Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Soldier of Jehovah. ) The father of Joab (1 Chr. 4:13, 14). ) The grandfather of Jehu (1 Chr. 4:35). ) One of David’s scribes or secretaries (2 Sam. 8:17). ) A Netophathite (Jer. 40:8), a chief priest of the time of Zedekiah. He was carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon, and there put to death (2 Kings 25:18, 23). ) Ezra 2:2. ) Father of Ezra the scribe (7:1). ) A ruler of the temple (Neh. 11:11). ) A priest of the days of Jehoiakim (Neh. 12:1, 12). ) The son of Neriah.
When Zedekiah made a journey to Babylon to do homage to Nebuchadnezzar, Seraiah had charge of the royal gifts to be presented on that occasion. Jeremiah took advantage of the occasion, and sent with Seraiah a word of cheer to the exiles in Babylon, and an announcement of the doom in store for that guilty city. The roll containing this message (Jer. 50:1-8) Seraiah was to read to the exiles, and then, after fixing a stone to it, was to throw it into the Euphrates, uttering, as it sank, the prayer recorded in Jer. 51:59-64.
Babylon was at this time in the height of its glory, the greatest and most powerful monarchy in the world. Scarcely seventy years elapsed when the words of the prophet were all fulfilled. Jer. 51:59 is rendered in the Revised Version, “Now Seraiah was chief chamberlain,” instead of “was a quiet prince,” as in the Authorized Version.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
SERAI'AH (warrior of Jehovah). David's scribe, 2 Sam 8:17; called Sheva in 2 Sam 20:25, Shisha in 1 Kgs 4:3, and Shavsha in 1 Chr 18:16. The high priest in the reign of Zedekiah, taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and killed at Riblah. 2 Kgs 25:18-21; 1 Chr 6:14; Jer 52:24-27. A Netophathite who submitted to Gedaliah. 2 Kgs 25:23; Jer 40:8. A Judite. 1 Chr 4:13-14. A Simeonite. 1 Chr 4:35. A priest who came back with Zerubbabel, Ezr 2:2; Neh 10:2; Neh 12:1, Josh 12:12; called Azariah in Neh 7:7. One of the ancestors of Ezra, Ezr 7:1; Neh 11:11; called Azariah in 1 Chr 9:11.
An officer whom Jehoiakim commanded to take Baruch and Jeremiah. Jer 36:26. The brother of Baruch, who was a member of the court and held, during the journey of Zerubbabel to Babylon, the position of leader of the caravan, for so the words "quiet prince" should read, Jer 51:59, Josh 15:61.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
prince of the Lord