Meshullam מְשֻׁלָּם
An Israelite who had married a foreign woman.
Who is Meshullam in the Bible?
Meshullam was an Israelite who married a foreign woman during the Babylonian exile, as recorded in Ezra 10:29. He is mentioned among the descendants of Bani in the list of men who had taken foreign wives in violation of God's law. When the priest Ezra led the people in confession and repentance regarding these intermarriages, Meshullam agreed to separate from his foreign wife as part of the community's commitment to obey God's covenant and restore proper religious practice after the exile. His inclusion in this account illustrates both the struggle of the returning exiles to maintain religious purity and their willingness to submit to God's standards when confronted with their sin.
Biography
Meshullam is mentioned in the book of Ezra as one of the Israelites who had married a foreign woman during the Babylonian exile (Ezr.10.29). After Ezra had led the people in confessing their sin of intermarriage and proposed a plan for the men to separate from their foreign wives, a list of those who had married foreign women was recorded. Meshullam is listed among the descendants of Bani who had taken foreign wives. In response to Ezra's call for repentance and obedience to God's law, Meshullam and the others agreed to put away their foreign wives.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 10:29
"From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מְשֻׁלָּם |