Sheal
שְׁאָל/SHEE-al/
“Asking”
Summary
A descendant of Bani who was required to divorce his foreign wife during Ezra's reforms after the Babylonian exile.
☩Identity
Sheal was one of the 'sons' (descendants) of Bani who had married a foreign woman after the return from Babylonian captivity. When Ezra led the religious reformation requiring separation from pagan wives to preserve Israel's covenant identity, Sheal was among those who complied around 457 BC. His name, meaning 'asking,' appears only in this single genealogical reference.
Key verses:Ezra 10:29
Related Verses1 mention
Ezra· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Sheal," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Sheal," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).