Samlah שַׂמְלָה
King of Edom before Israel had kings
Biography
Samlah is mentioned in Gen.36.36-37 and 1Ch.1.47-48 as one of the kings who reigned in Edom before Israel had kings. He was from the city of Masrekah and succeeded Hadad, son of Bedad, as king of Edom. After Samlah's death, Shaul from Rehoboth on the River succeeded him as king. The genealogies in Genesis 36 and 1 Chronicles 1 list the descendants of Esau, who was Jacob's brother, and the kings who ruled in Edom. These kings were not necessarily related to each other, and their reigns were not dynastic. The mention of these kings demonstrates Edom's political organization and its existence as a nation before Israel had a centralized monarchy. Samlah's inclusion in these lists provides a glimpse into the history of Edom and its relationship with Israel.
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study contentGenesis 2 verses
- Genesis 36:36
"Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 36:37
"Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the river, reigned in his place."
Study Genesis →
1 Chronicles 2 verses
- 1 Chronicles 1:47
"Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place."
- 1 Chronicles 1:48
"Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his place."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שַׂמְלָה | H8072 |
Samlah
ef="Bible:1Chr.1.47">1Ch 1:47,48). The fact that the city is mentioned in connection with the name of the king suggests that Edom was a confederacy at this time and the chief city was the metropolis of the whole country.
sam'-us (Codex Alexandrinus Sammous; Codex Vaticanus Sammou): One of those who stood on Ezra's right hand as he expounded the Law (1 Esdras 9:43) = "Shema" in Ne 8:4.