Shallum שַׁלּוּם
Father of Maaseiah, keeper of the threshold
Who is Shallum in the Bible?
Shallum was the father of Maaseiah, a keeper of the threshold during the time of the prophet Jeremiah, as mentioned in Jeremiah 35:4. The keepers of the threshold were Levitical officials responsible for guarding the entrance to the temple and maintaining order within its sacred precincts. Shallum's lineage is preserved in scripture through his son Maaseiah, whose role placed him near significant prophetic events, including Jeremiah's encounter with the Rechabites, a nomadic tribe known for their strict adherence to ancestral commands. Though Shallum himself appears only briefly in the biblical record, his family's service in the temple demonstrates the importance of priestly and temple duties during Judah's final days before exile.
Biography
Shallum, mentioned in Jer.35.4, was the father of Maaseiah, who served as a keeper of the threshold during the time of the prophet Jeremiah. The text identifies Maaseiah as "the son of Shallum, the son of Kol-hozeh," indicating Shallum's lineage. The keepers of the threshold were Levitical officials responsible for guarding the entrance to the temple and maintaining order within its precincts. Jeremiah's interaction with the Rechabites, a nomadic tribe known for their commitment to their ancestor's commands, took place in a chamber near the room of the keepers of the threshold. This suggests that Maaseiah, as a keeper of the threshold and the son of Shallum, may have had some connection to or responsibility for this chamber.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentJeremiah 1 verse
- Jeremiah 35:4
"and I brought them into the house of the LORD, to a chamber occupied by the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, a man of God. This room was near the chamber of the officials, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שַׁלּוּם |