Who was Bebai in the Bible?

Bebai is the name of an Israelite family head whose descendants returned from exile in Babylon. His descendant, Zechariah, led a group of 28 men from the family of Bebai back to Jerusalem with Ezra (Ezra 8:11).

What is the significance of Bebai's family in the Bible?

The family of Bebai is significant as one of the families that demonstrated faithfulness by leaving Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem. Their return, documented in Ezra's list, shows God's preservation of specific Israelite lineages after the exile.

What key event involves Bebai's descendants?

The key event is the return from exile under Ezra's leadership. Zechariah, a descendant of Bebai, is specifically named as leading a contingent of his family members back to the land of Judah (Ezra 8:11-14).

Bebai

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleReturned from exile

Zechariah, a descendant of Bebai, led 28 men of his family to return with Ezra to Jerusalem.

Bebai

Biography

This Bebai is known through his descendant Zechariah, who led a group of twenty-eight men from the family of Bebai in joining Ezra's second return to Jerusalem from Babylon (Ezra 8:11). Ezra's caravan, which departed in the reign of Artaxerxes I around 458 BC, was a significant wave of spiritual restoration, bringing with it priests, Levites, and laypersons committed to reinvigorating Torah observance in Judah. The family of Bebai formed part of this contingent, representing one of the named clans who made the arduous journey back to their ancestral homeland. Their return was characterized by a period of fasting and prayer at the Ahava canal, seeking divine protection for the journey rather than requesting a military escort from the king (Ezra 8:21–23), reflecting profound trust in divine providence.

Significance

The family of Bebai returning with Ezra represents the faithful remnant whose commitment to covenant renewal drove the spiritual renaissance of post-exilic Judaism. Their inclusion in Ezra's detailed list signals that the restoration involved the broad participation of lay families choosing God and his Torah over the comforts of Babylonian life. The decision to fast and pray rather than seek a royal military escort, a detail Ezra takes care to record, speaks to the deep spirituality animating this return. Families like Bebai's served as the human instruments through which God fulfilled his promises of restoration spoken by prophets like Jeremiah and Isaiah.

Verse Appearances (1)

Ezra

Ezra 8:11

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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