Tel-harsha standard

Where is Tel-harsha in the Bible?

Tel-harsha was a Babylonian city mentioned in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah as a place from which Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. According to Ezra 2:59 and Nehemiah 7:61, a group of people from Tel-harsha came back with Zerubbabel but were unable to prove their Jewish genealogy or priestly lineage. The exact location of Tel-harsha remains unknown to scholars, though it was clearly situated in Babylonia (modern-day Iraq) where the Jewish exiles had been held captive. This reference highlights the challenge of reestablishing Jewish identity and community after the exile, as those without documented ancestry faced questions about their rightful place among the returning people.