שִׁלּוּחִים

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שִׁלּוּחִים
Part of SpeechNoun
Occurrences3
Possible Meanings
  1. Gift, tribute
  2. Dowry
Related Wordsשלח

Possible Meanings

שלוחים appears in only three places and exegetes disagree as to its precise meaning.1

  • In Melakhim I 9:16 it describes a gift given as a dowry.2
  • In Mikhah 1:14 it describes a tribute.3
  • In Shemot 18:2, exegetes differ regarding whether it means a gift or dowry (like the two other cases of the noun) or a sending (either a divorce or a sending – see above regarding the verb) and over the meaning of the verse – see אחר שלוחיה.

1. Gift, tribute

2. Dowry

Factors influencing the opinions:

  • Textual – The usage in Melakhim I 9:16 appears to support the definition of dowry, but the verse in Mikhah 1:14 seems to support a more generalized meaning of gift.
  • Societal – Dowries (including land dowries) were a common practice in Biblical times and medieval Christian Europe. However, Islamic society does not have dowries (the husband bears full financial responsibility).4

There are a number of possibilities regarding the relationship of the noun שלוחים to the verb שלח:

Disputed Cases

Idioms

Relationship to Synonyms

Semantic Evolution

Intra-Biblical

Rabbinic Hebrew

Modern Hebrew

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