Bible Dictionary

Shaphan

People & Groups • Old Testament

Shaphan was the royal secretary who received the Book of the Law found in the temple during Josiah’s reign. He supported the king’s reform and was the father or ancestor of several officials connected with Jeremiah.

Definition

Shaphan was the scribe or secretary of King Josiah. He received the Book of the Law found in the temple, read it before the king, and was involved in the consultation with the prophetess Huldah. He was also the father or ancestor of several officials associated with Judah’s later history.

Biblical Usage

Shaphan supported Josiah’s reform and brought the discovered Law to the king. His son Ahikam protected Jeremiah, Elasah carried Jeremiah’s letter to the captives, and Gemariah tried to prevent Jehoiakim from burning the roll. Gedaliah, later governor of Judah, was his grandson.

Historical Background

Shaphan held a position comparable to the governor of the city and the royal recorder. His name means “coney” or “rock badger,” and the supplied material also describes Shaphan as an old totem-clan name.

Scripture References

2 Kings 22:3-7 2 Kings 22:3 2 Kings 22:14 2 Chronicles 34:8 2 Chronicles 34:20 2 Kings 22:4 2 Chronicles 34:9

Related Figures

Historical Bible Dictionaries

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).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(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)

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)

sha'-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 ff, and Jacob's Studies in Biblical Archaeology, 84 ff).(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 (2Ki 22:3 ff; 2Ch 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 (2Ki 22; 2Ch 34). He was undoubtedly one of the staunchest supporters of Josiah in his work of reform. He was the father of Ahikam (2Ki 22:12; 2Ch 34:20; Jer 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 (Jer 29:3). A third son, Gemariah, vainly tried to prevent King Jehoiakim from burning "the roll" (Jer 36:10,11,12,25). The Micaiah of Jer 36:11,12, and Gedaliah, the governor of Judea after the captivity of 586 BC, were his grandsons (Jer 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 (Eze 8:11).Horace J. Wolf

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