Lexical Summary Shammay: Shammay Original Word: שַׁמַּי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shammai From Shamlay; destructive; Shammai, the name of three Israelites -- Shammai. see HEBREW Shamlay NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shamem Definition three men of Isr. NASB Translation Shammai (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs שַׁמַּי proper name, masculine in Judah: 1 1 Chronicles 2:28 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 2:32, Σαμ(μ)αι, etc. 2 1 Chronicles 2:44,45 Σαμαι 3 1 Chronicles 4:17, Σεμεν, Σεμμαι, Σαμι. Topical Lexicon Occurrences and ContextShammai appears six times in the Old Testament, all within the genealogical records of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:28; 1 Chronicles 2:28; 1 Chronicles 2:32; 1 Chronicles 2:44; 1 Chronicles 2:45; 1 Chronicles 4:17). These brief notices place him in two related but distinct Judahite family branches: the Jerahmeelites (descendants of Hezron through Jerahmeel) and the Calebites (descendants of Hezron through Caleb). Though none of the references record narrative exploits, the name is woven into the broader tapestry of covenant history preserved by the Chronicler after the exile. Genealogical Framework 1. Jerahmeelite line (1 Chronicles 2:28, 32). 2. Calebite line (1 Chronicles 2:44–45). 3. Ezrahite connection (1 Chronicles 4:17). Calebite and Jerahmeelite Links Both Caleb and Jerahmeel were sons of Hezron (1 Chronicles 2:9, 18, 25), making every Shammai in Chronicles a direct descendant of Judah’s third generation. The repeated appearance of the name within these two branches may indicate a respected ancestral figure or a thematic echo of “heavenly” aspiration reflected in the Hebrew root. Either way, the Chronicler underscores the breadth of Judah’s family tree, stretching from the hill country (Beth Zur, Eshtemoa) to the Negev settlements (Maon) and reinforcing the unity of Judah around its Davidic and ultimately Messianic hope. Redemptive and Theological Implications 1. Preservation of Covenant Line. Chronicles was compiled for post-exilic readers who wondered whether God had abandoned His promises. Shammai’s placement in the record testifies that every branch, however obscure, mattered to the Lord (compare Malachi 3:16–17). The Chronicler’s exhaustive lists reassure the faithful that God tracks names history forgets. 2. Foreshadowing of Security in the Land. Shammai’s grandson Beth Zur later served as a military outpost guarding Jerusalem’s southern approach. The fortress stands as tangible fruit of covenant faithfulness—territory occupied, cultivated, and defended through Judah’s descendants. 3. Anticipation of the Messiah. By rooting post-exilic Judeans firmly in the line of Judah, the Chronicler clears a pathway for the New Testament’s genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1), in which lesser-known names like Shammai function as critical links in the unbroken chain leading to the Savior. Lessons for Ministry and Personal Faith • God notices every servant. Even when our service seems relegated to a footnote, heaven records it. Forms and Transliterations שַׁמַּ֔י שַׁמַּ֖י שַׁמַּ֣י שַׁמָּֽי׃ שמי שמי׃ šam·may šam·māy šammay šammāy shamMaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 2:28 HEB: בְנֵי־ אוֹנָ֖ם שַׁמַּ֣י וְיָדָ֑ע וּבְנֵ֣י NAS: of Onam were Shammai and Jada. KJV: of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada. INT: the sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada and the sons 1 Chronicles 2:28 1 Chronicles 2:32 1 Chronicles 2:44 1 Chronicles 2:45 1 Chronicles 4:17 6 Occurrences |
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