Shemaiah was a prophet who warned Rehoboam not to wage civil war against the northern tribes after the kingdom divided.
Biography
When Rehoboam assembled Judah and Benjamin to restore his rule over Israel by force, the word of God came to Shemaiah, called the man of God. He commanded them not to fight their Israelite brothers because the division had occurred under God's providence, and they obeyed. Later, when Shishak invaded Judah, Shemaiah confronted Rehoboam and the leaders over their unfaithfulness; their humbling led to mitigated judgment. Chronicles also credits Shemaiah with records concerning Rehoboam's reign.
Biblical Significance
Shemaiah's ministry interprets both the divided kingdom and Shishak's invasion theologically, calling Judah away from civil war and toward humility before God.