Gazzam גַּזָּם

Male H1502 2 books

Ancestor of temple servants who returned from Babylonian exile.

Who is Gazzam in the Bible?

Gazzam was an ancestor of a group of temple servants, known as the Nethinim, who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile (Ezra 2:48, Nehemiah 7:51). The Nethinim were a class of temple personnel who assisted the Levites in maintaining and serving the temple (Ezra 8:20), and they likely descended from the Gibeonites originally assigned by Joshua to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the Lord's altar (Joshua 9:23, 27). Gazzam's descendants are listed among those who returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel in Ezra 2 and again in Nehemiah 7, indicating their faithfulness to temple service throughout the exile and their participation in the restoration of the Jewish community.

Biography

Gazzam is mentioned in Ezr.2.48 and Neh.7.51 as an ancestor of a group of temple servants, also known as Nethinim, who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile. The Nethinim were a class of temple personnel who assisted the Levites in the maintenance and service of the temple (Ezr.8.20). They were likely descendants of the Gibeonites who were assigned by Joshua to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the altar of the Lord (Jos.9.23, 27). In the lists of the exiles who returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 2) and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 7), the descendants of Gazzam are counted among the Nethinim. This suggests that Gazzam's descendants had faithfully carried out their duties in the temple service, even during the exile, and were part of the group who returned to restore worship in Jerusalem.

In Scripture

2 biblical books ; 2 with study content
Ezra 1 verse
  • Ezra 2:48

    "the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda, the descendants of Gazzam,"

    Study Ezra →
Nehemiah 1 verse
  • Nehemiah 7:51

    "the descendants of Gazzam, the descendants of Uzza, the descendants of Paseah,"

    Study Nehemiah →

Names & Aliases

Form Language Script
Named Hebrew גַּזָּם
Encyclopedia Article

Gazzam

ISBE 1915 (Public Domain)

ge-ha-ra'-shim (ge'charashim): In 1Ch 4:14, the King James Version renders "valley of Charashim." In Ne 11:35, English Versions of the Bibl