Lexical Summary Zaham: To be defiled, to be loathsome, to be abhorred Original Word: זַהַם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Zaham From zaham; loathing; Zaham, an Israelite -- Zaham. see HEBREW zaham NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom zaham Definition "loathing," a son of Rehoboam NASB Translation Zaham (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs זָ֑הַם proper name, masculine (from above √ ?) a son of Rehoboam, 2 Chronicles 11:19. Topical Lexicon Name and Meaning Zaham (זַהַם) carries the idea of abhorrence or loathing, a strikingly somber nuance for a royal child. Such a name may mirror the turbulence and regret that accompanied the division of the united monarchy, reminding later readers that even covenant royalty is not immune to seasons of spiritual disquiet. Narrative Context (2 Chronicles 11:18–23) Zaham is introduced in the immediate aftermath of Israel’s schism. Rehoboam, striving to consolidate his diminished kingdom, fortifies cities (2 Chronicles 11:5–12), gathers Levites and faithful Israelites to Jerusalem (11:13–17), and establishes a large household. In that setting Scripture records, “She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham” (2 Chronicles 11:19). Though a single verse contains Zaham’s entire biblical footprint, the placement is strategic. The Chronicler emphasizes covenant continuity through David while candidly noting Rehoboam’s polygamy and political maneuvering. Zaham’s birth, therefore, is embedded in a passage that simultaneously testifies to divine faithfulness and human frailty. Role within the Davidic Dynasty 1. Royal Prince: As a son of Rehoboam and Mahalath, Zaham belonged to the first generation of Davidic princes living in a divided kingdom. Theological Reflections • Obscure Yet Known: Zaham illustrates how Scripture preserves even the least-documented figures, affirming that God “remembers the name of every one” (compare Psalm 87:5–6). Historical Notes Approximate Date: c. 930–920 BC, early in Rehoboam’s reign. Geopolitical Setting: Judah alone, after the northern tribes formed the kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam. Religious Climate: A temporary return to proper worship in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 11:16–17) before Rehoboam later abandoned the Law (12:1). Ministry Applications • Encourage Faithfulness in Everyday Service: Most believers will resemble Zaham—serving in relative obscurity yet vital to the kingdom’s health. Intertextual Observations Zaham’s single occurrence prevents further canonical tracing, but the Chronicler’s mention forms part of a larger pattern in which minor names anchor major theological themes: divine remembrance, covenant loyalty, and the quiet advance of God’s purposes through ordinary lives. Forms and Transliterations זָֽהַם׃ זהם׃ zā·ham Zaham zāhamLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Chronicles 11:19 HEB: שְׁמַרְיָ֖ה וְאֶת־ זָֽהַם׃ NAS: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham. KJV: Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. INT: Jeush Shemariah and Zaham |
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