Lexical Summary Samlah: Samlah Original Word: שַׂמְלָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Samlah Probably for the same as simlah; Samlah, an Edomite -- Samlah. see HEBREW simlah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as simlah Definition a king of Edom NASB Translation Samlah (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs שַׂמְלָה proper name, masculine king of Edom Genesis 36:36,37 (P; Σαμ(α)λα) = 1 Chronicles 1:47,48 (Σαμαα, Σαβαα). Topical Lexicon Identity and Occurrences Samlah (Strong’s Hebrew 8072, שַׂמְלָה) is named four times, always within the royal register of Edom: Genesis 36:36, Genesis 36:37, 1 Chronicles 1:47, 1 Chronicles 1:48. He succeeds Hadad and is himself succeeded by Shaul. Each reference is formulaic, yet collectively they anchor him in a precise historical-theological framework: “Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.” (Genesis 36:36) Name and Possible Meaning Most scholars connect the root with the common noun “garment, mantle.” While certainty is elusive, the idea of a “mantle” is fitting for a king who, for a season, wears the mantle of authority—only to lay it down in death, underscoring the transient nature of earthly rule (cf. Psalm 146:3-4). Geographical Association: Masrekah Masrekah, probably in the fertile lowlands of ancient Edom, is the only location linked to Samlah. The root of the place-name suggests viticulture (“vineyards”), hinting that Samlah’s power base lay in one of Edom’s cultivated regions rather than its arid highlands. This reminds readers that Edom, descendant of Esau, possessed both rugged and fruitful territory, fulfilling Genesis 27:39. Position in the Edomite King List Genesis 36:31 prefaces the list: “These are the kings who reigned in Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites.” Samlah thus helps date Edom’s centralized monarchy to an era prior to Saul’s anointing (circa late fifteenth to early eleventh centuries B.C.). The succession formula (“when X died, Y reigned in his place”) implies non-hereditary accession—perhaps elective or conquest based—showing political fluidity in Edom long before Israel’s request for a king (1 Samuel 8). Historical Context Edom bordered the southeastern frontier of Canaan, controlling trade routes from Arabia to the Mediterranean. A stable kingship, even in brief tenures like Samlah’s, allowed Edom to tax caravans and guard copper mines in the Arabah. That stability threatened Israel in later centuries (Numbers 20:14-21; Obadiah 10-14) and shaped the geopolitical stage of the Exodus and Conquest. Theological Significance 1. Fulfillment of Prophecy: The promise to Esau was that he would become “a nation” with “kings” (Genesis 25:23; 36:31). Samlah’s reign verifies that the word of the Lord stands, even for nations outside the covenant line. Ministerial Insights • Leadership Is Stewardship: Samlah “reigned” for a time; he did not own the throne. Christian leaders likewise hold a temporary stewardship (1 Peter 5:1-4). Connections to the Wider Biblical Narrative Edom and Israel remain intertwined throughout Scripture: antagonism in Numbers, prophetic judgments in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Obadiah, and eschatological hope in Amos 9:12 where the “remnant of Edom” is included among the nations called by God’s name. Samlah’s mention, though brief, situates him in that larger narrative arc. Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Witness While Samlah is not yet attested in inscriptions, discoveries at sites such as Busayra (Biblical Bozrah) confirm an early Edomite state with administrative buildings, luxury goods, and complex fortifications—cultural conditions consistent with a monarch like Samlah ruling from a productive center such as Masrekah. Summary Samlah of Masrekah embodies the Scripture’s meticulous record of nations and its theology of God’s universal rule. His fleeting kingship contrasts with the enduring kingdom of Christ, inviting believers to trust the Lord who tracks every mantle-bearing ruler and will one day “hand over the kingdom to God the Father” (1 Corinthians 15:24). Forms and Transliterations שַׂמְלָ֑ה שַׂמְלָ֖ה שמלה śam·lāh samLah śamlāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 36:36 HEB: וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֔יו שַׂמְלָ֖ה מִמַּשְׂרֵקָֽה׃ NAS: died, and Samlah of Masrekah KJV: died, and Samlah of Masrekah INT: became his place and Samlah of Masrekah Genesis 36:37 1 Chronicles 1:47 1 Chronicles 1:48 4 Occurrences |
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