Shallum

At a Glance

Hebrew personal name used by multiple Old Testament men.

Key Points

• Best-known Shallum briefly ruled Israel. • Other men named Shallum appear in priestly, genealogical, and postexilic lists. • This is a name entry, not a theological term.

Description

Shallum is a recurring biblical personal name, not a theological concept. Several men bear this name, including Shallum son of Jabesh, who assassinated Zechariah and briefly reigned over Israel before being struck down by Menahem (2 Kings 15:10-15). Other individuals named Shallum appear in genealogical, priestly, and restoration-era contexts. Because the name identifies more than one person and does not denote a doctrine, the entry is best handled as a disambiguated biblical name entry.

Biblical Context

The Old Testament frequently records repeated personal names. Shallum is one such name, attached to figures in Israel’s royal history and in later priestly or genealogical records.

Historical Context

The best-known Shallum appears in the divided-monarchy period. His brief reign in Israel followed the assassination of Zechariah and ended when Menahem overthrew him.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Repeated names were common in ancient Israel, so biblical readers distinguish people by father, tribe, office, or historical setting.

Primary Key Texts

• 2 Kings 15:10-15

Secondary Key Texts

• Other occurrences of the name in Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah

Original Language Note

Hebrew personal name, likely related to a root meaning ‘recompense’ or ‘repayment.’

Theological Significance

The name itself carries no doctrinal teaching; the biblical references matter because they identify particular people in Israel’s history.

Philosophical Explanation

This entry functions as a disambiguation aid: the same name can designate different persons, so meaning depends on context.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not confuse the various men named Shallum, and do not treat the name as a theological category.

Major Views

Not applicable; this is a proper name rather than a debated doctrine.

Doctrinal Boundaries

No doctrinal claim attaches to the name itself.

Practical Significance

This entry encourages careful reading of Scripture and attention to context, especially when the same name occurs for multiple people.

Related Entries

• Menahem
• Zechariah
• Jehoahaz
• Israel, kings of
• Chronicles
• Ezra
• Nehemiah

See Also

• Biblical names
• Proper names in Scripture
• Kings of Israel