Bible Dictionaries
Elishama

Holman Bible Dictionary

(ih lihssh' uh muh) Personal name meaning, “God heard.” 1. Leader of the tribe of Ephraim under Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 1:10 ). He presented the tribe's offerings at the dedication of the altar (Numbers 7:48-53 ). Compare 1 Chronicles 7:26 . 2 . David's son born after he captured and moved to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:16 ). He is apparently listed twice in 1Chronicles 3:6,1 Chronicles 3:8 , though 1 Chronicles 14:5 reads the first Elishama as Elishua, as in 2 Samuel 5:15 . 3 . A royal scribe under King Jehoiakim (609-597 B.C.). Baruch's scroll of Jeremiah's preaching was stored in Elishama's room before it was taken to be read to the king (Jeremiah 36:12-21 ). 4 . An ancestor with royal bloodlines of Ishmael, the person who murdered Gedaliah and took over political control of Judah immediately after Babylon had destroyed Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:25 ). 5 . A descendant of the clan of Jerahmeel in the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:41 ). 6 . Priest under King Jehoshaphat (873-848 B.C.). He taught the book of the law to the people of Judah at the king's request (2 Chronicles 17:7-9 ).