Levite gatekeeper and singer
Shemaiah
Named in 2 verses across 2 books, first in 1 Chronicles 9:16.
שְׁמַעְיָ֫הוּShemaiah
שַׁמּוּעַShammua
Also called Shammua.
The name means “that hears or obeys the Lord.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Shemaiah Written by AI
Shemaiah, also known as Shammua, was a Levite who lived in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. He is mentioned in both 1 Chronicles 9:16 and Nehemiah 11:17 as one of the Levites who settled in the city. According to 1 Chronicles 9:16, Shemaiah was the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. He served as a gatekeeper for the Levites, responsible for guarding the entrances to the temple precincts. The Nehemiah passage provides additional information, stating that Shemaiah was the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and that he was the second among his brothers to give thanks in prayer. This suggests that Shemaiah also had a role in leading worship and singing psalms in the temple. The presence of Levites like Shemaiah in Jerusalem was crucial for maintaining the temple services and the spiritual life of the community after the exile. However, no further details are provided about Shemaiah's specific contributions or the duration of his service.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Shemaiah, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
Whom Jehovah heard. (1.) A prophet in the reign of Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:22-24).
(2.) Neh. 3:29.
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(3.) A Simeonite (1 Chr. 4:37).
(4.) A priest (Neh. 12:42).
(5.) A Levite (1 Chr. 9:16).
(6.) 1 Chr. 9:14; Neh. 11:15.
(7.) A Levite in the time of David, who with 200 of his brethren took part in the bringing up of the ark from Obed-edom to Hebron (1 Chr. 15:8).
(8.) A Levite (1 Chr. 24:6).
(9.) The eldest son of Obed-edom (1 Chr. 26:4-8).
(10.) A Levite (2 Chr. 29:14).
(11.) A false prophet who hindered the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Neh. 6:10).
(12.) A prince of Judah who assisted at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem (Neh. 12:34-36).
(13.) A false prophet who opposed Jeremiah (Jer. 29:24-32).
(14.) One of the Levites whom Jehoshaphat appointed to teach the law (2 Chr. 17:8).
(15.) A Levite appointed to “distribute the oblations of the Lord” (2 Chr. 31:15).
(16.) A Levite (2 Chr. 35:9).
(17.) The father of Urijah the prophet (Jer. 26:20).
(18.) The father of a prince in the reign of Jehoiakim (Jer. 36:12).
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- 1 Chronicles 9:16
Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
- Nehemiah 11:17
Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.