Metaphysical meaning of Shalman (mbd)
Shalman, shal'-man (Heb. fr. Pers.)--fire worshiper; modesty opposed to vehemence.
King of Assyria (Hos. 10:14). Shalman is a contracted form of Shalmaneser.
Meta. Fire, in the Scriptures, as it relates to God and to the sacrifices of the Hebrews, signifies a purifying, refining, transmuting process. In Shalman, a king of Assyria (the ruling idea in the intellectual realm in man that is directed by the outer senses and opposed to Truth), the idea of fire would take on an especially destructive nature. The significance here is a strong belief in evil, in destruction, as being from God (fire worshiper).
The definition, modest opposed to vehemence, belongs to the negative aspect of that which Shalman signifies, a degree of personal humility and lack of aggressiveness. But this does not put away belief in evil and the destructive tendency of the Shalman characteristic. Only in spiritual understanding does one perceive God as all and in all; only in spiritual understanding does one comprehend the purifying, refining, transmuting process of Spirit and know that it leads to eternal life, peace, and joy, and not to death, destruction, or evil of any other kind.
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Following Entry: Shalmaneser
