תֵּל חַרְשָׁא
Tel-Charsha, a place in Babylonia
Definition
Tel-Charsha is a place name mentioned in the Old Testament, referring to a location in Babylonia where some of the Jewish exiles lived. The name itself means 'mound of workmanship' or 'hill of the craftsman,' suggesting it may have been a known center for skilled labor or a manufactured tell (an artificial mound from accumulated ruins). In the biblical record, it is listed among the towns whose returning exiles could not prove their Israelite ancestry (Ezra 2:59, Nehemiah 7:61). This indicates it was a distinct community within the Babylonian diaspora, separate from the main Jewish settlements.
Biblical Usage
This proper noun is used exclusively in the post-exilic books of Ezra and Nehemiah, in parallel lists documenting the return from Babylonian captivity. In both Ezra 2:59 and Nehemiah 7:61, the people from Tel-Charsha are grouped with those from Tel-Melah, Tel-Harsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer. The consistent context is the administrative cataloging of returnees, specifically highlighting a group whose genealogical records were lost or unverifiable, thus barring them from full priestly or communal reinstatement.
Etymology
The name תֵּל חַרְשָׁא (Têl Charshâʼ) is a compound of two Hebrew elements. The first part, תֵּל (tel, H8510), means 'mound' or 'heap,' often referring to a ruin mound. The second part is derived from חֲרָשִׁים (charashim, H2798), meaning 'craftsmen,' 'artisans,' or 'engravers,' used here in its feminine form. Thus, the name literally translates to 'mound of the craftsman' or 'hill of workmanship,' likely describing a settlement known for skilled trades or an artificial tell built up over time.
Semantic Range
While Tel-Charsha itself is not theologically central, its mention underscores the theme of exile and restoration. The inability of its returnees to prove their lineage highlights the importance of covenant identity and pure worship in the post-exilic community. It serves as a historical footnote on the challenges of maintaining religious and ethnic continuity during the diaspora, pointing to the broader biblical narrative of God preserving a remnant even amid assimilation and lost records.
In the ancient Near East, a 'tel' was a common geographical feature—a mound created by successive layers of human habitation and destruction. The association with 'craftsmen' suggests Tel-Charsha may have been a settlement specializing in manufacturing, such as metalwork, pottery, or weaving, which were valuable skills in Babylonian society. For the exiled Israelites living there, it represented a community where they could maintain their trade while in a foreign land, yet their distance from the main Jewish centers possibly contributed to the loss of their genealogical records.
No direct synonyms as a proper place name. Related conceptually to: תֵּל מֶלַח (Tel Melach, H8520) — another Babylonian exile location meaning 'mound of salt.'
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →