Lexical Definition

‎יִשְׁמָעֵאל‎ Yishmâʻêʼl (yish-maw-ale') Ishmael N:N-M-P
from ‎שָׁמַע‎ and ‎אֵל‎; God will hear

Ishmael.

1) son of Abraham and Sarah's handmaid Hagar and the progenitor of the Arabian peoples
2) son of Nethaniah and the murderer of Gedaliah
3) a Benjamite, one of the sons of Azel a descendant of Saul through Meribbaal or Mephibosheth
4) a Judaite, father of Zebadiah
5) a Judaite, son of Johanan and one of the captains who aided Jehoiada in restoring Joash to the throne
6) a priest of the family of Pashur with a foreign wife whom he was forced to put away by Ezra

Usage: 1 form in 1 verse
Form Translated As     In Verse(s)
וּלְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל and to Ishmael 2Chr.23.1

Extended Information

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎יִשְׁמָעֵאל‎48 proper name, masculine El heareth; Sabean ‎יסמעאל‎ Hal187; on from compare LagBN 131); —

1. son of Abraham and Hagar Gen 16:11 (name explanation ‎׳‎‎רגו‎ ‎׳‎‎שָׁמַע י‎), vGen 16:15. 16 + 11 t. Gen 17.25, Gen 28:9 (twice in verse); Gen 36:3; 1Chr 1:28; 1Chr 1:29; 1Chr 1:31 Ισμαηλ

2. usually Ισμαηλ: murderer of Gedaliah Jer 41:8; Jer 40:14; Jer 40:15; Jer 40:16 + 17 t. Jer 41; 2Kgs 25:23; 2Kgs 25:25 (ᵐ5L Ισραηλ !).

3. in Benjamin 1Chr 8:38; 1Chr 9:44.

4. in Judah:
a. 2Chr 19:11.
b. 2Chr 23:1.

5. Jew with foreign wife Ezra 10:22, Σαμαηλ, A ᵐ5L Ισμαηλ.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Book Refs
Genesis 16:11 · 16:15 · Chapter 17 · 28:9 · 36:3
2 Kings 25:23 · 25:25
1 Chronicles 1:28 · 1:29 · 1:31 · 8:38 · 9:44
2 Chronicles 19:11 · 23:1
Ezra 10:22
Jeremiah 40:14 · 40:15 · 40:16 · Chapter 41 · 41:8

Profile

Male • Son of Jehohanan • Son of Jehohanan; supported Joash as king.

Man living at the time of Divided Monarchy

Ishmael was the son of Jehohanan, who supported Jehoiada in making Joash king (2Ch.23.1).

Ishmael is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 23:1 as the son of Jehohanan. He was one of the commanders that the priest Jehoiada summoned to help him overthrow Queen Athaliah and install Joash as the rightful king of Judah.

After the death of King Ahaziah, Athaliah had seized the throne and tried to destroy the royal family (2Ch.22.10-12). However, Joash was hidden by Jehoiada the priest. In the seventh year of Athaliah's reign, Jehoiada made a covenant with five commanders, including Zebadiah son of Ishmael, to support Joash as king (2Ch.23.1).

Ishmael himself is not mentioned as being directly involved in the coup. However, his son Zebadiah's support was crucial in Jehoiada's plan to restore the Davidic line to the throne. The text does not provide any further details about Ishmael's life or position. His inclusion in the narrative serves to identify Zebadiah and emphasize the significance of his allegiance to Jehoiada and King Joash.

All entries for Ishmael: יִשְׁמָעֵאל