Who was Immer in the Bible?

Immer was the ancestor of a priestly family that returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. His descendants are listed among those who served in the temple, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 24:14 and Ezra 2:37.

What is the significance of Immer's descendants?

The family of Immer was a significant priestly line responsible for temple duties. Their return from exile and resettlement in Jerusalem, noted in Nehemiah 7:40, was crucial for restoring proper worship.

Did any notable events involve the family of Immer?

Yes, a descendant named Pashhur, son of Immer, was a priest and official who opposed the prophet Jeremiah, putting him in the stocks (Jeremiah 20:1-2). This highlights tensions within the priesthood.

Immer

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleLevite

The descendants of Immer were a priestly family who lived in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, as recorded in 1 Chronicles and Nehemiah.

Immer

Biography

Immer was the ancestor of a significant priestly family whose descendants are prominently documented in the post-exilic period. The family's name appears in the lists of returnees from Babylon in Ezra 2:37 and Nehemiah 7:40, where 1,052 descendants of Immer are recorded as having returned to Jerusalem, one of the larger priestly contingents in the restoration community. The family continued to be active in the Jerusalem community, with members participating in Nehemiah's covenant renewal (Nehemiah 10:20) and in the repopulation of the holy city (Nehemiah 11:13). The priest Pashhur, who had Jeremiah beaten and placed in stocks, was also a son of Immer (Jeremiah 20:1), illustrating the family's wide influence.

Significance

The family of Immer represents one of the most enduring priestly lineages in Second Temple Judaism. Their large numbers among the returnees from Babylon, over a thousand in Ezra's count, indicates a family that maintained its identity, traditions, and vocational commitment through decades of exile. The priestly families who returned were critical to the resumption of temple worship, sacrificial ritual, and Torah instruction. The Immer family's size and continuity testify to God's faithfulness in preserving the instruments of covenant worship even through national catastrophe. Their story is part of the larger narrative of divine preservation that ultimately points to the establishment of the new covenant through Jesus, the great high priest.

Authority Records

Wikidata

Verse Appearances (2)

1Chr

1Chr 9:12

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 11:13

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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