Ahikam
Protector of the prophet Jeremiah
Ahikam, son of the scribe Shaphan, was an influential official at the court in Judah toward the end of the kingdom. When the book of the law was rediscovered in the temple during King Josiah's reign, Ahikam was among those the king sent to the prophetess Huldah to seek the Lord's guidance. His most decisive action came when the prophet Jeremiah was threatened with death after his speech in the temple – Ahikam intervened and prevented Jeremiah from being killed. This act testifies to both personal courage and a deep respect for the prophetic word. Ahikam belonged to a family that played a key role in Judah's final decade: his son Gedaliah, after Jerusalem fell, was appointed by Nebuchadnezzar as governor over those remaining in the land, confirming the family's lasting influence.
Familia
Hechos clave
The Book of the Law rediscovered in the temple
During the restoration of the temple in King Josiah's reign, the high priest Hilkiah found the Book of the Law. Shaphan, Ahikam's father and the king's scribe, brought the book to the king and read it to him. This discovery triggered a profound religious reformation in Judah.
3In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the house of the LORD with these orders:
וַיְהִ֗י בִּשְׁמֹנֶ֤ה עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ שָׁלַ֣ח הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ אֶת־שָׁפָ֨ן בֶּן־אֲצַלְיָ֤הוּ בֶן־מְשֻׁלָּם֙ הַסֹּפֵ֔ר בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃
8Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD." Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
וַ֠יֹּאמֶר חִלְקִיָּ֜הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֤ן הַגָּדוֹל֙ עַל־שָׁפָ֣ן הַסֹּפֵ֔ר סֵ֧פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֛ה מָצָ֖אתִי בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֨ן חִלְקִיָּ֧ה אֶת־הַסֵּ֛פֶר אֶל־שָׁפָ֖ן וַיִּקְרָאֵֽהוּ׃
9Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: "Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and handed it over to the workmen appointed to oversee the house of the LORD."
וַיָּבֹ֞א שָׁפָ֤ן הַסֹּפֵר֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיָּ֥שֶׁב אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ דָּבָ֑ר וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִתִּ֤יכוּ עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶת־הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ הַנִּמְצָ֣א בַבַּ֔יִת וַֽיִּתְּנֻ֗הוּ עַל־יַד֙ עֹשֵׂ֣י הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה הַמֻּפְקָדִ֖ים בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
10Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it aloud before the king.
וַיַּגֵּ֞ד שָׁפָ֤ן הַסֹּפֵר֙ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֔ר סֵ֚פֶר נָ֣תַן לִ֔י חִלְקִיָּ֖ה הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וַיִּקְרָאֵ֥הוּ שָׁפָ֖ן לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
11When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.
וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י סֵ֣פֶר הַתּוֹרָ֑ה וַיִּקְרַ֖ע אֶת־בְּגָדָֽיו׃
12He gave this command to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant:
וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת־חִלְקִיָּ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֡ן וְאֶת־אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁ֠פָן וְאֶת־עַכְבּ֨וֹר בֶּן־מִיכָיָ֜ה וְאֵ֣ת ׀ שָׁפָ֣ן הַסֹּפֵ֗ר וְאֵ֛ת עֲשָׂיָ֥ה עֶֽבֶד־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵאמֹֽר׃
The Delegation to the Prophetess Huldah
King Josiah sent a delegation that included Ahikam to consult the prophetess Huldah after the Book of the Law was found. Huldah's prophecy confirmed that God's judgment would fall on Judah, but that Josiah himself would be spared because of his humility.
12He gave this command to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant:
וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת־חִלְקִיָּ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֡ן וְאֶת־אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁ֠פָן וְאֶת־עַכְבּ֨וֹר בֶּן־מִיכָיָ֜ה וְאֵ֣ת ׀ שָׁפָ֣ן הַסֹּפֵ֗ר וְאֵ֛ת עֲשָׂיָ֥ה עֶֽבֶד־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵאמֹֽר׃
13"Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah about the words of this book that has been found. Great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us, because our fathers did not obey the words of this book by doing all that is written concerning us."
לְכוּ֩ דִרְשׁ֨וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֜ה בַּעֲדִ֣י וּבְעַד־הָעָ֗ם וּבְעַד֙ כָּל־יְהוּדָ֔ה עַל־דִּבְרֵ֛י הַסֵּ֥פֶר הַנִּמְצָ֖א הַזֶּ֑ה כִּֽי־גְדוֹלָ֞ה חֲמַ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁר־הִיא֙ נִצְּתָ֣ה בָ֔נוּ עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־שָׁמְע֜וּ אֲבֹתֵ֗ינוּ עַל־דִּבְרֵי֙ הַסֵּ֣פֶר הַזֶּ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת כְּכָל־הַכָּת֥וּב עָלֵֽינוּ׃
14So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District, and they spoke with her.
וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ חִלְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַ֠כֹּהֵן וַאֲחִיקָ֨ם וְעַכְבּ֜וֹר וְשָׁפָ֣ן וַעֲשָׂיָ֗ה אֶל־חֻלְדָּ֨ה הַנְּבִיאָ֜ה אֵ֣שֶׁת ׀ שַׁלֻּ֣ם בֶּן־תִּקְוָ֗ה בֶּן־חַרְחַס֙ שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַבְּגָדִ֔ים וְהִ֛יא יֹשֶׁ֥בֶת בִּירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בַּמִּשְׁנֶ֑ה וַֽיְדַבְּר֖וּ אֵלֶֽיהָ׃
20He gave this command to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant:
וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת־חִלְקִיָּ֡הוּ וְאֶת־אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁ֠פָן וְאֶת־עַבְדּ֨וֹן בֶּן־מִיכָ֜ה וְאֵ֣ת ׀ שָׁפָ֣ן הַסּוֹפֵ֗ר וְאֵ֛ת עֲשָׂיָ֥ה עֶֽבֶד־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵאמֹֽר׃
21"Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who remain in Israel and Judah concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that has been poured out on us, because our fathers did not keep the word of the LORD by doing everything written in this book.
לְכוּ֩ דִרְשׁ֨וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֜ה בַּעֲדִ֗י וּבְעַד֙ הַנִּשְׁאָר֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל וּבִֽיהוּדָ֔ה עַל־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַסֵּ֖פֶר אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִמְצָ֑א כִּֽי־גְדוֹלָ֤ה חֲמַת־יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִתְּכָ֣ה בָ֔נוּ עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־שָׁמְר֤וּ אֲבוֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ אֶת־דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֕וֹת כְּכָל־הַכָּת֖וּב עַל־הַסֵּ֥פֶר הַזֶּֽה׃ פ
22So Hilkiah and those the king had sent went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District, and they spoke with her about this.
וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ חִלְקִיָּ֜הוּ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֶל־חֻלְדָּ֨ה הַנְּבִיאָ֜ה אֵ֣שֶׁת ׀ שַׁלֻּ֣ם בֶּן־*תוקהת **תָּקְהַ֗ת בֶּן־חַסְרָה֙ שׁוֹמֵ֣ר הַבְּגָדִ֔ים וְהִ֛יא יוֹשֶׁ֥בֶת בִּירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בַּמִּשְׁנֶ֑ה וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ אֵלֶ֖יהָ כָּזֹֽאת׃ ס
Protection of Jeremiah After the Temple Sermon
After Jeremiah delivered his prophetic sermon in the temple and proclaimed Jerusalem's coming destruction, he was accused and threatened with death by priests, prophets, and the people. Ahikam used his influence to protect Jeremiah and prevented him from being handed over to the mob.
10When the officials of Judah heard of these things, they came up from the king's palace to the house of the LORD and took their seats at the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD's house.
וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֣וּ ׀ שָׂרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה אֵ֚ת הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיַּעֲל֥וּ מִבֵּית־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַיֵּֽשְׁב֛וּ בְּפֶ֥תַח שַֽׁעַר־יְהוָ֖ה הֶחָדָֽשׁ׃ ס
11Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, "This man deserves a sentence of death, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears."
וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים וְהַנְּבִאִים֙ אֶל־הַשָּׂרִ֔ים וְאֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר מִשְׁפַּט־מָ֙וֶת֙ לָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֤י נִבָּא֙ אֶל־הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם בְּאָזְנֵיכֶֽם׃
12Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city everything you have heard.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־כָּל־הַשָּׂרִ֔ים וְאֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר יְהוָ֣ה שְׁלָחַ֗נִי לְהִנָּבֵ֞א אֶל־הַבַּ֤יִת הַזֶּה֙ וְאֶל־הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר שְׁמַעְתֶּֽם׃
16Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, "This man does not deserve a sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God."
וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ הַשָּׂרִים֙ וְכָל־הָעָ֔ם אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְאֶל־הַנְּבִיאִ֑ים אֵין־לָאִ֤ישׁ הַזֶּה֙ מִשְׁפַּט־מָ֔וֶת כִּ֗י בְּשֵׁ֛ם יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלֵֽינוּ׃
24But Ahikam son of Shaphan gave Jeremiah his support, so that he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
אַ֗ךְ יַ֚ד אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁפָ֔ן הָיְתָ֖ה אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ לְבִלְתִּ֛י תֵּת־אֹת֥וֹ בְיַד־הָעָ֖ם לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃ פ
Gedaliah Appointed as Governor
After the fall of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, as governor over those remaining in Judah. This appointment testifies to the prominent position of Ahikam's family and their political alignment with Jeremiah's message.
22Over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left behind, he appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan.
וְהָעָ֗ם הַנִּשְׁאָר֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ יְהוּדָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִשְׁאִ֔יר נְבֽוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֖ר מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֑ל וַיַּפְקֵ֣ד עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־אֲחִיקָ֥ם בֶּן־שָׁפָֽן׃ פ
23When all the army commanders and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah, they came to him at Mizpah: Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite, together with their men.
וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ֩ כָל־שָׂרֵ֨י הַחֲיָלִ֜ים הֵ֣מָּה וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים כִּֽי־הִפְקִ֤יד מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶל֙ אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֔הוּ וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ הַמִּצְפָּ֑ה וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֡ה וְיוֹחָנָ֣ן בֶּן־קָ֠רֵחַ וּשְׂרָיָ֨ה בֶן־תַּנְחֻ֜מֶת הַנְּטֹפָתִ֗י וְיַֽאֲזַנְיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־הַמַּ֣עֲכָתִ֔י הֵ֖מָּה וְאַנְשֵׁיהֶֽם׃
24Gedaliah gave them and their men his oath: "Do not be afraid of the Chaldean officials. Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you."
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע לָהֶ֤ם גְּדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ וּלְאַנְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם אַל־תִּֽירְא֖וּ מֵעַבְדֵ֣י הַכַּשְׂדִּ֑ים שְׁב֣וּ בָאָ֗רֶץ וְעִבְד֛וּ אֶת־מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶ֖ל וְיִטַ֥ב לָכֶֽם׃ ס
14and they had Jeremiah brought from the courtyard of the guard and handed him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to take him home. So he lived among the people.
וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ֩ וַיִּקְח֨וּ אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֜הוּ מֵחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֗ה וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙ אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁפָ֔ן לְהוֹצִאֵ֖הוּ אֶל־הַבָּ֑יִת וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּת֥וֹךְ הָעָֽם׃ ס
5If you choose to remain, then go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and live with him among the people; or go anywhere else you please." Then the captain of the guard gave him provisions and a gift and let him go.
וְעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ לֹֽא־יָשׁ֗וּב וְשֻׁ֡בָה אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֣ה בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁפָ֡ן אֲשֶׁר֩ הִפְקִ֨יד מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֜ל בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה וְשֵׁ֤ב אִתּוֹ֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעָ֔ם א֠וֹ אֶל־כָּל־הַיָּשָׁ֧ר בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לָלֶ֖כֶת לֵ֑ךְ וַיִּתֶּן־ל֧וֹ רַב־טַבָּחִ֛ים אֲרֻחָ֥ה וּמַשְׂאֵ֖ת וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃
6So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.
וַיָּבֹ֧א יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֥ה בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֖ם הַמִּצְפָּ֑תָה וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב אִתּוֹ֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעָ֔ם הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ ס
7When all the commanders of the forces who were out in the open country, along with their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land, and had put under his charge the men, women, and children, those of the poorest of the land who had not been deported to Babylon—
וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ֩ כָל־שָׂרֵ֨י הַחֲיָלִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה הֵ֚מָּה וְאַנְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־הִפְקִ֧יד מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְכִ֣י ׀ הִפְקִ֣יד אִתּ֗וֹ אֲנָשִׁ֤ים וְנָשִׁים֙ וָטָ֔ף וּמִדַּלַּ֣ת הָאָ֔רֶץ מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־הָגְל֖וּ בָּבֶֽלָה׃