seraiah Summary and Overview

soldier of Jehovah. (1.) The father of Joab (1 Chr. 4:13, 14). (2.) The grandfather of Jehu (1 Chr. 4:35). (3.) One of David's scribes or secretaries (2 Sam. 8:17). (4.) A Netophathite (Jer. 40:8), a chief priest of the time of Zedekiah. He was carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon, and there put to death (2 Kings 25:18, 23). (5.) Ezra 2:2. (6.) Father of Ezra the scribe (7:1). (7.) A ruler of the temple (Neh. 11:11). (8.) A priest of the days of Jehoiakim (Neh. 12:1, 12). (9.) The son of Neriah. When Zedekiah made a journey to Babylon to do homage to Nebuchadnezzar, Seraiah had charge of the royal gifts to be presented on that occasion. Jeremiah took advantage of the occasion, and sent with Seraiah a word of cheer to the exiles in Babylon, and an announcement of the doom in store for that guilty city. The roll containing this message (Jer. 50:1-8) Seraiah was to read to the exiles, and then, after fixing a stone to it, was to throw it into the Euphrates, uttering, as it sank, the prayer recorded in Jer. 51:59-64. Babylon was at this time in the height of its glory, the greatest and most powerful monarchy in the world. Scarcely seventy years elapsed when the words of the prophet were all fulfilled. Jer. 51:59 is rendered in the Revised Version, "Now Seraiah was chief chamberlain," instead of "was a quiet prince," as in the Authorized Version.

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. #Ne 10:2| 9. A priest, the son of Hilkiah. #Ne 11:11| 10. The head of a priestly house which went up from Babylon with Zerubbabel. #Ne 12:12| 11. The son of Neriah and brother of Baruch. #Jer 51:59,61| 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.

SERAI'AH (warrior of Jehovah). 1. David's scribe, 2 Sam 8:17; called Sheva in 2 Sam 20:25, Shisha in 1 Kgs 4:3, and Shavsha in 1 Chr 18:16. 2. The high priest in the reign of Zedekiah, taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and killed at Riblah. 2 Kgs 25:18-21; 1 Chr 6:14; Jer 52:24-27. 3. A Netophathite who submitted to Gedaliah. 2 Kgs 25:23; Jer 40:8. 4. A Judite. 1 Chr 4:13-14. 5. A Simeonite. 1 Chr 4:35. 6. A priest who came back with Zerubbabel, Ezr 2:2; Neh 10:2; Neh 12:1, Josh 12:12; called Azariah in Neh 7:7. 7. One of the ancestors of Ezra, Ezr 7:1; Neh 11:11; called Azariah in 1 Chr 9:11. 8. An officer whom Jehoiakim commanded to take Baruch and Jeremiah. Jer 36:26. 9. The brother of Baruch, who was a member of the court and held, during the journey of Zerubbabel to Babylon, the position of leader of the caravan, for so the words "quiet prince" should read, Jer 51:59, Josh 15:61.

1. 2 Samuel 8:17. 2. The high priest under king Zedekiah; taken by Nebuzaradan, captain of the Babylonian guard, and slain at Riblah (2 Kings 25:18; 1 Chronicles 6:14; Jeremiah 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 (2 Kings 25:23; Jeremiah 40:8). 4. 1 Chronicles 4:13-14. 5. 1 Chronicles 4:35. 6. Ezra 2:2; Nehemiah 7:7 Azariah. 7. Ezra 7:1. 8. Nehemiah 10:2. 9. Nehemiah 11:11. 10. Nehemiah 12:1; Nehemiah 12:12. 11. Neriah's son, Baruch's brother (Jeremiah 51:59; Jeremiah 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 1 Chronicles 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 1 Chronicles 2:52. Maurer translated "commander of the royal caravan," on whom it devolved to appoint the resting places for the night.