Who was Hallohesh in the Bible?

Hallohesh was the father of Shallum, a leader of the district of Jerusalem who helped repair a section of the city wall during the time of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 3:12). He is a relatively minor figure mentioned only in the context of his son's important work.

What is Hallohesh known for in the Bible?

Hallohesh is known only as the father of Shallum, who was a leader responsible for repairing a section of Jerusalem's wall, including its towers, alongside his daughters (Nehemiah 3:12). His significance comes entirely from his son's faithful participation in this crucial rebuilding project.

Why is Hallohesh mentioned in Nehemiah?

Hallohesh is mentioned to establish the lineage and authority of his son, Shallum, who was a district leader. This was a common practice in biblical genealogies and historical records to identify individuals by their family connections, showing that the rebuilding effort involved established community leaders.

Hallohesh

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleLeaderFather

Hallohesh was the father of Shallum, a leader who helped repair the wall of Jerusalem during Nehemiah's time.

Hallohesh

Biography

Hallohesh appears in Nehemiah 3:12 as the father of Shallum, a district ruler who participated in repairing a section of Jerusalem's wall, assisted by his daughters, an unusual detail that highlights the inclusive nature of the rebuilding effort. Hallohesh himself also appears to have signed the covenant renewal document in Nehemiah 10:24, pledging with other leaders and priests to obey the law of God, to avoid intermarriage with foreign peoples, to observe the Sabbath, and to support the temple financially. If this is the same individual, Hallohesh occupied a position of civic leadership in the restored Jerusalem community, contributing both practically through his family's building labor and formally through his covenantal signature. His name, meaning 'the whisperer' or 'the enchanter,' is of uncertain etymology.

Significance

Hallohesh's dual appearance in Nehemiah, linked to wall-building and covenant renewal, illustrates the interconnection between physical and spiritual restoration in the post-exilic community. The rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls was inseparable from the renewal of covenantal commitment, and Hallohesh participated in both dimensions. The mention of Shallum's daughters assisting in the construction (Nehemiah 3:12) is remarkable in its context, suggesting that Hallohesh's household modeled an all-hands engagement with God's work that transcended conventional gender roles of the era. His covenantal signature in Nehemiah 10 further demonstrates that civic leaders bore responsibility for the spiritual direction of the community, a principle with enduring relevance.

Verse Appearances (2)

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 3:12 Nehemiah 10:24

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]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources