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.
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Shaphan, mentioned in 2Kings 22, 25.22, 2Chronicles 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.
Part of: Last kings of Judah and the prophets of the exile
In Josiah's eighteenth year Hilkiah the high priest found the book of the law in the temple; Shaphan the scribe read it to the king, who tore his garments and launched a sweeping reform. Jeremiah is also associated with Josiah's reign.
Sources: 2 Kgs 22:3-13 · 2 Kgs 23:1-25 · Jer 1:2
Shaphan the scribe, who read the law to Josiah, had a son Ahikam who protected Jeremiah from execution, and a grandson Gedaliah whom Babylon appointed governor of Judah. Gedaliah also received Jeremiah; his murder ended the remnant community.
Sources: 2 Kgs 22:3 · Jer 26:24 · 2 Kgs 25:22-25 · Jer 40:5-6
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23 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H8227
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the scribe, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the LORD, saying,
Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan, who read it.
And Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, “Your servants have paid out the money that was found in the temple and have put it into the hands of the workers and supervisors of the house of the LORD.”
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.
and commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king:
So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went and spoke to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, the keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over the people he had left behind in the land of Judah.
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, in order to cleanse the land and the temple, Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.
And Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan.
Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported, “Your servants are doing all that has been placed in their hands.
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.
and commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king:
Nevertheless, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
The letter was entrusted to Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It stated:
From the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe, which was in the upper courtyard at the opening of the New Gate of the house of the LORD, Baruch read from the scroll the words of Jeremiah in the hearing of all the people.
When Micaiah son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the LORD from the scroll,
he went down to the scribeʼs chamber in the kingʼs palace, where all the officials were sitting: Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.
had Jeremiah brought from the courtyard of the guard, and they turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So Jeremiah remained among his own people.
But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people, or go anywhere else that seems right.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him.
Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.
When all the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over them,
Then Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land.
the men, the women, the children, the kingʼs daughters, and everyone whom Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had allowed to remain with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, as well as Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.