Topical Encyclopedia
Shaphan is a significant biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, primarily in the context of the reign of King Josiah of Judah. He is recognized for his role as a scribe and a key participant in the religious reforms that took place during Josiah's reign. Shaphan's account is primarily found in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles.
Role and ResponsibilitiesShaphan served as a scribe, a position of considerable importance in the royal court. As a scribe, he was responsible for recording and managing official documents, a role that required literacy and trustworthiness. His duties would have included the transcription of royal decrees, the management of state correspondence, and the maintenance of records.
Discovery of the Book of the LawOne of the most notable events involving Shaphan is the discovery of the Book of the Law during the renovation of the Temple in Jerusalem. This event is recorded in
2 Kings 22 and
2 Chronicles 34. Under King Josiah's orders, the Temple was being repaired, and during this process, Hilkiah the high priest found the Book of the Law. Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who then read it and brought it to King Josiah.
2 Kings 22:10-11 states: "Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, 'Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.' And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes."
This discovery was pivotal, as it led to a religious awakening and significant reforms in Judah. The reading of the Book of the Law prompted King Josiah to renew the covenant with the LORD and to initiate a nationwide religious reform, purging idolatry and restoring proper worship practices.
Family and LegacyShaphan's influence extended beyond his own lifetime through his family. His sons and grandsons continued to play important roles in the history of Judah. Ahikam, one of Shaphan's sons, is noted for protecting the prophet Jeremiah from execution (
Jeremiah 26:24). Another son, Gemariah, is mentioned in the context of Jeremiah's ministry (
Jeremiah 36:10-12). Shaphan's family is often associated with loyalty to the LORD and support for the prophetic ministry.
Historical and Theological SignificanceShaphan's involvement in the discovery of the Book of the Law underscores the importance of Scripture in guiding the spiritual and moral direction of the nation. His actions contributed to one of the most significant religious reforms in the history of Judah, emphasizing the centrality of God's Word in the life of the community. Shaphan's legacy is a testament to the impact that faithful service and adherence to God's commands can have on a nation.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Shaphan(coney), the scribe or secretary of King Josiah. (2 Kings 22:3,14;2 Chronicles 34:8,20) (B.C. 628.) He appears on an equality with the governor of the city and the royal recorder. (2 Kings 22:4;2 Chronicles 34:9)
ATS Bible Dictionary
Shaphan1. A scribe or secretary under King Josiah, to whom he read from the newly found autograph roll of the book of the law,2 Kings 22:12;Jeremiah 29:3; 36:10;Ezekiel 8:11.
2. The father of Ahikam,2 Kings 22:12; 25:22;Jeremiah 26:24.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A coney, a scribe or secretary of king Josiah (
2 Kings 22:3-7). He consulted Huldah concerning the newly-discovered copy of the law which was delivered to him by Hilkiah the priest (8-14). His grandson Gedaliah was governor of Judea (
25:22).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SHAPHANsha'-fan (shaphan, "rockbadger," English Versions of the Bible "coney"; Saphphan): An old totem clan name (so W.R. Smith; compare, however, the article TOTEMISM; Gray, Gray, Studies in Hebrew Proper Names, 103;, and Jacob's Studies in Biblical Archaeology, 84;).
(1) Son of Azaliah and scribe of King Josiah. He received from Hilkiah the Book of the Law which had been found in the Temple (2 Kings 22:32 Chronicles 34:8-28). It was from Shaphan's lips that Josiah heard the Law read. Shaphan was also one of those sent by the king to the prophetess Huldah (2 Kings 222 Chronicles 34). He was undoubtedly one of the staunchest supporters of Josiah in his work of reform. He was the father of Ahikam (2 Kings 22:122 Chronicles 34:20Jeremiah 26:24), who befriended and protected the prophet Jeremiah. Another son, Elasah, was one of the two men entrusted by Jeremiah with his letter to the captives in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:3). A third son, Gemariah, vainly tried to prevent King Jehoiakim from burning "the roll" (Jeremiah 36:10, 11, 12, 25). The Micaiah ofJeremiah 36:11, 12, and Gedaliah, the governor of Judea after the captivity of 586 B.C., were his grandsons (Jeremiah 39:14).
(2) Perhaps the father of Jaazaniah, one of the 70 men whom Ezekiel saw, in his vision of the Temple, sacrificing to idols (Ezekiel 8:11).
Horace J. Wolf
Strong's Hebrew
8227b.Shaphan -- the name of several Israelites... 8227a, 8227b.
Shaphan. 8228 . the name of several Israelites. Transliteration:
Shaphan Short Definition:
shaphan. Word Origin from
...8227a.shaphan -- hyrax
... 8227, 8227a.shaphan. 8227b . hyrax. Transliteration:shaphan Short
Definition:shaphan. Word Origin from an unused word Definition...
8227.shaphan -- hyrax
... 8226, 8227.shaphan. 8227a . hyrax. Transliteration:shaphan Phonetic Spelling:
(shaw-fawn') Short Definition: coney.... 8226, 8227.shaphan. 8227a ....
3473. Yishpan -- a Benjamite
... Word Origin from the same asshaphan Definition a Benjamite NASB Word Usage Ishpan
(1). Ishpan.... see HEBREWshaphan. 3472, 3473. Yishpan. 3474 ....
Library
The Young Josiah and the Book of the Law
... In the eighteenth year of his rule he sentShaphan, the scribe, to the temple of
Jehovah with the command, "Go up to Hilkiah, the chief priest, and see that...
The Rediscovered Law and Its Effects
... THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS THE REDISCOVERED LAW AND ITS EFFECTS. 'And Hilkiah the
high priest said untoShaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in...
Josiah and the Newly Found Law
... And Hilkiah answered and said toShaphan the scribe, I have found the book
of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah delivered...
How Amon Reigned Instead of Manasseh; and after Amon Reigned...
... And when the money was brought in, he made one Maaseiah the governor of the city,
andShaphan the scribe, and Joab the recorder, and Eliakim the high priest...
The Book of the Law
... The high priest handed the precious volume toShaphan, a learned scribe, who read
it and then took it to the king with the story of its discovery....
The Growth of the Old Testament Prophetic Histories
... prophets, and to all the people, whom Nebuchadrezzar had carried away captive from
Jerusalem to Babylon; by the hand of Elasah the son ofShaphan, and Gemariah...
Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
... For when in 2 Kings 22:8 we read that "the book of the law" was discovered byShaphan
the scribe in "the house of the Lord," this implies that during the reign...
Josiah
... the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.8. Now in the eighteenth year of his
reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sentShaphan the son of...
The Writing of an Ancient Book
... When Micaiah, the grandson ofShaphan, had heard all the words of Jehovah, he went
down to the palace, where all the court officials were sitting, and told...
The Sad Fate of a Guilty Nation
... homeland. Nebuchadrezzar made Gedaliah, the grandson ofShaphan, governor
over the people he had left in the land of Judah. Now...
Thesaurus
Shaphan (26 Occurrences)... His grandson Gedaliah was governor of Judea (25:22). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
SHAPHAN.
... It was from
Shaphan's lips that Josiah heard the Law read.
...Ahi'kam (19 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 22:12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son ofShaphan,
and Achbor the son of Micaiah, andShaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the...
Secretary (34 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 22:3 It happened in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent
Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house...
Ahikam (20 Occurrences)
... He was the son ofShaphan, the royal secretary, and the father of Gedaliah, governor
of Judea after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (2 Kings 25...
Gemariah (5 Occurrences)
... Jehovah has made perfect. (1.) The son ofShaphan, and one of the Levites of the
temple in the time of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 36:10; 2 Kings 22:12)....
Readeth (19 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 22:8 And Hilkiah the high priest saith untoShaphan the scribe, 'A book
of the law I have found in the house of Jehovah;' and Hilkiah giveth the book...
Asaiah (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 22:12 The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son ofShaphan,
and Achbor the son of Micaiah, andShaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the...
Asai'ah (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 22:12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son ofShaphan,
and Achbor the son of Micaiah, andShaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the...
Gedali'ah (28 Occurrences)
... were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even
over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son ofShaphan, governor....
Scribe (55 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 22:3 It happened in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent
Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house...
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