Who is shem

It recalls more probably some ethnic deity that had become the "heros eponymus" of his worshipers. As it now occurs, the name has no theophorous character; but it has been suggested that "Shem" must be considered a corruption or abbreviation of a name similar to Shemu'el see Samuel , the element "Shem" meaning "son" in the combination.

This suggestion—though none of the critics seems to have noticed it—receives a strong degree of probability from the blessing spoken over Shem ib. There is no doubt that the pointing of the text is incorrect.

From the oracle the name is readily reconstructed as "Shemaiah" or "Shemu'el," the "Elohe Shem" in the text indicating the latter possibility. These oracles are always the primary elements from which the legend in which they are found embedded is a development.

That Japheth also originally had a theophorous form is indicated in the oracle spoken concerning him Gen. It is plain that Canaan should not appear in this group. Ham is the brother of Shem; and it was he who committed the unseemly deed. The substitution of Canaan for Ham is secondary. The curse upon him Canaan displays the temper of the centuries when Yhwh and Baal were struggling for the ascendency see Elijah.

As Shem represents Yhwh , he is proclaimed the master, while Canaan is doomed to servitude. As Israel is the people of Yhwh , Shem yahu , i.

In substance this is also the explanation of those scholars who reject the suggestion that "Shem" is a name like "Shemu'el. According to Budde, Japheth—which name means "beauty"—represents the Phenicians, while Canaan, signifying "lowness," "vulgarity," represents the aboriginal population of Palestine. Thus this triad would result: lordship Shem , beauty Japheth , and meanness Canaan. In the table given in Gen. This catalogue, however, is geographical and not ethnic. In this list of Shem's descendants ib.

In the last-mentioned passage the tendency to connect Shem and Eber is patent. The truth is, we do not know the answer. But an examination of the scriptures is fascinating, because it seems to indicate that these men may have been one and the same. For example, here is the case for their oneness:. The inheritance given to Shem included the land of Salem. Melchizedek appears in scripture as the king of Salem, who reigns over this area. Shem, according to later revelation, reigned in righteousness and the priesthood came through him.

Shem was the great high priest of his day. Abraham honored the high priest Melchizedek by seeking a blessing at his hands and paying him tithes. Jewish tradition identifies Shem as Melchizedek. President Joseph F. Times and Seasons vol. On the other hand, there is a case for their being two distinct personalities. If it does turn out that Shem and Melchizedek are the same person, this scripture should prove no stumbling block, because it could be interpreted to mean that priesthood authority commenced with Adam and came through the fathers, even till Noah, and then to Shem.

November What were Japheth, Shem, and Ham like prior to and during the Flood? We decided to make Japheth the son who excelled in farming. He is adventurous and looks forward to the future. His wife, Rayneh, is artistic and makes crafts. She is intelligent, logical, and also enjoys studying. Noah was obviously gifted in construction, so we decided that this trait should be passed on to his youngest son. Ham enjoys building things with wood and metal, and he is the most ambitious of the sons.

His wife, Kezia, is also a hard worker, and she is more interested than the other women in dressing up and looking her best.

The Ark was not only home to representatives of all land-dwelling, air-breathing animal kinds. It was also home to Shem, who would become the great x7 grandfather of Abraham, through whom the whole world would be blessed in his descendant, Jesus Christ. What kinds of technology did people have thousands of years ago?

You might be shocked to find out!