Illustration created for this project.
Ahikam
A court official, son of Shaphan, who protected the prophet Jeremiah from death.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2
Archaeology — physical evidence · 2
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Origin & birthplace
Family & lineage
!["Gemaryahu [son of] Shaphan" bulla, City of David Area G ("House of the Bullae"), excavated by Yigal Shiloh 1982; publ. Y. Shiloh, "A Group of Hebrew Bullae from the City of David," Israel Exploration Journal 36 (1986): 16-38; names Ahikam's brother Gemariah (Jer. 36:10).](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/City_of_David%2C_Southern_Wall_Temple_Mount_Kidron_Valley_Ophel_and_Siloam.jpg/1280px-City_of_David%2C_Southern_Wall_Temple_Mount_Kidron_Valley_Ophel_and_Siloam.jpg)
Matson Collection — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
ArchaeologyA clay bulla reading "belonging to Gemaryahu son of Shaphan" was excavated in the City of David (Yigal Shiloh's Area G, the burnt "House of the Bullae," from the 586 BC destruction). It attests Ahikam's brother Gemariah (Jeremiah 36:10) and the historicity of the Shaphan scribal family to which Ahikam belonged.
"Gemaryahu [son of] Shaphan" bulla, City of David Area G ("House of the Bullae"), excavated by Yigal Shiloh 1982; publ. Y. Shiloh, "A Group of Hebrew Bullae from the City of David," Israel Exploration Journal 36 (1986): 16-38; names Ahikam's brother Gemariah (Jer. 36:10).
ArchaeologyA seal impression from Lachish reading "belonging to Gedalyahu who is over the house" is widely, though not unanimously, identified with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the Babylonian-appointed governor of Judah. If correct, it attests Ahikam's son and thus his family line.
Bulla "belonging to Gedalyahu who is over the house," Lachish (Tell ed-Duweir), Wellcome-Marston expedition (J.L. Starkey), 1935; publ. O. Tufnell, Lachish III: The Iron Age (Oxford Univ. Press, 1953); identification with Gedaliah son of Ahikam probable but debated.
Name & titles
Scholarly"Ahikam" (Hebrew Ahiqam) is a Hebrew name meaning "my (divine) brother has arisen" or "my brother has stood up," combining 'ah ("brother") with the verb qum ("to rise").
Hebrew onomastics: 'ah + qum.
Where in scripture
2 Kings2 ChroniclesJeremiah
2 Kings 22:122 Kings 22:142 Kings 25:222 Chronicles 34:20Jeremiah 26:24Jeremiah 39:14Jeremiah 40:5Jeremiah 40:6Jeremiah 40:7Jeremiah 40:9Jeremiah 40:11Jeremiah 40:14Jeremiah 40:16Jeremiah 41:1Jeremiah 41:2Jeremiah 41:6Jeremiah 41:10Jeremiah 41:16Jeremiah 41:18Jeremiah 43:6
Family
Places in their life
Photo: Godot13 — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)