Sallu סַלּוּ

Sallu (or Sallai) is mentioned in Neh.12.7 and Neh.12.20 as one of the priests who returned from the Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah. Zerubbabel led the first group of exiles back to Jerusalem, as recorded in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7. Sallu is listed among the priests who were heads of their fathers' houses during the time of Jeshua, the high priest (Neh.12.7). Later, during the time of Joiakim, who succeeded Jeshua as high priest, Sallu is mentioned again as the head of his father's house (Neh.12.20). This suggests that Sallu and his descendants continued to serve as priests in the restored community in Jerusalem. The return of the priests, including Sallu, was crucial for the reestablishment of temple worship and religious life in Jerusalem after the exile.