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Shallum

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

King of Israel who reigned one month before being assassinated by Menahem

Detailed Definition
Shallum killed Zechariah to seize the throne but was quickly overthrown, fulfilling Hosea’s prophecy of dynastic instability (2 Kings 15:10–15). In poetry, Shallum represents the futility of brief usurpations, the chaos of power vacuums, and how divine judgment operates through human ambition.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Nehemiah 3:12, Shallum’s daughters help rebuild Jerusalem’s wall—a detail inspiring poetry about inclusive labor; 19th-century verse honors Shallum as leader who involved his household; Contemporary poems celebrate Shallum’s daughters as early examples of women in public work; In poems about reconstruction, Shallum’s section becomes emblem of shared effort; Some liturgical works include Shallum in lists of faithful builders; Educational poems cite Shallum to teach about community participation.
Additional Notes
Shallum appears as a keeper of the temple wardrobe (2 Kings 22) and a conspirator who assassinated King Zechariah (2 Kings 15); context determines meaning—either a faithful servant or a usurper; poets must clarify usage, but both roles offer material on loyalty, violence, or institutional roles.
Also Known As
Shallum keeper of the temple wardrobe Shallum husband of Huldah Jehoahaz
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