A son of the patriarch Judah by Shua, brother of Er and Onan, and half-brother of Perez and Zerah. He was the father of Er, Laadah, Jokim, Joash, and Saraph.
About Shelah
Judah’s third son by Bathshua, a Canaanite woman. He was born at Kezib, a small town in Judah (Genesis 38:5; 1 Chronicles 2:3). Shelah founded the Shelanite family (Numbers 26:20). "Shelanite" should possibly be read instead of "Shilonite" in Nehemiah 11:5; 1 Chronicles 9:5.
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Judah, Bath-shua
- Siblings 2
- Er, Onan
- Half-siblings 2
- Perez, Zerah
- Children 5
- Er (1 Chronicles 4:21), Laadah, Jokim, Joash (1 Chronicles 4:22), Saraph
- Nieces & Nephews 7
- Hezron, Hamul, Zabdi, Ethan (1 Chronicles 2:6), Heman (1 Chronicles 2:6), Calcol (1 Chronicles 2:6), Dara
- Aunt
- Dinah
- Uncles 11
- Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Dan (Patriarch), Naphtali, Gad (Patriarch), Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin
- Cousins 52
- Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, Carmi, Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zerah, Shaul, Gershon, Kohath, Merari, Jochebed, Hushim (Genesis 46:23), Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, Shillem, Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arod, Areli, Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi (Genesis 46:17), Beriah, Serah, Tola, Puah, Jashub, Shimron, Sered, Elon (Genesis 46:14), Jahleel, Manasseh (Son of Joseph), Ephraim, Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, Ard, Ahiram, Jediael
Key References
Then she gave birth to another son and named him Shelah; it was at Chezib that she gave birth to him.
Judah recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again.
The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth-ashbea,
Jokim, the men of Cozeba, and Joash and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and Jashubi-lehem. (These names are from ancient records.)
All Scripture References (8)
Genesis (5)
Then she gave birth to another son and named him Shelah; it was at Chezib that she gave birth to him.
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.
she removed her widow’s garments, covered her face with a veil to disguise herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that although Shelah had grown up, she had not been given to him as a wife.
Judah recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again.
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
Numbers (1)
These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah.
1 Chronicles (2)
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanite. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death.
The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth-ashbea,