Nehelamite
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Nehelamite in the Bible?
Shemaiah, identified by the epithet Nehelamite, was a prophet residing in the Babylonian exile who opposed the messages of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, advocating for the immediate return of the exiles based on visions that were later deemed false by the primary biblical historians.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the Nehelamite designation clarifies the intense theological and political divisions within the exiled community, revealing how competing prophetic voices interpreted divine will regarding the duration of the Babylonian Captivity and the future of Jerusalem.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.