Shimeah שִׁמְעָה
Brother of David; father of Jonadab (or 'Jonathan').
Who is Shimeah in the Bible?
Shimeah, also known as Shimei, Shammah, or Shimea, was one of King David's brothers and a son of Jesse (1 Chronicles 2:13). He is primarily mentioned in connection with his son Jonadab, a crafty man who played a troubling role in the narrative of 2 Samuel 13, where he counseled David's son Amnon on how to deceive and assault his half-sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:3, 32). Though Shimeah himself appears only briefly in Scripture, he is significant as part of David's family lineage and as the father of Jonadab, whose actions contributed to one of the most serious moral crises in David's household.
Biography
Shimeah, also referred to as Shimei, Shammah, or Shimea, was one of King David's brothers (1 Ch. 2:13). He was the son of Jesse and is mentioned in the genealogy of Judah. Shimeah had a son Jonadab (or 'Jonathan'). Jonathan is described as a skilled warrior who killed a Philistine giant (2 Sa. 21:21; 1 Ch. 20:7), while Jonadab is portrayed as a crafty man who helped Amnon, David's son, to deceive and rape his half-sister Tamar (2 Sa. 13:3, 32).
Family
Parents
Siblings
- David Tribe of JudahKing of JudahAnointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus ChristView full profile →
- Eliab Tribe of JudahDavid's brotherEldest brother of King DavidView full profile →
- Abinadab Tribe of JudahDavid's brotherSon of Jesse, brother of DavidView full profile →
- Nethanel Tribe of JudahDavid's brotherBrother of DavidView full profile →
- Raddai Tribe of JudahDavid's brotherOne of David's brothers, son of JesseView full profile →
- Ozem Tribe of JudahDavid's brotherBrother of DavidView full profile →
- Elihu Tribe of JudahDavid's brotherLeader of the tribe of Judah.View full profile →
- Zeruiah Tribe of JudahSister of DavidSister of David; mother of Joab, Abishai, and AsahelView full profile →
- Abigail FemaleDavid's wifeWife of Nabal, later married DavidView full profile →
In Scripture
3 biblical books2 Samuel 3 verses
- 2 Samuel 13:3
"Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,"
- 2 Samuel 13:32
"But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar."
- 2 Samuel 21:21
"and when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of David’s brother Shimei killed him."
1 Samuel 2 verses
- 1 Samuel 16:9
"Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”"
- 1 Samuel 17:13
"The three older sons of Jesse had followed Saul into battle: The firstborn was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah."
1 Chronicles 2 verses
- 1 Chronicles 2:13
"Jesse was the father of Eliab his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimea third,"
- 1 Chronicles 20:7
"and when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of David’s brother Shimei killed him."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שִׁמְעָה | — |
| Named | Hebrew | שִׁמְעִי | Shimi , the name of twenty Israelites |
| (same ref[s] as previous) | Hebrew | שִׁמְעָה | — |
| Named | Hebrew | שַׁמָּה | — |
| Named | Hebrew | שִׁמְעָא | — |