Shallum שַׁלּוּם
Singer who married a foreign woman during Ezra's time
Who is Shallum in the Bible?
Shallum was one of the singers in Jerusalem who married a foreign woman during the time of the Jewish exile's return, as recorded in Ezra 10:24. When Ezra implemented religious reforms to address intermarriage among the returned exiles, Shallum was among those confronted about his marriage outside the covenant community. He agreed to put away his foreign wife and children as part of Ezra's effort to restore obedience to God's law and maintain the spiritual purity of the Jewish people. Shallum's participation in this difficult reform demonstrates the tension between personal relationships and communal religious commitment during the post-exilic period.
Biography
Shallum, mentioned in Ezr.10.24, was one of the singers who had married a foreign woman during the time of Ezra. When Ezra led a reform to address the issue of intermarriage among the returned exiles, Shallum was among those who had taken foreign wives. As part of the resolution to this problem, Shallum and the others agreed to put away their foreign wives and children, in accordance with the counsel of Ezra and the leaders. This decision was made to demonstrate their commitment to following God's law and maintaining the purity of the Israelite community.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:24
"From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שַׁלּוּם |