Shemaiah שְׁמַעְיָ֫הוּ
Priest who married a foreign woman
Who is Shemaiah in the Bible?
Shemaiah was a priest during the time of Ezra who had married a foreign woman in violation of Jewish law (Ezra 10:21). He is listed among the descendants of Harim who took foreign wives during the period following the Jewish return from Babylonian exile. When Ezra learned of these intermarriages, he called the people to separate from their foreign spouses to preserve the integrity of the Jewish faith. Shemaiah, along with the other priests and Levites involved, agreed to divorce his wife and offer a ram as a guilt offering for his transgression. His inclusion in Ezra's account illustrates the challenges the Jewish community faced in maintaining religious and cultural identity after exile, as well as the serious measures taken to restore covenant faithfulness.
Biography
Shemaiah was a priest who lived during the time of Ezra and had married a foreign woman. In Ezr.10.21, he is listed among the descendants of Harim who had taken foreign wives. This was part of a larger issue facing the Jewish community after their return from Babylonian exile, as many had intermarried with the surrounding peoples. Ezra called for the people to separate themselves from their foreign wives and children to maintain the purity and integrity of the Jewish faith. Shemaiah, along with the other priests and Levites who had married foreign women, agreed to put away their wives and offer a ram as a guilt offering for their transgression.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:21
"From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שְׁמַעְיָ֫הוּ |