Shimeahשִׁמְעָה
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
- DavidTribe of JudahKing of JudahAnointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus ChristView full profile →
- EliabTribe of JudahDavid's brotherEldest brother of King DavidView full profile →
- AbinadabTribe of JudahDavid's brotherSon of Jesse, brother of DavidView full profile →
- NethanelTribe of JudahDavid's brotherBrother of DavidView full profile →
- RaddaiTribe of JudahDavid's brotherOne of David's brothers, son of JesseView full profile →
- OzemTribe of JudahDavid's brotherBrother of DavidView full profile →
- ElihuTribe of JudahDavid's brotherLeader of the tribe of Judah.View full profile →
- ZeruiahTribe of JudahSister of DavidSister of David; mother of Joab, Abishai, and AsahelView full profile →
- AbigailFemaleDavid's wifeWife of Nabal, later married DavidView full profile →
In Scripture
3 biblical books2 Samuel3 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 Samuel2 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 Chronicles2 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 | — |