Hacaliah חֲכַלְיָה
Father of Nehemiah, the governor of Judah.
Who is Hacaliah in the Bible?
Hacaliah was the father of Nehemiah, who served as the governor of Judah during the Persian period (Nehemiah 1:1, 10:1). While Hacaliah is mentioned only briefly in the biblical record, he is significant as the parent of one of Israel's most important post-exilic leaders. Nehemiah rose from his position as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes to become governor of Judah, where he spearheaded the reconstruction of Jerusalem's walls and implemented crucial religious and social reforms among the returning Jewish exiles. Though no other details about Hacaliah's own life are recorded in Scripture, his son's prominent role in restoring the Jewish community after the Babylonian exile reflects the importance of his family line in Israel's restoration.
Biography
Hacaliah is mentioned in Neh.1.1 and Neh.10.1 as the father of Nehemiah, the main character of the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah served as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia (Neh.1.11) before being appointed as the governor of Judah (Neh.5.14). Nehemiah played a crucial role in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and instituting religious and social reforms among the Jewish people who had returned from exile. Apart from being Nehemiah's father, no other details are provided about Hacaliah's life or role in the biblical narrative.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentNehemiah 2 verses
- Nehemiah 1:1
"These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,"
Study Nehemiah → - Nehemiah 10:1
"Now these were the ones who sealed the document: Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, and also Zedekiah,"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | חֲכַלְיָה |