Gazzam גַּזָּם
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 contentEzra 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 |