Who was Meshullam in the Bible?

Meshullam was a Benjamite, a descendant of the tribe of Benjamin, who resettled in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. He is listed among those who returned to reestablish the community in the holy city (1 Chronicles 9:7).

Why is Meshullam mentioned in the Bible?

Meshullam's mention, though brief, is significant as it documents the faithful remnant who returned from exile to rebuild Judah. His inclusion in the genealogical record confirms the continuity of the tribal lineages and the restoration of Jerusalem.

What did Meshullam do in the Bible?

The Bible does not record specific events or actions from Meshullam's life. His primary role was as a resident of the repopulated Jerusalem, representing the reestablished tribe of Benjamin in the post-exilic community (1 Chronicles 9:7-9).

Meshullam

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleSon of hodaviah

Meshullam, a Benjamite, was among those who lived in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (1Ch.9.7).

Meshullam

Biography

Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, was a Benjamite who resettled in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 9:7. He belonged to the initial wave of returnees who undertook the challenging task of reestablishing civilian life in the devastated capital city. His genealogy is traced through Hodaviah, connecting him to an established Benjamite family with roots in the pre-exilic community. The census of 1 Chronicles 9 carefully documents the tribal composition of the restored Jerusalem population, and Meshullam's inclusion among the Benjamite settlers confirms that the returning community maintained its tribal identities despite decades of displacement. His family's presence helped ensure that Benjamin's historic association with Jerusalem would continue into the post-exilic era.

Significance

Meshullam's resettlement in Jerusalem after the exile embodies the prophetic promise that God would gather His scattered people and restore them to their land. The Chronicler's careful preservation of his genealogy through Hodaviah serves the theological purpose of demonstrating continuity between pre-exilic Israel and the restored community, affirming that God's covenant with His people remained unbroken despite the judgment of exile. Meshullam's Benjamite identity carries particular weight, as the tribe of Benjamin had been allocated territory adjacent to Jerusalem and maintained a special connection to the holy city. His return represents the fulfillment of divine faithfulness at the individual and family level, showing that God's grand purposes are accomplished through the obedience of particular people.

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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