Prophet Old Testament

Prophet Shemaiah

10th century BC (active under Kings Solomon and Rehoboam)

Also known as Samaia · Semeias

An Old Testament prophet who spoke the word of the Lord in the days of King Rehoboam.

Feast Day

January 9

Draft

Draft — pending review. Not yet verified for publication.

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Life

Shemaiah (Hebrew Shemayah; also rendered Samaia or Semeias) was an Old Testament prophet who spoke the word of the Lord in the kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. He is venerated as a saint in both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

His prophetic activity falls in the period immediately following the division of the united monarchy, when the ten northern tribes separated under Jeroboam from the southern kingdom of Judah and Benjamin. Shemaiah is principally remembered for restraining Rehoboam from waging civil war against the northern tribes, and for later announcing God's judgment upon Judah during the Egyptian invasion of Shishak.

Timeline 3 moments Read Hide

10th century BC Division of the kingdom Following the death of Solomon, the ten northern tribes separated under Jeroboam from the kingdom of Judah and Benjamin, which remained under Rehoboam.
10th century BC Restraining of Rehoboam Shemaiah prophesied that Rehoboam's planned campaign against the northern tribes was not God's will, and the army of 180,000 stood down (1 Kings 12:22-24; 2 Chronicles 11:2-4).
c. 925 BC Invasion of Shishak Shemaiah delivered God's word to Rehoboam and the princes of Judah at Jerusalem during the invasion of Shishak, king of Egypt (2 Chronicles 12:5,7).

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributions Read Hide

Restraining the War Against the Northern Tribes

After the division of the kingdom, King Rehoboam assembled an army of 180,000 troops to force the ten rebellious tribes back under his rule. As recorded in 1 Kings 12:22-24 and 2 Chronicles 11:2-4, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, a man of God, instructing Rehoboam and the house of Judah and Benjamin not to go up and fight against their brothers.

Shemaiah delivered the divine word that 'this thing is from Me,' and the assembled army stood down in obedience to the prophecy. The Pulpit Commentary characterized the episode as a timely reminder of the unity of the people, notwithstanding the political division of the kingdom.

Prophecy During Shishak's Invasion

According to 2 Chronicles 12, Shemaiah again delivered the word of the Lord to Rehoboam during the invasion of Judah by Shishak, the king of Egypt, dated to approximately 925 BC. The prophecy addressed Rehoboam and the princes of Judah who had assembled at Jerusalem in the face of the invasion (2 Chronicles 12:5,7), announcing God's judgment and its subsequent mitigation.

Writings

Shemaiah is credited with a 'Book of Shemaiah the Prophet,' referenced in 2 Chronicles as a source for the acts of Rehoboam and linked there with the records of Iddo the Seer. No surviving work has been identified with this title.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Jan 9