SERAIAH

The name of six persons, alluded to in the following passages: 2Sa 8:17; 2Ki 25:18; Ezr 7:1; Jer 36:26; 40:8; 51:59. The last is termed "a quiet prince" or "chief chamberlain." He bore to the Jews in Babylon a message from the prophet Jeremiah.

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Seraiah. Seraiah
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.

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Seraiah. prince of the Lord

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SERAIAH. 1. Also called SHEVA, SHISHA, and SHAVSHA
* David' s scribe 2Sa 8:17; 20:25; 1Ki 4:3; 1Ch 18:16

2. Chief priest at the time of collapse of Jerusalem 2Ki 25:18
* Father of Ezra Ezr 7:1
* Killed by Nebuchadnezzar 2Ki 25:18-21; Jer 52:24-27

3. An Israelite captain who surrendered to Gedaliah 2Ki 25:23; Jer 40:8 4. Son of Kenaz 1Ch 4:13,14 5. A Simeonite 1Ch 4:35 6. A priest who returned from the Babylonian captivity Ezr 2:2; Ne 12:1,12
* Called AZARIAH Ne 7:7

7. One who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah Ne 10:2
* Possibly identical with number six, see above

8. A ruler of the temple after the captivity Ne 11:11 9. Son of Azriel
* Commanded by King Jehoiakim to seize the prophet Jeremiah Jer 36:26

→ 10. A servant of Zedekiah Jer 51:59,61