Bible Dictionaries
Shemaiah

Holman Bible Dictionary

(sshih mi' uh) Personal name meaning, “Yahweh heard,” with both long and short forms in Hebrew. 1. A prophet in the days of Rehoboam whose message from God prevented war between Israel and Judah about 930 B.C. (1 Kings 12:22 ). His preaching humbled Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, leading God not to permit Shishak of Egypt to destroy Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 12:1 ). 2 . False prophet among Babylonian Exiles who opposed Jeremiah's word (Jeremiah 29:24-32 ). 3 . Descendant of David and Zerubbabel (1 Chronicles 3:22 ). 4 . Member of tribe of Simeon (1 Chronicles 4:37 ). 5 . Member of tribe of Reuben (1 Chronicles 5:4 ); perhaps identical with Shema 2. ( 1 Chronicles 5:8 ). 6 . A Levite (Nehemiah 11:15; compare 1 Chronicles 9:14 ). 7 . A Levite (1 Chronicles 9:16 ) probably identical with Shammua 3. (Nehemiah 11:17 ). 8 . Head of one of the six Levitical families under David (1Chronicles 15:8,1 Chronicles 15:11 ). 9 . Levitical scribe who recorded the priestly divisions under David (1 Chronicles 24:6 ). 10 . Head of an important family of gatekeepers (1 Chronicles 24:4-8 ). 11 . Levite in time of Hezekiah about 715 B.C. (2 Chronicles 29:14 ); possibly identical with the Levite of 2 Chronicles 31:15 . 12 . Head of a family that returned with Ezra from Babylonian Exile about 458 B.C. (Ezra 8:13 ). He may be the same man Ezra sent to get more ministers for the Temple (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 ).