Joseph יוֹסֵף
Head of the priestly family of Shebaniah
Who is Joseph in the Bible?
The name Joseph refers to several figures in the Bible, most prominently Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel, who became a powerful administrator in Egypt and the father of two tribes of Israel. However, one lesser-known Joseph appears in Nehemiah 12:14 as the head of the priestly family of Shebaniah during the high priesthood of Joiakim in the post-exilic period, likely in the 5th century BC. This Joseph lived after the Jewish people returned from Babylonian exile and served as a leader among the organized priestly divisions in Jerusalem. His mention in the priestly records demonstrates the structured religious leadership that was restored in the rebuilt Jewish community following the exile, highlighting the importance of proper priestly organization in post-exilic worship and temple service.
Biography
Joseph is mentioned in Neh.12.14 as the head of the priestly family of Shebaniah during the days of Joiakim, the high priest. This was during the post-exilic period in Jerusalem, likely in the 5th century BC. The priests were organized into divisions or families, each with a designated leader. Nehemiah 12 lists the heads of priestly families in the generation following the return from Babylonian exile under Jeshua (Neh.12.1-7) and then during the time of Joiakim (Neh.12.12-21).
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentNehemiah 1 verse
- Nehemiah 12:14
"of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;"
Study Nehemiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יוֹסֵף | ywōsēp | Joseph , the name of seven Israelites |