Seraiah

There were several of this name in the Old Testament. (2 Sam. 8. 17. 1 Chron. 4: 14. 35. Jer. l2: 21.) The name seems to be compound - of Sera, or Shera, to govern - - and Jah: hence, it means the Lord is my governor.

Serai´ah (warrior of Jehovah). There are several persons of this name in Scripture.

Seraiah, the scribe or secretary of David (2Sa 8:17).

Seraiah, the father of Ezra (Ezr 7:1).

Seraiah, the high priest at the time that Jerusalem was taken by the Chaldeans. He was sent prisoner to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, who put him to death (2Ki 25:18; 1Ch 6:14; Jer 52:24; Ezr 7:1).

Seraiah, son of Azriel, one of the persons charged with the apprehension of Jeremiah and Baruch (Jer 36:26).

Seraiah, son of Neriah, who held a high office in the court of King Zedekiah, the nature of which is somewhat uncertain. In the Authorized Version we have, ’This Seraiah was a quiet prince,’ which should be rendered, according to Gesenius, ’chief of the quarters’ for the king and his army, that is quartermaster-general. This Seraiah was sent by Zedekiah on an embassy to Babylon, probably to render his submission to that monarch, about seven years before the fall of Jerusalem. He was charged by Jeremiah to communicate to the Jews already in exile a book, in which the prophet had written out his prediction of all the evil that should come upon Babylon. It is not stated how Seraiah acquitted himself of his task; but that he accepted it at all, shows such respect for the prophet as may allow us to conclude that he would not neglect the duty which it imposed.

Seraiah, son of Tanhumeth, an accomplice of Ishmael in the conspiracy against Gedaliah (2Ki 25:23; Jer 40:8).

The name of six persons, alluded to in the following passages: 2Sa 8:17 ; 2Ki 25:18 ; Ezr 7:1 ; Jer 36:26 ; 40:8; 51:59. The last is termed "a quiet prince" or "chief chamberlain." He bore to the Jews in Babylon a message from the prophet Jeremiah.\par

Sera’iah.

1. The king’s scribe , or secretary, in the reign of David. 2Sa 8:17. (B.C. 1043).

2. The high priest, in the reign of Zedekiah. 2Ki 25:18; 1Ch 6:14; Jer 52:24. (B.C. 594).

3. The son of Tanhumeth, the Netophathite. 2Ki 25:23; Jer 40:8.

4. The son of Kenaz, and brother of Othniel. 1Ch 4:13-14.

5. Ancestor of Jehu, a Simeonite chieftain. 1Ch 4:35.

6. One of the children of the province, who returned with Zerubbabel. Ezr 2:2. (B.C. 536).

7. One of the ancestors of Ezra, the scribe. Ezr 7:1.

8. A priest, or priestly family, who signed the covenant with Nehemiah. Neh 10:2.

9. A priest, the son of Hilkiah. Neh 11:11.

10. The head of a priestly house, which went up from Babylon with Zerubbabel. Neh 12:12.

11. The son of Neriah, and brother of Baruch. Jer 51:59; Jer 51:61. He went with Zedekiah to Babylon, in the fourth year of his reign. (B.C. 594). Perhaps, he was an officer, who took charge of the royal caravan on its march, and fixed the places where it should halt.

1. 2Sa 8:17.

2. The high priest under king Zedekiah; taken by Nebuzaradan, captain of the Babylonian guard, and slain at Riblah (2Ki 25:18; 1Ch 6:14; Jer 52:24).

3. Son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite; came to the Babylonian viceroy Gedaliah to Mizpah, who promised security to the Jews who should dwell in the land, serving the king of Babylon (2Ki 25:23; Jer 40:8).

4. 1Ch 4:13-14.

5. 1Ch 4:35.

6. Ezr 2:2; Neh 7:7 Azariah.

7. Ezr 7:1.

8. Neh 10:2.

9. Neh 11:11.

10. Neh 12:1; Neh 12:12.

11. Neriah’s son, Baruch’s brother (Jer 51:59; Jer 51:61). Went with Zedekiah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Jeremiah gave a special copy of the prophecy to Seraiah where with to console the Jews in their Babylonian exile. Though Seraiah was to cast it into the Euphrates, a symbol of Babylon’s fate, he retained the substance in memory, to communicate orally to his countrymen. Calvin translated "when he went in behalf of Zedekiah," being sent to appease Nebuchadnezzar’s anger at his revolt. "This Seraiah was a quiet prince," menuchah, from nuwach "to be quiet" (compare 1Ch 22:9, "a man of rest"). Seraiah was not one of the courtiers hostile to God’s prophets, but quiet and docile, ready to execute Jeremiah’s commission, notwithstanding the risk. Glassius translated "prince of Menuchah" (on the borders of Judah and Dan, called also Menahath), margin 1Ch 2:52. Maurer translated "commander of the royal caravan," on whom it devolved to appoint the resting places for the night.

[Serai’ah]

1. David’s scribe or secretary. 2Sa 8:17. See SHAVSHA.

2. Son of Azariah, and high priest in the reign of Zedekiah. When Jerusalem was taken by Nebuchadnezzar he was carried to Riblah, and there put to death. 2Ki 25:18; 1Ch 6:14; Jer 52:24.

3. Son of Tanhumeth: a captain in the time of Gedaliah. 2Ki 25:23; Jer 40:8.

4. Son of Kenaz and brother of Othniel. 1Ch 4:13-14.

5. Son of Asiel, of the tribe of Simeon. 1Ch 4:35.

6. A chief man who returned from exile. Ezr 2:2. Supposed, as in the margin, to be called AZARIAH in Neh 7:7.

7. Father of Ezra the scribe. Ezr 7:1.

8. Priest who sealed the covenant. Neh 10:2.

9. Son of Hilkiah: ’ruler of the house of God.’ Neh 11:11.

10. Priest who returned from exile. Neh 12:1; Neh 12:12.

11. Son of Azriel: he was ordered by Jehoiakim to seize Baruch and Jeremiah. Jer 36:26.

12. Son of Neriah: to him was committed by Jeremiah a roll ’written against Babylon,’ to be read at Babylon, and then with a stone tied to it, he was to cast it into the Euphrates; and to declare, "Thus shall Babylon sink." Jer 51:59-64. In verse 59, instead of ’a quiet prince,’ it is better translated ’chief chamberlain,’ as in the margin.

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By: Emil G. Hirsch, Schulim Ochser

1. A scribe, and one of the officials under David (II Sam. viii. 17; comp. xx. 25, where he appears under the name Sheva). In I Kings iv. 3 his sons, Elihoreph and Ahiah, occupy the position of their father (here called Shisha), this implying that Seraiah had died before Solomon’s accession. In I Chron. xviii. 16 he is called Shavsha. A comparison of these four forms justifies the conclusion that his real family name was Shavsha or Shisha (comp. Klostermann, "Die Bücher Samuelis und der Könige," in "Kurzgefasster Kommentar zu den Heiligen Schriften"; Thenius, "Die Bücher Samuelis," in "Kurzgefasstes Exegetisches Handbuch").

2. Chief priest during the reign of Zedekiah, mentioned with Zephaniah, the second priest; both were executed, with others of rank, by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah (II Kings xxv. 18, 21; Jer. lii. 24-27). Seraiah was the son of Azariah (I Chron. vi. 14), and the father of Ezra the Scribe (Ezra vii. 1).

3. The son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and one of the heroic band that saved themselves from the fury of Nebuchadnezzar when he stormed Jerusalem. They repaired to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, but killed him on account of his allegiance to the Chaldeans (II Kings xxv. 25). In the parallel passage, Jer. xl. 8, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite are mentioned in addition to Seraiah.

4. Son of Kenaz, and younger brother of Othniel, and father of Joab, the chief of Ge-harashim (I Chron. iv. 13, 14, R. V.).

5. Grandfather of Jehu, of the tribe of Simeon (I Chron. iv. 35).

6. Priest, third in the list of those who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel (Ezra ii. 2; Neh. vii. 7 [here called Azariah], xii. 1), and third also in the record of those who sealed the covenant binding all Jews not to take foreign wives (Neh. x. 2). As the son of Hilkiah, and consequently a direct descendant of the priestly family, he became governor of the Temple when it was rebuilt (Neh. xi. 11). He is mentioned (under the name Azariah) also in I Chron. ix. 11.

7. Son of Azriel, one of those whom Jehoiakim commanded to imprison Jeremiah and Baruch, the son of Neriah (Jer. xxxvi. 26).

8. The son of Neriah, who went into banishment with Zedekiah. He bore the name also of Sar Menuḥah (= "prince of repose"; comp. the commentaries of Dillmann and Nowack, ad loc.). The Targum renders "Sar Menuḥah" by "Rab Taḳrubta" (= "prince of battle"), and the Septuagint by ἄρχων δρωνό (= "prince of gifts" [reading "Minḥah" for "Menuḥah"]). At the request of Jeremiah he carried with him in his exile the passages containing the prophet’s warning of the fall of Babylon, written in a book which he was bidden to bind to a stone and cast into the Euphrates, to symbolize the fall of Babylon (Jer. li. 59-64).

SERAIAH.—1. (2Sa 8:17) See Shavsha. 2. High priest in the reign of Zedekiah. He was put to death, with other distinguished captives, by order of Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, 2Ki 25:18; 2Ki 25:21, Jer 52:24; Jer 52:27. He is mentioned in the list of high priests, 1Ch 6:14. Ezra claimed descent from him, Ezr 7:1 (1Es 8:1 Azarias, 2Es 1:1 Samaraias). His name occurs also in 1Es 5:6 Saraias. 3. One of ‘the captains of the forces’ who joined Gedaliah at Mizpah (2Ki 25:23, Jer 40:8). 4. Second son of Kenaz father of Joab, and brother of Othniel (1Ch 4:13-14) 5. Grandfather of Jehu, a prince of Simeon (1Ch 4:35) 6. One of the twelve leaders who returned with Zerub babel, Ezr 2:2 = Neh 7:7 Azariah, l Est 5:8 Zaraias 7. A priestly clan (Neh 10:2; Neh 11:11; Neh 12:2; Neh 12:12, 1Es 5:8 = 1Ch 9:11 Azariah). 8. One of those sent to apprehend Jeremiah and Baruch (Jer 36:26). 9. Son of Neriah and brother of Baruch (Jer 51:59-64). He held the office of sar menûchâh (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘a quiet prince,’ mg. ‘or prince of Menucha or chief chamberlain’; RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘chief chamberlain,’ mg. ‘or quartermaster’).

sḗ-rā´ya, sḗ-rı̄´a (שׂריהוּ, s^erāyāhū, “Yah hath prevailed”; Septuagint Σαραίας, Saraı́as, or Σαραία, Saraı́a):

(1) Secretary of David (2Sa 8:17); in 2Sa 20:25 he is called Sheva; in 1Ki 4:3 the name appears as Shisha. This last or Shasha would be restored elsewhere by some critics; others prefer the form Shavsha, which is found in 1Ch 18:16.

(2) A high priest in the reign of Zedekiah; executed with other prominent captives at Riblah by order of Nebuchadnezzar (2Ki 25:18, 2Ki 25:21; Jer 52:24, Jer 52:27). Mentioned in the list of high priests (1Ch 6:14). Ezra claims descent from him (Ezr 7:1 (3)). See AZARAIAS; SARAIAS.

(3) The son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and one of the heroic band of men who saved themselves from the fury of Nebuchadnezzar when he stormed Jerusalem. They repaired to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, but killed him on account of his allegiance to the Chaldeans (2Ki 25:23, 2Ki 25:25).

(4) Son of Kenaz, and younger brother of Othniel, and father of Joab, the chief of Ge-harashim (1Ch 4:13, 1Ch 4:14).

(5) Grandfather of Jehu, of the tribe of Simeon (1Ch 4:35).

(6) A priest, the third in the list of those who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel (Ezr 2:2; Neh 7:7, here called Azariah; 12:1), and third also (if the same person is meant) in the record of those who sealed the covenant binding all Jews not to take foreign wives (Neh 10:2). As the son of Hilkiah, and consequently a direct descendant of the priestly family, he became governor of the temple when it was rebuilt (Neh 11:11). He is mentioned (under the name Azariah) also in 1Ch 9:11. Neh 12:2 adds that “in the days of Joiakim” the head of Seraiah’s house was Meraiah.

(7) Son of Azriel, one of those whom Jehoiakim commanded to imprison Jeremiah and Baruch, the son of Neriah (Jer 36:26).

(8) The son of Neriah, who went into exile with Zedekiah. He was also called Sar M^enūḥāh (“prince of repose”). The Targum renders Sar M^enūḥāh by Rabh Tı̄ḳrabhtā’, “prince of battle, and Septuagint by ἄρχων δώρων, árchōn dṓrōn, “prince of gifts,” reading Minḥah for M^enūḥāh. At the request of Jeremiah he carried with him in his exile the passages containing the prophet’s warning of the fall of Babylon, written in a book which he was bidden to bind to a stone and cast into the Euphrates, to symbolize the fall of Babylon (Jer 51:59-64).