Shemaiah שְׁמַעְיָ֫הוּ
Prophet during the reign of Rehoboam
Biography
Shemaiah was a prophet who lived during the reign of King Rehoboam of Judah. After the kingdom was divided and Jeroboam became king of Israel, Rehoboam gathered his army to fight against Israel and reunite the kingdom. However, the word of God came to Shemaiah, telling him to speak to Rehoboam and the people of Judah and Benjamin, saying that they should not fight against their brothers in Israel because the division was from God (1Ki.12.22-24; 2Ch.11.2-4).
Later, when Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem, Shemaiah delivered another message to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah. He told them that because they had forsaken the Lord, He had forsaken them and given them into the hand of Shishak (2Ch.12.5). When Rehoboam and the leaders humbled themselves, Shemaiah brought a message of mercy, saying that God would not destroy them but would grant them some deliverance (2Ch.12.7).
Shemaiah's acts and his words as a prophet were recorded in the chronicles of the kings of Judah (2Ch.12.15).
In Scripture
2 biblical books1 Kings 1 verse
- 1 Kings 12:22
"But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,"
2 Chronicles 4 verses
- 2 Chronicles 11:2
"But Yahweh’s word came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,"
- 2 Chronicles 12:5
"Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Yahweh says, ‘You have forsaken me, therefore I have also left you in the hand of Shishak.’ ”"
- 2 Chronicles 12:7
"When Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, Yahweh’s word came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them; but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath won’t be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak."
- 2 Chronicles 12:15
"Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, aren’t they written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, in the genealogies? There were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שְׁמַעְיָ֫הוּ | H8098A |