Bebai בֵּבַי
Head of a family that returned from Babylonian exile.
Who is Bebai in the Bible?
Bebai was the head of a family that returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile in the fifth century BC. According to Ezra 2:11 and Nehemiah 7:16, over 600 members of Bebai's family were among those who came back to Judah to rebuild the temple and restore the city, though the exact number varies slightly between the two accounts (623 in Ezra and 628 in Nehemiah). A descendant named Zechariah is mentioned in Ezra 8:11 as returning with Ezra, along with 28 men of his family, while another family member appears in Ezra 10:28 among those who had married foreign women and were called to repentance. Bebai's family represents the broader community of Jewish exiles who responded to God's call to return and participate in the restoration of Jerusalem and its worship after the exile.
Biography
Bebai is mentioned in Ezr.2.11 and Neh.7.16 as the head of a family that returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile. The lists in these passages record the names of the families and their numbers who returned to Judah to resettle and rebuild the temple and the city. According to Ezr.2.11, 623 members of Bebai's family returned, while Neh.7.16 lists 628. This discrepancy may be due to differences in counting or additional family members joining the group. In Ezr.8.11, a descendant of Bebai named Zechariah is mentioned among those who returned with Ezra to Jerusalem, along with 28 men of his family. Later, in Ezr.10.28, another member of Bebai's family is listed among those who had married foreign women and pledged to put them away in response to Ezra's call for repentance. These references indicate that Bebai's family played a significant role in the resettlement of Jerusalem and the restoration of the Jewish community after the exile.
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 2 with study contentEzra 3 verses
- Ezra 2:11
"the descendants of Bebai, 623;"
Study Ezra → - Ezra 8:11
"from the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;"
Study Ezra → - Ezra 10:28
"From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai."
Study Ezra →
Nehemiah 1 verse
- Nehemiah 7:16
"the descendants of Bebai, 628;"
Study Nehemiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בֵּבַי |
Bebai
h, the son of Bebai (Ezr 8:11, Zaeharias; 1 Esdras 8:37). 623 returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem (Ezr 2:11; 1 Esdras 5:13; Ne 7:16 gives the number 628); some of these had married "strange wives" (Ezr 10:28; 1 Esdras 9:29).
(2) A chief of the people who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah (Ne 10:15).
(3) An unknown town (Judith 15:4). Omitted in Codex Vaticanus and Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A. D.)
be-kos' (hina, "in order that"): "The multitude rebuked them, because (AV; the Revised Version (British and American) "that") they should hold their peace" (Mt 20:31).
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