The descendents of Solomon’s servants returning (Neh 7:57-7:60)

“The descendents of Solomon’s servants were the descendents of Sotai, the descendents of Sophereth, the descendents of Perida, the descendents of Jaala, the descendents of Darkon, the descendents of Giddel, the descendents of Shephatiah, the descendents of Hattil, the descendents of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the descendents of Amon. All the temple servants and the descendents of Solomon’s servants were three hundred ninety-two.”

There also were the descendents of the palace servants from the time of King Solomon. People must have considered this a big deal or a hereditary job. There were 10 named groups. 6 are exactly the same as in Ezra, chapter 2. 4 others have slight variations, Sophereth for Hassophereth, Perida for Peruda, Jaala for Jaalah, and Amon for Ami. Most of these names only appear here. The total number of Temple and palace servants or hereditary slaves was 392, the same as in Ezra. The big problem is that there was no king, palace, or Temple. What were they to do?

The Temple servants returning (Neh 7:46-7:56)

“The temple servants were the descendents of Ziha, the descendents of Hasupha, the descendents of Tabbaoth, the descendents of Keros, the descendents of Sia, the descendents of Padon, the descendents of Lebana, the descendents of Hagaba, the descendents of Shalmai, the descendents of Hanan, the descendents of Giddel, the descendents of Gahar, the descendents of Reaiah, the descendents of Rezin, the descendents of Nekoda, the descendents of Gazzam, the descendents of Uzza, the descendents of Paseah, the descendents of Besai, the descendents of Meunim, the descendents of Nephushesim, the descendents of Bakbuk, the descendents of Hakupha, the descendents of Harhur, the descendents of Bazlith, the descendents of Mehida, the descendents of Harsha, the descendents of Barkos, the descendents of Sisera, the descendents of Temah, the descendents of Neziah, and the descendents of Hatipha.”

This is the list of the hereditary Temple servants, the Nethinim, people dedicated to the Temple. Often they were not Israelites, but captured slave laborers given to the Temple. They became hereditary slaves dedicated to the Temple. However, there was no Temple, so it is not clear why they were returning.   Thus these names were not common biblical names since most of these names only appear here and in Ezra, but nowhere else in the biblical literature. Of the 35 temple servants, 27 names are exactly the same as in Ezra, chapter 2. The minor exceptions are Sia for Siaha, Lebana for Lebanah, Hagaba for Hagabah, Nephushesim for Nephisim, and Bazlith for Bazluth. Akkub, Hagab, and Asnah were in Ezra, but are not here.

The list of the sons of Solomon returning (Ezra 2:55-2:58)

“The descendents of King Solomon’s servants were the sons of Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel, Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth-hazzebaim, and Ami. All the temple servants and the descendents of King Solomon’s servants were three hundred ninety-two.”

These were the descendents of the palace servants from the time of King Solomon. People must have considered this a big deal or a hereditary job. There are 10 named groups. All these names only appear here, except for Shephatiah. Shephatiah was the name of 8 different biblical people, including the son of King David. The total number of Temple and palace servants or hereditary slaves was 392. The big problem is that there was no king, palace, or Temple. What were they to do?

The list of the Temple servants returning (Ezra 2:43-2:54)

“The temple servants were the descendents of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, Keros, Siaha, Padon, Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub, Hagab, Shamlai, Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, Besai, Asnah, Meunim, Nephisim, Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, Barkos, Sisera, Temah, Neziah, and Hatipha.”

This is the list of the hereditary Temple servants, the Nethinim, people dedicated to the Temple. Often they were not Israelites, but captured slave laborers given to the Temple. Thus they became hereditary slaves dedicated to the Temple. However, there is no Temple, so it is not clear why they were returning. Most of these names only appear here and in Nehemiah but nowhere else in the biblical literature. Akkub and Uzza appear as a name for 3 other biblical persons. There was a King Rezin of Damascus who invaded Judah, but this is not him. There also was a Sisera who was the warrior killed in his sleep in Josiah. Otherwise, these were not common biblical names.