Shadrach - Aku's command, the Chaldean name given to Hananiah, one of the Hebrew youths whom Nebuchadnezzar carried captive to Babylon ( Dan. 1:6,Dan. 1:7;Dan 3:12-30). He and his two companions refused to bow down before the image which Nebuchadnezzar had set up on the plains of Dura. Their conduct filled the king with the greatest fury, and he commanded them to be cast into the burning fiery furnace. Here, amid the fiery flames, they were miraculously preserved from harm. Over them the fire had no power, "neither was a hair of their head singed, neither had the smell of fire passed on them." Thus Nebuchadnezzar learned the greatness of the God of Israel. (See ABEDNEGO.)

Shalem - perfect, a place (probably the village of Salim) some 2 miles east of Jacob's well. There is an abundant supply of water, which may have been the reason for Jacob's settling at this place ( Gen. 33:18-20). The Revised Version translates this word, and reads, "Jacob came in peace to the city of Shechem," thus not regarding it as a proper name at all.

Shalim, Land of - land of foxes, a place apparently to the north-west of Jerusalem (1 Sam. 9:4), perhaps in the neighbourhood of Shaalabbin in Dan ( Josh. 19:42).

Shalisha, Land of - probably the district of Baal-shalisha (2 Kings 4:42), lying about 12 miles north of Lydda (1 Sam. 9:4).

Shallecheth, The gate of - i.e., "the gate of casting out," hence supposed to be the refuse gate; one of the gates of the house of the Lord, "by the causeway of the going up" i.e., the causeway rising up from the Tyropoeon valley = valley of the cheesemakers (1 Chr. 26:16).

Shallum - retribution. (1.) The son of Jabesh, otherwise unknown. He "conspired against Zachariah, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead" (2 Kings 15:10). He reigned only "a month of days in Samaria" 2 Kings 15:13, marg.). Menahem rose up against Shallum and put him to death (2 Kings 15:14,2 Kings 15:15,2 Kings 15:17), and became king in his stead.

(2.) Keeper of the temple vestments in the reign of Josiah (2 Kings 22:14).

(3.) One of the posterity of Judah (1 Chr. 2:40,1 Chr. 2:41).

(4.) A descendant of Simeon (1 Chr. 4:25).

(5.) One of the line of the high priests (1 Chr. 6:13).

(6.) 1 Chr. 7:13.

(7.) A keeper of the gate in the reign of David (1 Chr. 9:17).

(8.) A Levite porter (1 Chr. 9:19,1 Chr. 9:31; Jer. 35:4).

(9.) An Ephraimite chief (2 Chr. 28:12).

(10.) The uncle of the prophet Jeremiah ( Jer. 32:7).

(11.) A son of king Josiah (1 Chr. 3:15; Jer. 22:11), who was elected to succeed his father on the throne, although he was two years younger than his brother Eliakim. He assumed the crown under the name of Jehoahaz (q.v.). He did not imitate the example of his father (2 Kings 23:32), but was "a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men" ( Ezek. 19:3). His policy was anti-Egyptian therefore. Necho, at that time at Riblah, sent an army against Jerusalem, which at once yielded, and Jehoahaz was carried captive to the Egyptian camp, Eliakim being appointed king in his stead. He remained a captive in Egypt till his death, and was the first king of Judah that died in exile.

Shalman - an Assyrian king ( Hos. 10:14), identified with Shalmaneser II. (Sayce) or IV. (Lenormant), the successor of Pul on the throne of Assyria (B.C. 728). He made war against Hoshea, the king of Israel, whom he subdued and compelled to pay an annual tribute. Hoshea, however, soon after rebelled against his Assyrian conquerer. Shalmaneser again marched against Samaria, which, after a siege of three years, was taken (2 Kings 17:3-5;2 Kings 18:9) by Sargon (q.v.). A revolution meantime had broken out in Assyria, and Shalmaneser was deposed. Sargon usurped the vacant throne. Schrader thinks that this is probably the name of a king of Moab mentioned on an inscription of Tiglath-pileser as Salamanu.

Shamgar - The Philistines from the maritime plain had made incursions into the Hebrew upland for the purposes of plunder, when one of this name, the son of Anath, otherwise unknown, headed a rising for the purpose of freeing the land from this oppression. He repelled the invasion, slaying 600 men with an "ox goad" (q.v.). The goad was a formidable sharpointed instrument, sometimes ten feet long. He was probably contemporary for a time with Deborah and Barak ( Judg. 3:31;Judg 5:6).

Shamir - a sharp thorn. (1.) One of the sons of Michah (1 Chr. 24:24).

(2.) A town among the mountains of Judah ( Josh. 15:48); probably Somerah, 2 1/2 miles north-west of Debir.

(3.) The residence of Tola, one of the judges, on Mount Ephraim ( Judg. 10:1,Judg. 10:2).

Shammah - desert. (1.) One of the "dukes" of Edom ( Gen. 36:13,Gen. 36:17).

(2.) One of the sons of Jesse (1 Sam. 16:9). He is also called Shimeah (2 Sam. 13:3) and Shimma (1 Chr. 2:13).

(3.) One of David's three mighty men (2 Sam. 23:11,2 Sam. 23:12).

(4.) One of David's mighties (2 Sam. 23:25); called also Shammoth (1 Chr. 11:27) and Shamhuth 1 Chr 27:8).

Shammua - heard. (1.) One of the spies sent out by Moses to search the land ( Num. 13:4). He represented the tribe of Reuben.

(2.) One of David's sons (1 Chr. 14:4;1 Chr 3:5, "Shimea;" 2 Sam. 5:14).

(3.) A Levite under Nehemiah 2 Sam 11:17).

Shaphan - a coney, a scribe or secretary of king Josiah (2 Kings 22:3-7). He consulted Huldah concerning the newly-discovered copy of the law which was delivered to him by Hilkiah the priest (8-14). His grandson Gedaliah was governor of Judea 2 Kings 25:22).

Shaphat - judge. (1.) One of the spies. He represented the tribe of Simeon ( Num. 13:5).

(2.) The father of Elisha (1 Kings 19:16-19).

(3.) One of David's chief herdsmen (1 Chr. 27:29).

Shapher - brightness, one of the stations where Israel encamped in the wilderness ( Num. 33:23,Num. 33:24).

Sharaim - two gates ( Josh. 15:36), more correctly Shaaraim (1 Sam. 17:52), probably Tell Zakariya and Kefr Zakariya, in the valley of Elah, 3 1/2 miles north-west of Socoh.

Sharezer - (god) protect the king!, a son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria. He and his brother Adrammelech murdered their father, and then fled into the land of Armenia (2 Kings 19:37).

Sharon, Saron - a plain, a level tract extending from the Mediterranean to the hill country to the west of Jerusalem, about 30 miles long and from 8 to 15 miles broad, celebrated for its beauty and fertility (1 Chr. 27:29; Isa. 33:9; Isa 35:2; Isa 65:10). The "rose of Sharon" is celebrated ( Cant. 2:1). It is called Lasharon (the article la being here a part of the word) in Josh. 12:18.

Shaveh-Kiriathaim - plain of Kirja-thaim where Chedorlaomer defeated the Emims, the original inhabitants ( Gen. 14:5). Now Kureiyat, north of Dibon, in the land of Moab.

Shaveh, Valley of - valley of the plain the ancient name of the "king's dale" (q.v.), or Kidron, on the north side of Jerusalem ( Gen. 14:17).

Shavsha - ("Seraiah," 2 Sam. 8:17; "Shisha," 1 Kings 4:3), one of David's secretaries (1 Chr. 18:16).

Shealtiel - asked for of God, father of Zerubbabel ( Ezra 3:2,Ezra 3:8; Neh. 12:1).

Shearing-house - (2 Kings 10:12,2 Kings 10:14; marg., "house of shepherds binding sheep." R.V., "the shearing-house of the shepherds;" marg., "house of gathering"), some place between Samaria and Jezreel, where Jehu slew "two and forty men" of the royal family of Judah. The Heb. word Beth-eked so rendered is supposed by some to be a proper name.

Shear-Jashub - a remnant shall escape or return (i.e., to God), a symbolical name which the prophet Isaiah gave to his son ( Isa. 7:3), perhaps his eldest son.

Sheba - an oath, seven. (1.) Heb. shebha, the son of Raamah ( Gen. 10:7), whose descendants settled with those of Dedan on the Persian Gulf.

(2.) Heb. id. A son of Joktan ( Gen. 10:28), probably the founder of the Sabeans.

(3.) Heb. id. A son of Jokshan, who was a son of Abraham by Keturah ( Gen. 25:3).

(4.) Heb. id. A kingdom in Arabia Felix. Sheba, in fact, was Saba in Southern Arabia, the Sabaeans of classical geography, who carried on the trade in spices with the other peoples of the ancient world. They were Semites, speaking one of the two main dialects of Himyaritic or South Arabic. Sheba had become a monarchy before the days of Solomon. Its queen brought him gold, spices, and precious stones (1 Kings 10:1-13). She is called by our Lord the "queen of the south" ( Matt. 12:42).

(5.) Heb. shebha', "seven" or "an oak." A town of Simeon ( Josh. 19:2).

(6.) Heb. id. A "son of Bichri," of the family of Becher, the son of Benjamin, and thus of the stem from which Saul was descended (2 Sam. 20:1-22). When David was returning to Jerusalem after the defeat of Absalom, a strife arose between the ten tribes and the tribe of Judah, because the latter took the lead in bringing back the king. Sheba took advantage of this state of things, and raised the standard of revolt, proclaiming, "We have no part in David." With his followers he proceeded northward. David seeing it necessary to check this revolt, ordered Abishai to take the gibborim, "mighty men," and the body-guard and such troops as he could gather, and pursue Sheba. Joab joined the expedition, and having treacherously put Amasa to death, assumed the command of the army. Sheba took refuge in Abel-Bethmaachah, a fortified town some miles north of Lake Merom. While Joab was engaged in laying siege to this city, Sheba's head was, at the instigation of a "wise woman" who had held a parley with him from the city walls, thrown over the wall to the besiegers, and thus the revolt came to an end.

Shebaniah - whom Jehovah hides, or has made grow up. (1.) A Levite appointed to blow the trumpet before the ark of God (1 Chr. 15:24).

(2.) Another Levite ( Neh. 9:4,Neh. 9:5).

(3.) A priest ( Neh. 10:12).

(4.) A Levite ( Neh. 10:4).