Meaning of the Name Shallum
The meaning of Shallum is not entirely certain. It is often connected with the roots shalem/shillem, leading to proposals such as "recompense" or "one repaid," while others relate it more broadly to the semantic field of wholeness and peace. A cautious presentation is therefore appropriate.
Origin
The name Shallum is of Hebrew origin.
Who is Shallum in the Bible?
The most prominent bearer of this name is Shallum, the king who ruled only briefly in the northern kingdom of Israel. He carried out a coup against Zechariah but was himself quickly overthrown by Menahem. Scripture also contains several other figures with the same name.
The story of Shallum in the Bible
Several people in the Bible bear the name Shallum, but the most prominent is the king who ruled the northern kingdom of Israel for a very short time. According to 2 Kings 15:10, Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against King Zechariah, struck him down before the people, and reigned in his place. The coup was also a turning point, for Zechariah's death brought the dynasty of Jehu to an end. Shallum's hold on power proved brief indeed: as 2 Kings 15:13 notes, he reigned in Samaria for only one month. Then Menahem son of Gadi came up from Tirzah and, as 2 Kings 15:14 relates, killed Shallum and took the throne. His story forms a striking link in the chain of coups that marked the final era of the kingdom of Israel; a throne seized by the sword changed hands by the sword. The same name also appears elsewhere in Scripture, in genealogies and among people serving in various roles, making Shallum one of the common names of the period.
Is Shallum mentioned in the Quran?
The name Shallum does not appear in the Quran; in the Old Testament, in 2 Kings, he is the king who held the throne of Israel for only one month.
Verses where Shallum appears
- 2 Kings 15:10 —
Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him before the people, and killed him, and reigned in his place.
- 2 Kings 15:13 —
Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned for a month in Samaria.
- 2 Kings 15:14 —
Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and killed him, and reigned in his place.