Shomer שֹׁמֵר
Moabite mother of an assassin of King Joash.
Who is Shomer in the Bible?
Shomer was a Moabite woman mentioned in 2 Kings 12:21 as the mother of Jozabad (also called Zabad), one of the servants who assassinated King Joash of Judah. Her son, along with a fellow servant named Jehozabad, killed the king while he rested at the house of Millo, an act motivated by vengeance for Joash's execution of the prophet Zechariah. Though the biblical text identifies Shomer only as a foreigner and Jozabad's mother, her appearance in the historical record marks her connection to a pivotal moment of regicide that demonstrated the consequences of Joash's apostasy from God.
Biography
Shomer (or Shimrith) is mentioned in 2Ki.12.21 and 2Ch.24.26 as the mother of Jozabad (or Zabad), one of the servants who conspired against King Joash of Judah and assassinated him. Shomer is described as a Moabite woman, indicating that she was a foreigner. Her son, along with another servant named Jehozabad, killed Joash while he was staying at the house of Millo. The assassination was motivated by revenge for the execution of the prophet Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, who had criticized Joash for abandoning the worship of God. The text does not provide any further details about Shomer's life or her role in the events surrounding her son's actions.
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books2 Kings 1 verse
- 2 Kings 12:21
"His servants Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer struck him down, and he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the City of David, and his son Amaziah reigned in his place."
2 Chronicles 1 verse
- 2 Chronicles 24:26
"Those who conspired against Joash were Zabad son of Shimeath the Ammonitess and Jehozabad son of Shimrith the Moabitess."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שֹׁמֵר |
| Named | Hebrew | שִׁמְרִית |