Shephatiah שְׁפַטְיָהוּ
Ancestor of Solomon's servants who returned from exile
Who is Shephatiah in the Bible?
Shephatiah was an ancestor of some of Solomon's servants whose descendants returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile. His name appears in the lists of exiles who came back to Judah, mentioned specifically in Ezra 2:57 and Nehemiah 7:59. The fact that his descendants are identified as servants of Solomon indicates the family held a position in the royal household, a role they apparently maintained across generations even through the displacement and captivity. The inclusion of Shephatiah's line among those who returned from exile reflects the restoration of Jerusalem's institutions and the reestablishment of the temple's service after the Babylonian captivity.
Biography
Shephatiah is mentioned in Ezr.2.57 and Neh.7.59 as an ancestor of some of Solomon's servants who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile. The descendants of these servants are listed among the people who came back to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. The presence of Shephatiah's descendants among Solomon's servants suggests that his family line had been employed in the service of the royal household during the time of King Solomon and continued this role even after the exile.
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 2 with study contentEzra 1 verse
- Ezra 2:57
"the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the descendants of Ami."
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Nehemiah 1 verse
- Nehemiah 7:59
"the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the descendants of Amon."
Study Nehemiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | שְׁפַטְיָהוּ |