Besai בֵּסַי
Ancestor of temple servants who returned from exile
Who is Besai in the Bible?
Besai was an ancestor of a group of temple servants, known as the Nethinim, who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity (Ezra 2:49; Nehemiah 7:52). The Nethinim were assigned to assist the Levites in maintaining and serving the temple, and they were likely descendants of the Gibeonites, whom Joshua had appointed as woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and altar of the Lord (Joshua 9:27). The return of Besai's descendants alongside other Nethinim signifies the restoration of temple worship and highlights the essential role these temple servants played in supporting the Levites' ministry after the exile.
Biography
Besai was the ancestor of a group of temple servants (Nethinim) who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity (Ezr. 2:49; Neh. 7:52). The Nethinim were a class of people assigned to assist the Levites in the maintenance and service of the temple. They were likely descendants of the Gibeonites, who had been appointed by Joshua to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and the altar of the Lord (Josh. 9:27). The return of Besai's descendants, along with other Nethinim, demonstrates the restoration of temple worship and the importance of the Nethinim's role in supporting the Levites' ministry.
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 2 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 2:49
"the descendants of Uzza, the descendants of Paseah, the descendants of Besai,"
Study Ezra →
Nehemiah 1 verse
- Nehemiah 7:52
"the descendants of Besai, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephushesim,"
Study Nehemiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בֵּסַי |