Shapham שָׁפָם
Gadite leader during the reign of Jotham
Who is Shapham in the Bible?
Shapham was a leader of the Gadites who lived in Gilead during the reign of Jotham, king of Judah, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 5:12. The Gadites were one of the Israelite tribes settled east of the Jordan River, known for their military strength and bravery. As a chief among the Gadites, Shapham held responsibility for the organization and welfare of his tribe in the Gilead region. While the biblical text provides no specific details about his individual actions or accomplishments, his inclusion in the genealogical records of the Gadites underscores the importance of tribal leadership in Israel's history and the significant role the eastern tribes played before their eventual captivity.
Biography
Shapham, mentioned in 1Ch.5.12, was a leader of the Gadites who lived in the land of Gilead. He is described as the chief of the Gadites during the reign of Jotham, king of Judah. The Gadites were one of the Israelite tribes that settled on the east side of the Jordan River, in the region known as Gilead. They were known for their bravery and military prowess. Shapham's position as a chief suggests that he held a leadership role within the tribe and was responsible for the well-being and organization of the Gadites in Gilead. The text does not provide any specific details about Shapham's actions or achievements as a leader. However, his mention in the context of the genealogical records of the Gadites highlights the importance of tribal leadership and the role of the Gadites in the history of Israel.
In Scripture
1 biblical book1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 5:12
"Joel was the chief, Shapham the second, then Jaanai and Shaphat, who lived in Bashan."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שָׁפָם |
Shapham
seem to indicate that Shapham and his chief, Joel, lived in the time of Saul and shared in the war against the Hagrites (1Ch 5:7-10,18-22), but it is to be noted that these lists were first recorded between the years 750 and 740 BC, just before the eastern tribes were carried into captivity.
sha'-fan (shaphan, "rockbadger," English Versions of the Bible "coney"; Saphphan): An old totem clan name (so W.R. Smith; compare, however, the article TOTEMISM; Gray, Gray, Studies in Hebrew Proper Names, 103 ff, and