SHIMSHAI shĭm’ shī (שִׁמְשַׁי׃֙). A Pers. governmental official whose territory of rule included Pal., and who with another official, Rehum, wrote a letter to Artaxerxes to persuade him to prohibit the rebuilding of the Temple by the Jews (Ezra 4:8-16; 1 Esd 2:16-24), KJV SEMELLIUS, ASV SAMELLIUS. They succeeded in their purpose; work on the Temple was halted (Ezra 4:17-24; 1 Esd 2:25-30).