Lexical Summary Shamsheray: Shamsheray Original Word: שַׁמְשְׁרַי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shamsherai Apparently from shemesh; sunlike; Shamsherai, an Israelite -- Shamsherai. see HEBREW shemesh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as shemesh Definition a Benjamite NASB Translation Shamsherai (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שַׁמְשְׁרַי proper name, masculine in Benjamin 1 Chronicles 8:26, Ισμασαρια, A Σαμσαρια, ᵐ5L Σαμψαια. שֻׁמָתִי see [ שֻׁמָה]. שָׁן, שַׁן see בֵּית שְׁאָן. שֵׁן see שׁנן. שָׁנָא see I. [ שָׁנָה]. שֵׁנָא see שֵׁאָה √ יָשֵׁן. below, Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting Shamshurai (Shamsherai) appears once in Scripture in the genealogical record of Benjamin preserved in 1 Chronicles 8:26. The Chronicler inserts his name in the list of descendants who returned to Jerusalem after the exile, thereby rooting the post-exilic community in the ancient tribal lines that traced back to Jacob’s youngest son. Tribal and Family Connections 1 Chronicles 8 details several branches of Benjamin, highlighting families that settled in Jerusalem. Shamshurai is placed among the sons of Jeroham (compare 1 Chronicles 8:26-27). The surrounding names—Shehariah and Athaliah—share theophoric or regal elements, hinting that this family honored the LORD’s sovereignty even during dispersion. By recording the line, the Chronicler affirms that Benjamin’s heritage, though once nearly extinguished in the days of Judges 20, survived exile and judgment and continued to serve in the restored community. Chronicles’ Emphasis on Restoration Chronicles was compiled for a people freshly returned from Babylonian captivity. Listing lesser-known Benjamites such as Shamshurai sends a pastoral message: every household matters in God’s redemptive plan. The Chronicler’s meticulous catalog affirms that covenant promises were neither lost nor annulled despite Israel’s failures. Thus Shamshurai’s brief mention helps demonstrate the continuity of God’s faithfulness from the patriarchs through exile to restoration. Ministry and Theological Significance Although nothing further is told of Shamshurai’s personal deeds, his placement links him to a tribe historically entrusted with warrior service (Judges 20:16), royal leadership (1 Samuel 9:1-2), prophetic heritage (Jeremiah 1:1), and apostolic witness (Philippians 3:5). Benjamin often represents unlikely grace: the smallest tribe produced King Saul, later attempted to annihilate itself through civil war, yet finally gave the church the apostle Paul. Shamshurai’s presence in the genealogy underscores that the Lord continues to raise servants even out of troubled histories. Lessons and Applications 1. God remembers individuals whom history forgets (Malachi 3:16). Related References and Themes • Genealogical preservation: Ezra 2:59-62; Nehemiah 7:61-65 Forms and Transliterations וְשַׁמְשְׁרַ֥י ושמשרי veshamsheRai wə·šam·šə·ray wəšamšərayLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 8:26 HEB: וְשַׁמְשְׁרַ֥י וּשְׁחַרְיָ֖ה וַעֲתַלְיָֽה׃ NAS: Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, KJV: And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, INT: Shamsherai Shehariah Athaliah 1 Occurrence |
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