Overview
Shillem (also spelled Shallum in some translations) was one of the four sons of Naphtali, the sixth son of Jacob. He is listed among the seventy family members who descended into Egypt with Jacob during the famine, representing the continuation of the tribal lineage that would later form one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Key Scriptures
"The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem" (Genesis 46:24, ESV).
"The sons of Naphtali according to their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites; of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites" (Numbers 26:49, ESV).
"The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah" (1 Chronicles 7:13, ESV).
Application
Shillem's inclusion in Israel's genealogy reminds us that God preserves and accounts for every member of His covenant people, no matter how briefly their names appear in Scripture.