Shaphan: Difference between revisions
m Improvement to layout of Harrison book reference, and to sense of bulla find in reference to Gemaryahu alone, rather than as including Ahikam |
|||
| (34 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Scribe or court secretary mentioned in the Hebrew Bible}} |
|||
'''Shaphan''' is a scribe or court secretary mentioned several times in the [[Old Testament]] ([[II Kings]] 22:3-14 and 25:22; and parallels in [[2 Chronicles]] 34:8-20; see also [[Jeremiah]] 26:24; 36:10-12; 39:14; 40:5 and following; and 43:6). |
|||
[[File:Schnorr von Carolsfeld Bibel in Bildern 1860 123.png|thumb|Shaphan reading the law before [[Josiah]]]]'''Shaphan''' ({{langx|he|שפן}}, which means "[[hyrax]]"), son of Azaliah, is the name of a [[scribe]] or court secretary mentioned several times in the [[Hebrew Bible]] ([[2 Kings]] {{bibleref2-nb|2 Kings|22:3-14|NKJV}} and {{bibleverse-nb|2 Kings|25:22|KJV}}; and parallels in [[2 Chronicles]] {{bibleref2-nb|2 Chronicles|34:8-20|NKJV}}; see also [[Book of Jeremiah|Jeremiah]] [[Jeremiah 26:24|26:24]]; {{bibleverse-nb|Jeremiah|36:10-12|KJV}}; [[Jeremiah 39:14|39:14]]; {{bibleverse-nb|Jeremiah|40:5|KJV}} and following; and [[Jeremiah 43:6|43:6]]). |
|||
==Biblical |
==Biblical accounts== |
||
| ⚫ | In [[the Chronicler]]'s account, Shaphan is one of three leaders sent by King [[Josiah]] of [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]] to repair the [[Solomon's Temple|temple]] in [[Jerusalem]],<ref>{{bibleref2|2 Chronicles|34:8|NKJV}}</ref> using the temple funds to commission the necessary work. When the chief Temple [[Kohen|priest]] [[Hilkiah]] discovers an ancient [[Torah]] scroll, he gives it to Shaphan, who in turn brings it to King Josiah. Josiah reads it aloud to a crowd in Jerusalem, resulting in a great religious revival. Many scholars believe this was either a copy of the Book of [[Deuteronomy]] or a text that became a part of Deuteronomy as we have it; as a result the event is known as the [[Deuteronomic reform]]. |
||
| ⚫ | According to the Bible, Shaphan had sons named [[Ahikam]],<ref>See {{bibleverse|Jeremiah|40:5|KJV}} and {{bibleverse|2 Kings|25:22|KJV}}</ref> Elasah<ref>See {{bibleverse|Jeremiah|29:3|KJV}}</ref> and [[Gemariah (son of Shaphan)|Gemariah]].<ref>See {{bibleverse|Jeremiah|36:10-12|KJV}}</ref> The latter appears not to be the same Gemariah named as a son of [[Hilkiah]] in {{bibleverse|Jeremiah|29:3|KJV}}.<ref>See for example Harrison, R. K. (1973), ''Jeremiah and Lamentations: An Introduction and Commentary'' Leicester: IVP (131)</ref> Assuming it is the same Shaphan, he also had a son named Jaazaniah, who is among the idol worshippers depicted in the vision of Ezekiel described in {{bibleverse|Ezekiel|8:11|KJV}}. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | Shaphan's grandson is [[Gedaliah]], the short-lived governor of Judah appointed by [[Nebuchadnezzar]] after the destruction of [[Jerusalem]] in 586 BCE. Whether influenced by Shaphan's part in Josiah's reforms or not, both Ahikam and, later, Gedaliah appear to have played significant roles in protecting Jeremiah from persecution.<ref>See especially [[Jeremiah 26:24]] and [[Jeremiah 39:14|39:14]]; {{bibleverse-nb|Jeremiah|40:5|KJV}} and [[Jeremiah 43:6|43:6]]</ref> |
||
| ⚫ | According to the Bible, Shaphan had sons named [[Ahikam]]<ref>See Jeremiah |
||
| ⚫ | Shaphan's grandson is [[Gedaliah]], the short-lived governor of Judah appointed by [[Nebuchadnezzar]] after the destruction of [[Jerusalem]] in |
||
==Bullae of Shaphan== |
==Bullae of Shaphan== |
||
| ⚫ | During the excavations at the [[City of David (Silwan)|City of David]] headed by [[Israel]]i [[archaeology|archeologist]] [[Yigal Shiloh]], a number of [[bulla (seal)|bullae]] were discovered in [[stratum]] X, destroyed by the Babylonians in ca. 586 BCE. Bulla 2 reads: ''belonging to Gemaryahu ben Shaphan''. Shiloh posited that the Gemaryahu of this bulla is to be identified with "Gemaryahu son of Shaphan the scribe" who is mentioned in a biblical text, a figure during the reign of [[Jehoiakim]] (r. 609-598 BCE).<ref>[[Jeremiah 36:10]] et passim</ref> If this is the case, it could confirm Gemaryahu alongside Ahikam as a son of Shaphan. However, archaeologist [[Yair Shoham]] notes: "It should be borne in mind, however, that the names found on the bullae were popular in ancient times and it is equally possible that there is no connection between the names found on the bullae and the person mentioned in the Bible."<ref>Yair Shoham, "Hebrew Bullae" in City of David Excavations: Final Report VI, Qedem 41 (Jerusalem: [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]], 2000), 33</ref> |
||
| ⚫ | During the excavations at the [[City of David]] headed by [[Israel]]i [[archaeology|archeologist]] [[Yigal Shiloh]], a number of [[bulla (seal)|bullae]] were discovered in [[stratum]] X, destroyed by the Babylonians in ca. 586 BCE. Bulla 2 reads: ''belonging to Gemaryahu ben Shaphan''. Shiloh posited that the Gemaryahu of this bulla is to be identified with "Gemaryahu son of Shaphan the scribe" who is mentioned in a biblical text, a figure during the reign of [[Jehoiakim]] (r. 609-598 BCE).<ref>Jeremiah 36:10 et passim</ref> If this is the case, it could confirm Gemaryahu alongside Ahikam as a son of Shaphan. However, archaeologist [[Yair Shoham]] notes: |
||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
| Line 19: | Line 18: | ||
{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:7th-century BCE Jews]] |
||
[[Category:Jewish scribes (soferim)]] |
|||
[[Category:Books of Kings people]] |
|||
[[he:שפן הסופר]] |
|||
[[Category:Books of Chronicles people]] |
|||
[[no:Sjafan]] |
|||
Latest revision as of 15:33, 25 October 2024
Shaphan (Hebrew: שפן, which means "hyrax"), son of Azaliah, is the name of a scribe or court secretary mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible (2 Kings 22:3–14 and 25:22; and parallels in 2 Chronicles 34:8–20; see also Jeremiah 26:24; 36:10–12; 39:14; 40:5 and following; and 43:6).
Biblical accounts
[edit]In the Chronicler's account, Shaphan is one of three leaders sent by King Josiah of Judah to repair the temple in Jerusalem,[1] using the temple funds to commission the necessary work. When the chief Temple priest Hilkiah discovers an ancient Torah scroll, he gives it to Shaphan, who in turn brings it to King Josiah. Josiah reads it aloud to a crowd in Jerusalem, resulting in a great religious revival. Many scholars believe this was either a copy of the Book of Deuteronomy or a text that became a part of Deuteronomy as we have it; as a result the event is known as the Deuteronomic reform.
According to the Bible, Shaphan had sons named Ahikam,[2] Elasah[3] and Gemariah.[4] The latter appears not to be the same Gemariah named as a son of Hilkiah in Jeremiah 29:3.[5] Assuming it is the same Shaphan, he also had a son named Jaazaniah, who is among the idol worshippers depicted in the vision of Ezekiel described in Ezekiel 8:11.
Shaphan's grandson is Gedaliah, the short-lived governor of Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. Whether influenced by Shaphan's part in Josiah's reforms or not, both Ahikam and, later, Gedaliah appear to have played significant roles in protecting Jeremiah from persecution.[6]
Bullae of Shaphan
[edit]During the excavations at the City of David headed by Israeli archeologist Yigal Shiloh, a number of bullae were discovered in stratum X, destroyed by the Babylonians in ca. 586 BCE. Bulla 2 reads: belonging to Gemaryahu ben Shaphan. Shiloh posited that the Gemaryahu of this bulla is to be identified with "Gemaryahu son of Shaphan the scribe" who is mentioned in a biblical text, a figure during the reign of Jehoiakim (r. 609-598 BCE).[7] If this is the case, it could confirm Gemaryahu alongside Ahikam as a son of Shaphan. However, archaeologist Yair Shoham notes: "It should be borne in mind, however, that the names found on the bullae were popular in ancient times and it is equally possible that there is no connection between the names found on the bullae and the person mentioned in the Bible."[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ 2 Chronicles 34:8
- ^ See Jeremiah 40:5 and 2 Kings 25:22
- ^ See Jeremiah 29:3
- ^ See Jeremiah 36:10–12
- ^ See for example Harrison, R. K. (1973), Jeremiah and Lamentations: An Introduction and Commentary Leicester: IVP (131)
- ^ See especially Jeremiah 26:24 and 39:14; 40:5 and 43:6
- ^ Jeremiah 36:10 et passim
- ^ Yair Shoham, "Hebrew Bullae" in City of David Excavations: Final Report VI, Qedem 41 (Jerusalem: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2000), 33