Lexical Definition
שָׁפָן shâphân (shaw-fawn') rock badger H:N-M
from שָׂפַן
coney.
- a species of rockrabbit (from its hiding), i.e. probably the hyrax
n m
1) rock badger, coney, the hyrax
n pr m
2) secretary or scribe of king Josiah of Judah
3) father of Ahikam in the time of king Josiah of Judah
3a) improbably the same as 2
4) father of Elasah in the time of the prophet Jeremiah
4a) perhaps the same as 3
5) a scribe and father of Gemariah
5a) perhaps the same as 2
6) father of Jaazaniah in the time of Ezekiel
6a) perhaps the same as 2
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.22.3
- son of: Azaliah (אֲצַלְיָהוּ)
- father of: Ahikam (אֲחִיקָם), Elasah (אֶלְעָשָׂה), Gemariah (גְּמַרְיָה)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
שָׁפָן noun masculineLev 11:5 rock-badger, hyrax syriacus, AV RV coney; — absolute ׳שׁ Deut 14:7 = Lev 11:5 (P; unclean animal); living in rocks, plural שְׁפַנִּים Ps 104:18; Prov 30:26. — See RobBR iii. 66, 387 TrNHB 75; FFP 1, and Plural 1 PostHast. DB CONEY McLean-ShipleyEncy. Bib. ID.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Leviticus | 11:5 |
| Deuteronomy | 14:7 |
| Psalms | 104:18 |
| Proverbs | 30:26 |
Profile
Male • Son of Azaliah • Scribe during the reign of King Josiah
Man living at the time of Divided Monarchy
Shaphan, the scribe, played a significant role in the religious reforms of King Josiah and the events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians.
- A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.22.3;
- only referred to as Shaphan שָׁפָן;
- a son of Azaliah אֲצַלְיָהוּ;
- father of Ahikam אֲחִיקָם, Elasah אֶלְעָשָׂה, Gemariah גְּמַרְיָה.
Shaphan, mentioned in 2 Kings 22, 25.22, 2 Chronicles 34, and several passages in Jeremiah, was a scribe who served during the reign of King Josiah of Judah. He was the son of Azaliah and the father of Ahikam, Elasah, and Gemariah. Shaphan played a key role in the religious reforms initiated by Josiah. When the high priest Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law in the temple, he gave it to Shaphan, who then read it to the king. This event led to a nationwide renewal of the covenant and the implementation of reforms to purge idolatry from Judah. Shaphan's sons, particularly Ahikam, continued to serve in important positions during the reigns of subsequent kings. During the Babylonian invasion and the fall of Jerusalem, Shaphan's family members were involved in various events, such as the release of Jeremiah from prison and the appointment of Gedaliah as governor over the remnant of Judah. The multiple references to Shaphan and his descendants highlight their significance in the religious and political affairs of Judah during this tumultuous period.
All entries for Shaphan: שָׁפָן