Dictionaries :: Shinab

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Shinab:

cooling, the king of Adamah, in the valley of Siddim, who with his confederates was conquered by Chedorlaomer (Gen 14:2).

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Shinab:

father of changing

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Shinab:

shi'-nab shin'abh; Samaritan: shin'ar; Sennaar): King of ADMAH (which see). He is mentioned with Shemeber, king of Zeboiim; he was attacked by Chedorlaomer and his allies (Ge 14:2). The reading is very uncertain. If the incident narrated is founded on fact, Shinab may be identical with Sanibu, an Ammonite king in the time of Tiglath-pileser III (so French Delitzsch, Wo lag das Paradies? 294); or the name may be equated by the Assyrian Sin-sar-ucur (compare "Shenazzar"), and Shem-eber with the Assyrian Sumu-abi (Sayce, The Expository Times, VIII, 463). Jewish exegesis gives a sinister explanation of all four names (Ge 14:2). The Midrash (Ber. Rab. 42) explains Shinab as sho'-ebh mammon, "one who draws money (wherever he can)." It is of interest to note that the names fall into two alliterative pairs and that each king's name contains exactly as many letters as that of his city. On the whole, however, the list leaves an impression of artificiality; as the names are not repeated in Ge 14:8, it is highly probable that they are later additions to the text.

Written by Horace J. Wolf

Nave's Topical Bible

Shinab: King of Admah

Gen 14:2

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Shinab:

(splendor of the father, i.e. God) the king of Admah in the time of Abraham (Genesis 14:2). (B.C. 1912)