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Person · Tribe of Judah

Shelah

Man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness

Shelah, Judah's third son, and his descendants, the Shelanites.

🗺 Places mentioned alongside Shelah on the map →

Also known as Shelanite

Shelah was the third and youngest son of Judah, born to him in Chezib (Gen.38.5). After the deaths of his older brothers, Er and Onan, Judah promised Tamar, Er's widow, that Shelah would marry her when he grew up. However, Judah did not keep this promise (Gen.38.11,14,26).

Shelah's descendants were called Shelanites (Num.26.20) and were one of the clans of Judah. They were included in the census of the tribe of Judah in the wilderness (Num.26.20) and in the genealogies of Judah (1Ch.2.3; 4.21). Shelah's descendants included potters and linen workers who lived in Judah (1Ch.4.21-23).

Family

Father
Judah
Mother
Bath-shua
Siblings
ErOnanPerezZerah
Children
ErLaadahJokimJoashSaraph

Connections

Judah and Tamar: a failed levirate and its consequence

FamilyStated in the text

Tamar married Judah's sons Er and Onan, both died, and Judah withheld Shelah. Tamar disguised herself and conceived twins by Judah himself. Judah admitted "She is more righteous than I," and his later conduct toward Benjamin shows a changed man.

JudahSon of IsraelTamarJudah's daughter-in-law who bore Perez and ZerahErSon of JudahOnanSon of JudahShelahSon of Judah
Where the text shows it: Gen 38:6-10 — Er and Onan dieGen 38:14-19 — Tamar conceives through JudahGen 38:26 — Judah: "She is more righteous than I"Gen 44:33 — Judah offers himself in place of Benjamin

Sources: Gen 38:6-10 · Gen 38:14-19 · Gen 38:26 · Gen 44:33

More background: search Wikipedia ↗

Where Shelah appears

8 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H7956

Genesis5
Numbers1
1 Chronicles2

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.