Shilhi שִׁלְחִי
Father of King Jehoshaphat's mother
Who is Shilhi in the Bible?
Shilhi was the father of Azubah, who served as the mother of King Jehoshaphat of Judah (1 Kings 22:42, 2 Chronicles 20:31). He appears in the biblical record solely through genealogical references that establish his connection to the royal lineage of Judah. While little is known about Shilhi himself beyond his family relationship, his mention in Scripture underscores the importance of maternal lineage in tracking the succession of Judah's kings. Some scholars have suggested that "Shilhi" may refer to a place name rather than a person, potentially indicating Azubah's birthplace, though the traditional reading identifies him as a historical ancestor in Jehoshaphat's family line.
Biography
Shilhi is mentioned in 1Ki.22.42 and 2Ch.20.31 as the father of Azubah, who was the mother of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, became king of Judah at the age of thirty-five and reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. The mention of Shilhi in these passages serves to provide genealogical information about Jehoshaphat's maternal lineage, highlighting the importance of family connections in the royal line of Judah.
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books1 Kings 1 verse
- 1 Kings 22:42
"Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi."
2 Chronicles 1 verse
- 2 Chronicles 20:31
"So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שִׁלְחִי |
Shilhi
x Vaticanus in 1 Kings, Semeei; Codex Alexandrinus in 1 Kings, Salala; Lucian in both, Seleei). Cheyne (Encyclopaedia Biblica, article "Shilhi") ventures the supposition that "Shilhi" is a misreading for "Shilhim" (Jos 15:32), and is therefore the name of place rather than that of a person; he holds it to be the name of the birthplace of Azubah, the king's mother.
shil'-him shilchim (Jos 15:32)): See SHAARAIM, (2). Possibly Azubah the mother of Jehoshaphat, who is called "the daughter of Shilhi" (1Ki 22:42</r