Shemaiah שְׁמַעְיָ֫הוּ
Returnee from Babylon
Who is Shemaiah in the Bible?
Shemaiah was a descendant of Adonikam who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon with Ezra around 458 BC (Ezra 8:13). He is listed among the family members of Adonikam, alongside Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shimei, who gathered at the river Ahava to join Ezra's expedition back to Judah under the authority of King Artaxerxes. This return was significant because it represented the fulfillment of God's promise to restore the Jewish people to their homeland and allowed them to rebuild and strengthen the temple community in Jerusalem. Shemaiah's inclusion in this account highlights the organized nature of the post-exile restoration and the participation of ordinary families in this pivotal moment of Jewish history.
Biography
Shemaiah is mentioned in Ezr.8.13 as one of the descendants of Adonikam who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon with Ezra. He is listed along with Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shimei as part of the group that joined Ezra's company at the river Ahava. This return took place during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, who had granted Ezra permission to lead a group of exiles back to Jerusalem to support the temple and the Jewish community there.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 8:13
"from the later descendants of Adonikam, these were their names: Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men;"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שְׁמַעְיָ֫הוּ |