Shammah

SHAMMA (shăm'a, Heb. shammā’, astonishment or desolation). One of the eleven sons of Zophah; a descendant of Asher (1Chr.7.37).

2. The third son of Jesse of Bethlehem and brother of David. He fought, with two older brothers, in the campaign against the Philistines under Saul and was with the Israelite forces in the valley of Elah when David killed Goliath (1 Sam 17:13, 19). He was present when Samuel chose the king of Israel from the sons of Jesse but was passed over in favor of David (1 Sam 16:9). Shammah is the same as Shimeah, father of Jonadab (2 Sam 13:3), the Shimea of 1 Chronicles 2:13, and the Shimei of 2 Samuel 21:20, 21 who is called the father of Jonathan who slew a deformed giant of the Philistines.

3. A Harodite perhaps from the Harod of Judges 7:1 (the present ’Ain Jalud, “spring of Harod”), and one of David’s thirty mighty men (2 Sam 23:23, 25). It is said that for the fifth month of the year he was the captain of a division of 24,000 troops of David’s army, and is called Shamhuth the Izrahite (1 Chron 27:8). He is also called Shammoth of Harod (11:27).

4. A son of Agee, a Hararite (2 Sam 23:11) and one of the three mightiest of David’s warriors. Some scholars believe that he is the same as Shammah the Harodite. He is described as defending successfully and alone, after the other troops had fled, “a plot of ground full of lentils” from a band of Philistines (2 Sam 23:11, 12). The parallel passage (1 Chron 11:10-14) attributes this incident to Eleazar, the son of Dodo. He is thought by some scholars to be one of three brave men who brought water to David from the well of Bethlehem (2 Sam 23:13-17).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

An Asherite (1Ch 7:37).

(1) The son of Reuel, the son of Esau, a tribal chief of Edom (Ge 36:13,17; 1Ch 1:37, Some).

(3) The son of Agee, a Hararite, one of the "three mighty men" of David (2Sa 23:11, Septuagint Samaia), who held the field against the Philistines. The parallel passage (1Ch 11:10 ) ascribes this deed to Eleazar, the son of Dodo. The succeeding incident (2Sa 23:13 ), namely, the famous act of three of David’s heroes who risked their lives to bring their leader water from the well of Bethlehem, has frequently been credited to Shammah and two other members of "the three"; but the three warriors are plainly said (2Sa 23:13) to belong to "the thirty"; 2Sa 23:33 should read "Jonathan, son of Shammah, the Hararite." Jonathan, one of David’s "thirty," was a son of Shammah; the word "son" has been accidentally omitted (Driver, Budde, Kittel, etc.). The parallel passage (1Ch 11:34) has "son of Shagee," which is probably, a misreading for "son of Agee." Lucian’s version, "son of Shammah," is most plausible. "Shimei the son of Ela" (1Ki 4:18) should also appear in this passage if Lucian’s reading of "Ela" for "Agee" (2Sa 23:11) be correct.

(4) A Harodite (2Sa 23:25,33), i.e. probably a native of `Ain-charod (`Ain Jalud, Jud 7:1; see Harod). One of "the thirty" and captain of Solomon’s 5th monthly course. In the parallel lists (1Ch 11:27) he is called "the Harorite" (this last being a scribal error for Harodite) and "Shamhuth the Izrahate" (1Ch 27:8).

Horace J. Wolf