
Shiloh – generally understood as
denoting the Messiah, “the peaceful one,” as the
word signifies (Gen. 49:10). The Vulgate Version translates
the word, “he who is to be sent,” in allusion to
the Messiah; the Revised Version, margin, “till he
come to Shiloh;” and the LXX., “until that which
is his shall come to Shiloh.” It is most simple and
natural to render the expression, as in the Authorized
Version, “till Shiloh come,” interpreting it as a
proper name (comp. Isa. 9:6).
Shiloh, a place of rest, a city of Ephraim, “on the
north side of Bethel,” from which it is distant 10
miles (Judg. 21:19); the modern Seilun (the Arabic for
Shiloh), a “mass of shapeless ruins.” Here the
tabernacle was set up after the Conquest (Josh. 18:1-10),
where it remained during all the period of the judges till
the ark fell into the hands of the Philistines. “No
spot in Central Palestine could be more secluded than this
early sanctuary, nothing more featureless than the
landscape around; so featureless, indeed, the landscape and
so secluded the spot that from the time of St. Jerome till
its re-discovery by Dr. Robinson in 1838 the very site was
forgotten and unknown.” It is referred to by Jeremiah
(7:12, 14; 26:4-9) five hundred years after its
destruction.
Shilonite – Ahijah the prophet,
whose home was in Shiloh, is so designated (1 Kings 11:29;
15:29). The plural form occurs (1 Chr. 9:5), denoting the
descendants of Shelah, Judah’s youngest son.
Shimea – the hearing prayer. (1.)
One of David’s sons by Bathsheba (1 Chr. 3:5); called
also Shammua (14:4).
(2.) A Levite of the family of Merari (1 Chr. 6:30).
(3.) Another Levite of the family of Gershon (1 Chr. 6:39).
(4.) One of David’s brothers (1 Sam. 16:9, marg.).
brothers (2 Sam. 13:3); same as Shimea (4).
(2.) A Benjamite, a descendant of Gibeon (1 Chr. 8:32);
called also Shimeam (9:38).
Shimei – famous. (1.) A son of
Gershon, and grandson of Levi (Num. 3:18; 1 Chr. 6:17, 29);
called Shimi in Ex. 6:17.
(2.) A Benjamite of the house of Saul, who stoned and
cursed David when he reached Bahurim in his flight from
Jerusalem on the occasion of the rebellion of Absalom (2
Sam. 16:5-13). After the defeat of Absalom he “came
cringing to the king, humbly suing for pardon, bringing
with him a thousand of his Benjamite tribesmen, and
representing that he was heartily sorry for his crime, and
had hurried the first of all the house of Israel to offer
homage to the king” (19:16-23). David forgave him; but
on his death-bed he gave Solomon special instructions
regarding Shimei, of whose fidelity he seems to have been
in doubt (1 Kings 2:8,9). He was put to death at the
command of Solomon, because he had violated his word by
leaving Jerusalem and going to Gath to recover two of his
servants who had escaped (36-46).
(3.) One of David’s mighty men who refused to
acknowledge Adonijah as David’s successor (1 Kings
1:8). He is probably the same person who is called
elsewhere (4:18) “the son of Elah.”
(4.) A son of Pedaiah, the brother of Zerubbabel (1 Chr.
3:19).
(5.) A Simeonite (1 Chr. 4:26, 27).
(6.) A Reubenite (1 Chr. 5:4).
(7.) A Levite of the family of Gershon (1 Chr. 6:42).
(8.) A Ramathite who was “over the vineyards” of
David (1 Chr. 27:27).
(9.) One of the sons of Heman, who assisted in the
purification of the temple (2 Chr. 29:14).
(10.) A Levite (2 Chr. 31:12, 13).
(11.) Another Levite (Ezra 10:23). “The family of
Shimei” (Zech. 12:13; R.V., “the family of the
Shimeites”) were the descendants of Shimei (1).
10:31.
Shimhi – famous, a Benjamite (1
Chr. 8:21).
Shimrath – guardian, a Benjamite,
one of Shimhi’s sons (id.).
Simeonite (1 Chr. 4:37).
(2.) The father of one of the “valiant men” of
David’s armies (1 Chr. 11:45).
(3.) Assisted at the purification of the temple in the time
of Hezekiah (2 Chr. 29:13).
Shimrom – watchman, the fourth
son of Issachar (Gen. 46:13; 1 Chr. 7:1; R.V., correctly,
“Shimron”).
Shimron – watch-post, an ancient
city of the Canaanites; with its villages, allotted to
Zebulun (Josh. 19:15); now probably Semunieh, on the
northern edge of the plain of Esdraelon, 5 miles west of
Nazareth.
probably, as Shimron (Josh. 12:20).
Shimshai – the shining one, or
sunny, the secretary of Rehum the chancellor, who took part
in opposing the rebuilding of the temple after the
Captivity (Ezra 4:8, 9, 17-23).
Adamah, in the valley of Siddim, who with his confederates
was conquered by Chedorlaomer (Gen. 14:2).
Shinar, The Land of – LXX. and
Vulgate “Senaar;” in the inscriptions,
“Shumir;” probably identical with Babylonia or
Southern Mesopotamia, extending almost to the Persian Gulf.
Here the tower of Babel was built (Gen. 11:1-6), and the
city of Babylon. The name occurs later in Jewish history
(Isa. 11:11; Zech. 5:11). Shinar was apparently first
peopled by Turanian tribes, who tilled the land and made
bricks and built cities. Then tribes of Semites invaded the
land and settled in it, and became its rulers. This was
followed in course of time by an Elamite invasion; from
which the land was finally delivered by Khammurabi, the son
of Amarpel (“Amraphel, king of Shinar,” Gen.
14:1), who became the founder of the new empire of Chaldea.
AMRAPHEL.)
designation of Zabdi, who has charge of David’s
vineyards (1 Chr. 27:27).
Egyptian midwives (Ex. 1:15).
Ephraimite prince at the time of the division of Canaan
(Num. 34:24).
commerce by the Phoenicians (Gen. 49:13). Moses (Deut.
28:68) and Job (9:26) make reference to them, and Balaam
speaks of the “ships of Chittim” (Num. 24:24).
Solomon constructed a navy at Ezion-geber by the assistance
of Hiram’s sailors (1 Kings 9:26-28; 2 Chr. 8:18).
Afterwards, Jehoshaphat sought to provide himself with a
navy at the same port, but his ships appear to have been
wrecked before they set sail (1 Kings 22:48, 49; 2 Chr.
20:35-37).
In our Lord’s time fishermen’s boats on the Sea of
Galilee were called “ships.” Much may be learned
regarding the construction of ancient merchant ships and
navigation from the record in Acts 27, 28.
Shishak I – =Sheshonk I., king of
Egypt. His reign was one of great national success, and a
record of his wars and conquests adorns the portico of what
are called the “Bubastite kings” at Karnak, the
ancient Thebes. Among these conquests is a record of that
of Judea. In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign Shishak
came up against the kingdom of Judah with a powerful army.
He took the fenced cities and came to Jerusalem. He
pillaged the treasures of the temple and of the royal
palace, and carried away the shields of gold which Solomon
had made (1 Kings 11:40; 14:25; 2 Chr. 12:2). (See
REHOBOAM.) This expedition of the Egyptian king was
undertaken at the instigation of Jeroboam for the purpose
of humbling Judah. Hostilities between the two kingdoms
still continued; but during Rehoboam’s reign there was
not again the intervention of a third party.
Shittah-tree – (Isa. 41:19; R.V.,
“acacia tree”). Shittah wood was employed in
making the various parts of the tabernacle in the
wilderness, and must therefore have been indigenous in the
desert in which the Israelites wandered. It was the acacia
or mimosa (Acacia Nilotica and A. seyal). “The wild
acacia (Mimosa Nilotica), under the name of sunt,
everywhere represents the seneh, or senna, of the burning
bush. A slightly different form of the tree, equally common
under the name of seyal, is the ancient
‘shittah,’ or, as more usually expressed in the
plural form, the ‘shittim,’ of which the tabernacle
was made.” Stanley’s Sinai, etc. (Ex. 25:10, 13,
23, 28).
Shittim – acacias, also called
“Abel-shittim” (Num. 33:49), a plain or valley in
the land of Moab where the Israelites were encamped after
their two victories over Sihon and Og, at the close of
their desert wanderings, and from which Joshua sent forth
two spies (q.v.) “secretly” to “view”
the land and Jericho (Josh. 2:1).
district lying to the north-east of Babylonia, anciently
the land of the Guti, or Kuti, the modern Kurdistan. The
plain lying between these mountains and the Tigris was
called su-Edina, i.e., “the border of the plain.”
This name was sometimes shortened into Suti and Su, and has
been regarded as = Shoa (Ezek. 23:23). Some think it
denotes a place in Babylon. (See
PEKOD.)
Shobab – apostate. (1.) One of
David’s sons by Bathseheba (2 Sam. 5:14).
(2.) One of the sons of Caleb (1 Chr. 2:18), the son of
Hezron.
“captain of the host of Hadarezer” when he
mustered his vassals and tributaries from beyond “the
river Euphrates” (2 Sam. 10:15-18); called also
Shophach (1 Chr. 19:16).
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