Bible Dictionary
Shimshai
Shimshai was a state secretary who joined Rehum in writing to Artaxerxes against the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s temple. The king’s order halted the work for a time.
Definition
Shimshai was a state secretary associated with Rehum the chancellor. He participated in opposition to the rebuilding of the temple after the exile by writing to Artaxerxes. His name appears to be related to the sun or to brightness, though its precise explanation is uncertain.
Biblical Usage
Shimshai is named in the Aramaic correspondence opposing the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple. The royal order resulting from that correspondence halted the work for a time.
Historical Background
He served within the Persian administrative setting after the captivity. The name appears in differing forms in the Greek versions, and its etymology has not been generally settled.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The shining one, or sunny, the secretary of Rehum the chancellor, who took part in opposing the rebuilding of the temple after the Captivity (Ezra 4:8, 9, 17-23).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>shim'-shi, shim'-sha-i (shimshay; Codex Vaticanus Samasa, Samae, Sameais Samesa; Codex Alexandrinus Samsai; Lucian, Samaias, throughout; in 1 Esdras 2:17 he is called "Semellius," the Revised Version (British and American) "Samellius"; a number of explanations of this name have been offered, but no one has been generally favored. One conjecture traces it to an Old Iranian caritative sh-sh-m-y conformed to shamash; another prefers the Old Bactrian simezhi = simaezhi; compare BDB, under the word The name looks as though it were derived from shemesh, "the sun"): A state secretary who, with REHUM (which see) and others, wrote to Artaxerxes to persuade him to prohibit the rebuilding of the temple (Ezr 4:8,9,17,23).</p><p>Horace J. Wolf</p>