Lives of Scripture

Ahikam son of Shaphan served as a royal official during King Josiah's reign. When the Book of the Law was discovered during temple repairs, Josiah sent Ahikam, along with Hilkiah the priest, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah, to inquire of the LORD about it through the prophetess Huldah, who confirmed both coming judgment on Judah and mercy for Josiah personally because of his humble response (2 Kings 22:12-20). Years later, under King Jehoiakim, Ahikam's courage surfaces again: after Jeremiah delivered a temple sermon warning that Jerusalem would become like Shiloh, priests, prophets, and people seized him and demanded his death. Scripture records plainly that "the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given into the hands of the people to put him to death" (Jeremiah 26:24) -- Ahikam's personal intervention is credited with saving the prophet's life. Ahikam's own son, Gedaliah, was later appointed governor over the remnant left in Judah after Jerusalem's fall to Babylon (2 Kings 25:22), though Gedaliah was soon assassinated (Jeremiah 41:1-3). Ahikam's brief but consistent appearances show a court official who used his influence both to seek God's word faithfully and to defend God's messenger at personal risk.