Lexical Summary Elishama: Elishama Original Word: אֱלִישָׁמָע Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Elishama From 'el and shama'; God of hearing; Elishama, the name of seven Israelites -- Elishama. see HEBREW 'el see HEBREW shama' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom el and shama Definition "God has heard," the name of several Isr. NASB Translation Elishama (17). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֱלִישָׁמָע (God has heard, compare יִשְׁמָעֵאל, & Sabean אלסמע, יסמעאל Hal187, 193) a. chief of Ephraim Numbers 1:10; Numbers 2:18; Numbers 7:48,53; Numbers 10:22; 1 Chronicles 7:26. b. son of David 2 Samuel 5:16; 1 Chronicles 3:6,8; 1 Chronicles 14:7. c. scribe of Jehoiakim Jeremiah 36:12,20,21. d. one of the royal seed 2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 41:1. e. a man of Judah 1 Chronicles 2:41. feminine a priest2Chronicles 17:8. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Theological Emphasis Elishama, “God has heard,” signals trust in the covenant LORD who attends to the cries of His people. Every appearance of the name is bound to moments when God’s word, covenant promises, or royal purposes come to the foreground, making each Elishama a reminder that divine attentiveness undergirds Israel’s history. Leader of Ephraim in the Wilderness (Numbers 1:10; 2:18; 7:48, 53; 10:22) Elishama son of Ammihud served as chief of the tribe of Ephraim during the Exodus generation. He: Through him the tribe descended from Joseph took its place in worship, war, and wilderness order—an anticipation of Ephraim’s later leadership role in Israel’s northern kingdom. Royal Sons of David (2 Samuel 5:16; 1 Chronicles 3:6, 8; 14:7) David named two of his Jerusalem-born sons Elishama, underlining the king’s conviction that “God has heard” his petitions for a secure dynasty. The duplication may point to the death of an earlier child or a desire to preserve the name’s testimony within the royal household. Though neither Elishama became king, their inclusion in the messianic genealogy (1 Chronicles 3) threads the promise of 2 Samuel 7 through successive generations until it is finally fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Judahite Branch through Sheshan (1 Chronicles 2:41) A more obscure Elishama arises in the clan of Jerahmeel, where Sheshan—having no sons—gave his daughter in marriage to an Egyptian servant, Jarha. Their son Elishama perpetuated the line, demonstrating that the Lord hears even marginalized families and grafts them into Judah’s heritage, preserving the tribe until the birth of its ultimate Lion. Ancestor of Joshua (1 Chronicles 7:26) Within the Ephraimite genealogy another Elishama appears as son of Ammihud and father of Nun, making him grandfather to Joshua. The progression “Elishama … Nun … Joshua” shows that the same family once led the wilderness encampment (Numbers) and later guided the conquest. God “heard” the yearning for rest in the land and answered through this lineage. Teacher in Jehoshaphat’s Reformation (2 Chronicles 17:8) During Jehoshaphat’s reign select officials, Levites, and priests circulated “throughout Judah … teaching the Book of the Law of the LORD” (verse 9). Elishama is named among them, embodying the truth that God hears a nation’s need for doctrinal renewal. His itinerant ministry fostered covenant fidelity at a pivotal juncture before the looming Assyrian threat. Royal Secretary under Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 36:12, 20-21) Centuries later, an Elishama served as court scribe. Baruch’s reading of Jeremiah’s scroll occurred in “the chamber of Elishama the scribe” (Jeremiah 36:12). When officials reported the contents, the scroll was secured “in the chamber of Elishama the scribe” (verse 20), yet Jehoiakim defiantly burned it (verse 23). The episode contrasts the faithfulness of the prophetic word with royal apostasy. Elishama’s office preserved the scroll long enough for its testimony to indict the king, illustrating again that God hears and records every deed. Ancestor of Ishmael the Assassin (2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 41:1) “Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family,” murdered Gedaliah after Jerusalem’s fall. Whether this Elishama is the same as David’s son or a later descendant, the text stresses royal blood. The tragedy affirms that divine hearing includes judgment: covenant-breaking does not escape the ear of the LORD. Interwoven Themes 1. Leadership: from tribal prince to royal sons and scribes, Elishamas occupy positions of influence. Devotional Reflection Whenever Elishama surfaces, the storyline pivots on God hearing—ordering camp, sustaining dynasty, preserving Scripture, or exposing sin. The repeated testimony invites believers to trust that the same Lord still listens, governs, and redeems according to His unfailing word. Forms and Transliterations אֱלִ֨ישָׁמָ֜ע אֱלִֽישָׁמָ֖ע אֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע אֱלִישָׁמָ֣ע אֱלִישָׁמָ֥ע אֱלִישָׁמָֽע׃ אלישמע אלישמע׃ וֶאֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע וֶאֱלִישָׁמָ֥ע וֶאֱלִישָׁמָ֧ע ואלישמע ’ĕ·lî·šā·mā‘ ’ĕlîšāmā‘ elishaMa veelishaMa we’ĕlîšāmā‘ we·’ĕ·lî·šā·mā‘Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 1:10 HEB: יוֹסֵ֔ף לְאֶפְרַ֕יִם אֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־ עַמִּיה֑וּד NAS: of Ephraim, Elishama the son KJV: of Ephraim; Elishama the son INT: of Joseph of Ephraim Elishama the son of Ammihud Numbers 2:18 Numbers 7:48 Numbers 7:53 Numbers 10:22 2 Samuel 5:16 2 Kings 25:25 1 Chronicles 2:41 1 Chronicles 3:6 1 Chronicles 3:8 1 Chronicles 7:26 1 Chronicles 14:7 2 Chronicles 17:8 Jeremiah 36:12 Jeremiah 36:20 Jeremiah 36:21 Jeremiah 41:1 17 Occurrences |
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