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{{Short description|Biblical figure; third son of Judah}}
{{otheruses|Shelah (disambiguation)}}
{{otheruses|Shelah (disambiguation)}}
According to the [[Bible]], '''Shelah'''/'''Shela''' ({{Hebrew Name|שֵׁלָה|Shela|Šēlā|meaning "petition"<ref name="Easton1894">{{cite book|author=Matthew George Easton|title=Illustrated Bible Dictionary, and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KspEAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA621-IA1|year=1894|publisher=T. Nelson|page=621}}</ref>}}) was the youngest son of [[Judah (son of Jacob)|Judah]], and was born at [[Chezib of Judah|Chezib]],<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|38:5|}}</ref> which can be identified with an unknown town in the vicinity of [[Maresha|Mareshah]]. <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Demsky |first=Aaron |date=December 26, 2016 |title=Who Was “Shelah Son of Judah” and What Happened to Him? |url=https://www.thetorah.com/article/who-was-shelah-son-of-judah-and-what-happened-to-him |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208082856/https://www.thetorah.com/article/who-was-shelah-son-of-judah-and-what-happened-to-him |archive-date=February 8, 2024 |website=TheTorah.com}}</ref>
According to the [[Bible]], '''Shelah'''/'''Shela''' ({{Hebrew Name|שֵׁלָה|Šela|Šēlāh|Petition}}) was the youngest brother among [[Judah (biblical figure)|Judah]]'s first three sons, and was born at [[Chezib]].<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|38:5|}}</ref>


==Biblical narrative==
==Biblical narrative==
In the text, after [[Yahweh]] had killed Shelah's two older brothers, namely [[Er (biblical figure)|Er]] and [[Onan]],<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|38:7-10|}}</ref> Judah was unwilling to allow [[Tamar (Bible)|Tamar]], who had been Er's wife, and who had had [[sexual intercourse|sex]] with Onan,<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|38:7-10|}}</ref> to be married to Shelah;<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|38:11|}}</ref> Judah's concern was that Tamar might be cursed, and so he told her to wait until Shelah had grown up,<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|38:11|}}</ref> but when Shelah eventually did, Judah continued to neglect to give Tamar to him in marriage.<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|38:14|}}</ref> In the [[Book of Chronicles]], ''Shelah'' is identified as being the name of a clan, containing a subclan named ''Er''.
In the text{{Specify |reason=Which text? |date=October 2021}}, God had killed Shelah's two older brothers, [[Er (biblical figure)|Er]] and [[Onan]].<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|38:7-10|}}</ref> Judah was unwilling to allow [[Tamar (Genesis)|Tamar]], who had been successively Er's and Onan's wife,<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|38:7-10|}}</ref> to be married to Shelah.<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|38:11|}}</ref> Judah's concern was that Tamar might be [[curse]]d and Shelah might die if married to her. So Judah told her to wait until Shelah had grown up.<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|38:11|}}</ref> When Shelah came of age, Judah neglected to marry him to Tamar.<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|38:14|}}</ref> In the [[Book of Chronicles]], ''Shelah'' is identified as the name of a clan, containing a subclan named ''Er.''


According {{Bibleverse|1 Chronicles|4:21-23}}, the sons of Shelah were:<br>
According to [[biblical criticism|biblical scholars]], the description of ''Shelah'' is an [[eponym]]ous [[aetiology|aetiological myth]] concerning fluctuations in the constituency of the [[tribe of Judah]], with ''Shelah'' representing the newest clan to become part of the tribe;<ref name="J. A. Emerton, Judah And Tamar">J. A. Emerton, ''Judah And Tamar''</ref><ref>Cheyne and Black, ''[[Encyclopedia Biblica]]''</ref> the Book of Chronicles' description of ''Er'' as a descendant of Shelah, suggests that ''Er'' was in reality the name of a clan that was originally equal in status to the ''Shelah'' clan, but was later subsumed by it.<ref name="J. A. Emerton, Judah And Tamar"/><ref>Cheyne and Black, ''[[Encyclopedia Biblica]]''</ref>
#Er, the father of Lecah
#Laadah, the father of Mareshah.
#The families of the house of the linen workers of the house of Ashbea
#Jokim, the men of Chozeba
#Joash
#Saraph
#Jashubi-Lehem
The descendants of the last 4 sons were potters who dwelt at Netaim and Gederah and worked for the king.


Scholars have argued that the Tamar narrative, of which the description of Shelah is a part, secondarily aims to either assert the institution of [[levirate marriage]], or present an aetiological myth for its origin;<ref name="J. A. Emerton, Judah And Tamar"/> Shelah's role in the narrative would thus be as the example of a brother refusing to perform levirate marriage.<ref name="J. A. Emerton, Judah And Tamar"/> [[Regius Professor of Hebrew|Emerton]] regards the evidence for this as inconclusive, though [[classical rabbinical literature|classical rabbinical writers]] argued that this narrative concerns the origin of levirate marriage.<ref>''[[Genesis Rabbah]]'' 85:6</ref>
According to some [[biblical criticism|biblical scholars]], the description of ''Shelah'' is an [[eponym]]ous [[aetiology|aetiological myth]] concerning fluctuations in the constituency of the [[tribe of Judah]], with ''Shelah'' representing the newest clan to become part of the tribe.<ref name="J. A. Emerton, Judah And Tamar">J. A. Emerton, ''Judah And Tamar''</ref><ref>Cheyne and Black, ''[[Encyclopedia Biblica]]''</ref> The Book of Chronicles' description of ''Er'' as a descendant of Shelah, suggests that ''Er'' was in reality the name of a clan that was originally equal in status to the ''Shelah'' clan, but was later subsumed by it.<ref name="J. A. Emerton, Judah And Tamar"/><ref>Cheyne and Black, ''[[Encyclopedia Biblica]]''</ref>


Professor Aaron Demsky argues that the genealogy of Shelah is an allegory of the history of Shelanite clans in [[Shephelah]] (i.e. Judean foothills). Remnants of the Er clan joined the Shelanites and founded the city of Lecah, which was the alternative name for [[Lachish]]. Later, the Laadah clan founded Mareshah, a town of secondary importance to Lachish. The families of Beth Asheba lived in a town of the same name and produced clothing for the priesthood and aristocracy, using [[byssus cloth]]. The Jokim clan founded Chozeba, which was synonymous with the Chezib near Mareshah. The Joash and Saraph clans lived with the [[Moabites]]. The last Shelanite clans to emerge consisted of the residents of Lahem or Lahmas. The last four clans worked for the king, who was most likely [[Hezekiah]].<ref name=":0" />
⚫
{{Adam to David}}


In 701 BC, [[Sennacherib]] destroyed important Shelanite cities. Survivors fled to Jerusalem and assimilated with the local populace after the [[Return to Zion|return of Babylonian exiles]]<ref name=":0" /> in c.a. 538 BC. <ref>Ezra 2:64–65</ref><ref>http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/jews.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624113208/http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/jews.htm|date=2018-06-24}} , the "population" section of this article estimates a pre-exilic population of 1.8 million in Israel and Judah combined. referenced on 6/26/2018.</ref> According to Demsky, the author of the Book of Chronicles considered the Shelanite clans to be inferior to other Judahite clans, based on their positioning in the biblical text. <ref name=":0" />
==Possible Qur'anic references==


Scholars have argued that the Tamar and Shelah narrative has a secondary role in either promoting the institution of [[levirate marriage]], or presenting an aetiological myth for its origin;<ref name="J. A. Emerton, Judah And Tamar" /> Shelah's role in the narrative would thus be as the example of a brother refusing to perform levirate marriage.<ref name="J. A. Emerton, Judah And Tamar" /> [[John Emerton]] regards the evidence for this as inconclusive, though [[classical rabbinical literature|classical rabbinical writers]] argued that this narrative concerns the origin of levirate marriage.<ref>''[[Genesis Rabbah]]'' 85:6</ref>
{{main|Saleh}}
The Qur'an refers to a prophet named ''[[Saleh]]'', who was sent to a society known as the ''[[Thamud]]'', who lived in homes cut into mountains. The Qur'an's description of ''Saleh'' is fairly limited, although he is stated to have been born 9 generations after [[Noah]]; according to the biblical [[Genealogy of Abraham]], [[Abraham]] was born about 10<ref>the [[masoretic text]] makes it 10 generations, the [[septuagint]] makes it 11</ref> generations after Noah, and therefore ''Shelah'' would have been born about 13 generations after Noah. The vague similarity in hypothetical time period, and the similarity of the names, has led to the opinion that the Qur'an's ''Saleh'' is the biblical ''Shelah''; the equation, however, is controversial, since there is almost nothing in common between the Qur'anic narrative of Saleh and the Biblical narrative of Shelah. Many scholars of Islam equate the Thamud with the [[Edomite]]s at [[Petra]], due to the mention of them living in rock-cut homes; the name of ''Saleh'' may derive from this origin - Petra's historic name was ''Se'lah'', meaning ''rock'' in Hebrew, others believe it comes from the Arabic Word "صالح" (Sali'h) meaning the good one.


=== Family Tree ===
{{Prophets in the Qur'an|no}}
⚫
{{Shelanite clan}}{{Adam to David}}


==Notes and citations==
==Notes and citations==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Torah people]]
[[Category:Book of Genesis people]]
[[Category:Tribe of Judah]]

[[ca:Xèlah]]
[[fa:شالح پسر یهودا]]
[[fr:Shelah (fils de Juda)]]
[[id:Selah]]
[[it:Sela]]
[[he:שלה]]
[[sh:Šelah]]
[[sv:Shela]]

Revision as of 04:59, 4 March 2024

For other uses, see Shelah (disambiguation).

According to the Bible, Shelah/Shela (Hebrew: שֵׁלָה, Modern: Shela, Tiberian: Šēlā, meaning "petition"[1]) was the youngest son of Judah, and was born at Chezib,[2] which can be identified with an unknown town in the vicinity of Mareshah. [3]

Biblical narrative

In the text[specify], God had killed Shelah's two older brothers, Er and Onan.[4] Judah was unwilling to allow Tamar, who had been successively Er's and Onan's wife,[5] to be married to Shelah.[6] Judah's concern was that Tamar might be cursed and Shelah might die if married to her. So Judah told her to wait until Shelah had grown up.[7] When Shelah came of age, Judah neglected to marry him to Tamar.[8] In the Book of Chronicles, Shelah is identified as the name of a clan, containing a subclan named Er.

According 1 Chronicles 4:21–23, the sons of Shelah were:

  1. Er, the father of Lecah
  2. Laadah, the father of Mareshah.
  3. The families of the house of the linen workers of the house of Ashbea
  4. Jokim, the men of Chozeba
  5. Joash
  6. Saraph
  7. Jashubi-Lehem

The descendants of the last 4 sons were potters who dwelt at Netaim and Gederah and worked for the king.

According to some biblical scholars, the description of Shelah is an eponymous aetiological myth concerning fluctuations in the constituency of the tribe of Judah, with Shelah representing the newest clan to become part of the tribe.[9][10] The Book of Chronicles' description of Er as a descendant of Shelah, suggests that Er was in reality the name of a clan that was originally equal in status to the Shelah clan, but was later subsumed by it.[9][11]

Professor Aaron Demsky argues that the genealogy of Shelah is an allegory of the history of Shelanite clans in Shephelah (i.e. Judean foothills). Remnants of the Er clan joined the Shelanites and founded the city of Lecah, which was the alternative name for Lachish. Later, the Laadah clan founded Mareshah, a town of secondary importance to Lachish. The families of Beth Asheba lived in a town of the same name and produced clothing for the priesthood and aristocracy, using byssus cloth. The Jokim clan founded Chozeba, which was synonymous with the Chezib near Mareshah. The Joash and Saraph clans lived with the Moabites. The last Shelanite clans to emerge consisted of the residents of Lahem or Lahmas. The last four clans worked for the king, who was most likely Hezekiah.[3]

In 701 BC, Sennacherib destroyed important Shelanite cities. Survivors fled to Jerusalem and assimilated with the local populace after the return of Babylonian exiles[3] in c.a. 538 BC. [12][13] According to Demsky, the author of the Book of Chronicles considered the Shelanite clans to be inferior to other Judahite clans, based on their positioning in the biblical text. [3]

Scholars have argued that the Tamar and Shelah narrative has a secondary role in either promoting the institution of levirate marriage, or presenting an aetiological myth for its origin;[9] Shelah's role in the narrative would thus be as the example of a brother refusing to perform levirate marriage.[9] John Emerton regards the evidence for this as inconclusive, though classical rabbinical writers argued that this narrative concerns the origin of levirate marriage.[14]

Family Tree

Shelah
(descendant)
Er		(descendant)
Laadah		(descendant)
Jokim		(descendant)
Joash		(descendant)
Saraph

Notes and citations

  1. ^ Matthew George Easton (1894). Illustrated Bible Dictionary, and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature. T. Nelson. p. 621.
  2. ^ Genesis 38:5
  3. ^ a b c d Demsky, Aaron (December 26, 2016). "Who Was "Shelah Son of Judah" and What Happened to Him?". TheTorah.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Genesis 38:7–10
  5. ^ Genesis 38:7–10
  6. ^ Genesis 38:11
  7. ^ Genesis 38:11
  8. ^ Genesis 38:14
  9. ^ a b c d J. A. Emerton, Judah And Tamar
  10. ^ Cheyne and Black, Encyclopedia Biblica
  11. ^ Cheyne and Black, Encyclopedia Biblica
  12. ^ Ezra 2:64–65
  13. ^ http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/jews.htm Archived 2018-06-24 at the Wayback Machine , the "population" section of this article estimates a pre-exilic population of 1.8 million in Israel and Judah combined. referenced on 6/26/2018.
  14. ^ Genesis Rabbah 85:6
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