In brief
Shemaiah is a prophet of the kingdom of Judah under Rehoboam, son of Solomon. When Rehoboam gathers one hundred eighty thousand men to reconquer the northern tribes, Shemaiah delivers God's order not to fight his brothers, and the people obey. Later, during the invasion of Shishak, king of Egypt, he calls the king and the leaders to acknowledge their unfaithfulness. The lesson to keep is a courageous messenger who prevents a war between brothers.
What does the name Shemaiah mean?
The name Shemaiah is generally understood as the LORD has heard or the LORD hears. The Bible does not comment on the name; it presents its bearer as a man of God (1 Kings 12:22).
The story of Shemaiah
An army ready to march
1 Kings 12:21After the secession of the northern tribes, Rehoboam gathers the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin at Jerusalem. He musters one hundred eighty thousand chosen men to fight the house of Israel and bring it back under his rule. A war between the children of Israel is brewing, and Rehoboam seems determined to win back the kingdom by force.
Do not fight your brothers
1 Kings 12:22-24The word of God comes to Shemaiah, the man of God. He is to tell the king and the people not to go up and not to make war on their brothers, the children of Israel. He adds that this division comes from the LORD. The people obey the word of the LORD, and everyone returns home.
The invasion of Shishak
2 Chronicles 12:1-5Once established, Rehoboam abandons the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. In the fifth year of his reign, Shishak, king of Egypt, comes up against Jerusalem with an immense army. Shemaiah comes to the king and the leaders to say that they have abandoned God, so he has abandoned them to the hand of Shishak.
The humbling that saves
2 Chronicles 12:6-8The king and the leaders humble themselves and say that the LORD is righteous. The word of God then comes again to Shemaiah: they will not be destroyed, and God will soon grant them deliverance. But they will become servants of Shishak, so that they learn the difference between serving God and serving the kingdoms of other lands.
A witness of the reign
2 Chronicles 12:15The acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are written in the records of Shemaiah the prophet and Iddo the prophet. Shemaiah was therefore not only a messenger for a single moment: he also left a written account of the reign. These books have not come down to us, but the Chronicler relies on them.
What Shemaiah teaches us
- Obeying God may mean giving up a victory that seems within reach.
- God calls his people not to make war on their brothers.
- Humbly acknowledging sin opens the door to God's mercy.
- Serving God is freedom; serving other masters becomes a burden.
- A servant of God speaks courageously to the king as well as to the people.
Key verses
Shemaiah delivers God's order not to fight the northern tribes. The people obey the word of the LORD and give up a war against their own brothers.
The prophet announces that abandoning God leads to being abandoned. When the king and the leaders humble themselves, God promises not to destroy them.
Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the anger of the LORD turns away from him. The text adds that there was still some good in Judah.
Bible verses to meditate on
Sermons about Shemaiah
Frequently asked questions
Who was Shemaiah in the Bible?
Shemaiah was a prophet, called a man of God, during the reign of Rehoboam, king of Judah. He kept Rehoboam from making war on the northern tribes (1 Kings 12:22-24) and announced judgment to him during the invasion of Shishak, king of Egypt (2 Chronicles 12:5-8).
Why did God forbid Rehoboam to fight Israel?
Through Shemaiah, God declares that the division of the kingdom comes from him (1 Kings 12:24). It fulfilled the word announced by Ahijah of Shiloh because of Solomon's idolatry. Fighting the northern tribes would have meant opposing God's own decision.
Where can I find the story of Shemaiah in the Bible?
Shemaiah appears in 1 Kings 12:22-24 and in the parallel account of 2 Chronicles 11:2-4. His intervention during the invasion of Shishak is found in 2 Chronicles 12:5-8, and 2 Chronicles 12:15 mentions his writings on the reign of Rehoboam.