Elishama אֱלִישָׁמָע
A secretary during Jehoiakim's reign.
Who is Elishama in the Bible?
Elishama was a secretary in the royal court of King Jehoiakim of Judah during the late 7th century BCE. He appears in the Book of Jeremiah in connection with the reading of the prophet's written message to the king's officials. When the scribe Micaiah reported Jeremiah's words to the court officials gathered in the secretary's chamber, Elishama was present (Jeremiah 36:12), and the scroll containing these prophecies was later retrieved from his chamber at the king's command (Jeremiah 36:20,21). As a royal secretary, Elishama held an administrative position responsible for records and official matters in the palace. Though the Bible provides no account of his personal response to Jeremiah's warnings, his role in this episode illustrates how the prophet's message reached the highest levels of Judah's government during a critical period in the nation's history.
Biography
Elishama the secretary was an official during the reign of King Jehoiakim in Judah (Jer.36.12,20,21). He is mentioned in the context of Jeremiah's prophecies being read before the officials of Judah. When Micaiah reported the words of Jeremiah's scroll to the officials in the secretary's chamber, Elishama was present (Jer.36.12). Later, when King Jehoiakim demanded to hear the words of the scroll, Jehudi brought the scroll from Elishama's chamber and read it before the king (Jer.36.20,21). Elishama's role as a secretary suggests that he was responsible for record-keeping and administrative duties in the royal court. The Bible does not provide any further details about Elishama's life or his reaction to Jeremiah's prophecies.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentJeremiah 3 verses
- Jeremiah 36:12
"he went down to the scribe’s chamber in the king’s palace, where all the officials were sitting: Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 36:20
"So the officials went to the king in the courtyard. And having stored the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, they reported everything to the king."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 36:21
"Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king and all the officials who were standing beside him."
Study Jeremiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֱלִישָׁמָע |