Shallum (high priest)


 * This article is about the high priest of Israel. For the regicide of the Kingdom of Israel, see Shallum.

Shallum ("Name means::retribution") (ca. 707/6–fl. 677/6–640 BC) was the twenty-fifth high priest of Israel. The Chronicler mentioned him in the genealogy of Phinehas, and Flavius Josephus and the Seder 'Olam Zuṭa both call him by that same name.

Career
Shallum probably became high priest when he was about thirty years old. His date of birth is an estimate based on the careers of his predecessors and the history of the reign of King Manasseh of Judah.

In 676 BC, Esarhaddon made the final deportation of the populations of the Kingdom of Israel. He also invaded the Kingdom of Judah and took Manasseh away as a hostage. He might also have killed Shallum's father and predecessor Hoshea at that time.

In 642 BC, Manasseh died, and his son Amon took the throne. Two years later, Amon was dead, the victim of a palace coup. The conspirators involved might have decided to kill Shallum, too, in order to avoid leaving witnesses, though the Bible says nothing concerning Shallum's career, or assumption of office, or death.