The story of Shelomith relates to the Egyptian practices concerning parentage and how a child is named. Shelomith herself is not explicitly described in the narrative, but the story of her son shows the punishment issued to blasphemers of God.
The narrative of Shelomith is used by the Rabbis as the exception that proves the rule of Israelite marital fidelity. One tradition relates that her son was born out of wedlock with an Egyptian man who deceived her, while another says that her son was born to an Egyptian man after the former murdered her Israelite husband.
Shelomith was the daughter of Zerubbabel, a governor (c. 520–510 B.C.E.) of the province of Yehud. The recent discovery of her name on a Judean seal suggests an honorable status in society.
