SHISHAK

SHISHAK (Heb. שִׁישַׁק), biblical name for Sheshonq (935–914 b.c.e.), founder of the 22^nd (Bubastite) Dynasty of Egypt, and one of the last kings in Egyptian history to invade Palestine. His Tanite predecessors had markedly restrained themselves in this direction; Siamun captured Gezer in approximately 960 b.c.e., but immediately allied himself to *Solomon through a diplomatic marriage (i Kings 3:1; 9:16) and tried to restrain his Edomite protégé Hadad from revenge on Solomon (i Kings 11:14–22, 25). Shishak's campaign took place in the fifth year of *Rehoboam's reign (918/7 b.c.e.) and is recorded in i Kings 14:25–28, ii Chronicles 12:2–12, and in a relief at Karnak listing the 165 conquered cities. The motive for the campaign may have been ingratitude on the part of *Jeroboam, who earlier had found protection at Shishak's court (i Kings 11:40). Rehoboam was distracted by a task force dispatched to the Negev that penetrated as far as Edom, and he was made to pay a ransom from the Temple treasury; Jerusalem and Judah remained untouched. His southern fortifications (ii Chron. 11:5–12) may have been erected on this occasion. Shishak's main energies were directed against the north. He made a circuit of the area, bringing destruction on Gezer, Gibeon, cities in the Jordan valley, Shechem, Megiddo (where part of a stele bearing his name was found), and cities in the region of the Yarkon. Due to the destruction of Shechem, Jeroboam's residence was temporarily removed to Penuel (i Kings 12:25), which then also fell at the hands of Shishak's troops (it is not mentioned again in biblical sources).

[Irene Grumach]

In the Aggadah

Shishak's real name was Zevuv ("fly"), but he was so called because he longed (from the root Ḥa-SHa-K; "to desire") for the death of Solomon, whom he feared to attack (sor 20). The treasures which he plundered from Jerusalem (cf. i Kings 14:25ff.) were those which the children of Israel had taken from Egypt at the time of the Exodus (Ex. 12:36; Pes. 119a).

bibliography:

W.F. Albright, in: basor, 130 (1953), 4–11; B. Mazar, in: vts, 4 (1957), 57–66; J. Gray, i and ii Kings. A Commentary (1963), 114–6, 265, 313; G.E. Wright, Shechem (1965), 145. in the aggadah: Ginzberg, Legends, index; I. Ḥasida, Ishei ha-Tanakh (1964), 398.