Who was Parosh in the Bible?

Parosh was a leader of an Israelite family who returned from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel to help rebuild the temple. He is listed among the heads of families who brought back a group of his descendants (Ezra 2:3; Nehemiah 7:8).

Why is Parosh significant in the Bible?

Parosh's significance lies in his role in the restoration of Jerusalem. As a family leader, he helped repopulate Judah and contributed to the community's reestablishment after the Babylonian exile, marking a key moment in Israel's history.

What did Parosh do in the Book of Ezra?

In the Book of Ezra, Parosh is recorded as one of the family leaders who returned from exile. His descendants are listed among those who could not prove their Israelite lineage, highlighting the challenges of the restoration community (Ezra 2:3; Ezra 10:25).

Parosh

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleLeader

Parosh was a leader who returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel, bringing a group of his descendants.

Parosh

Biography

Parosh was the head of a significant Israelite family whose descendants were among the first wave of exiles to return from Babylon to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:3; Nehemiah 7:8). The family of Parosh numbered 2,172 according to Ezra's record, making it one of the largest returning clans. This substantial number indicates that the family had maintained its cohesion and identity during the decades of Babylonian captivity. By leading his descendants back to Judah, Parosh participated in the fulfillment of prophetic promises that God would restore His people to their land. The return from exile was both a logistical undertaking of enormous proportions and a profound act of faith, requiring families to leave established lives in Babylon for the uncertain work of rebuilding a devastated homeland.

Significance

Parosh's leadership of a large returning clan illustrates the role of family heads in preserving Israel's identity through exile and facilitating restoration. The sheer size of his family's contingent, over two thousand individuals, demonstrates that the exile did not destroy Israel's social structures but in some ways strengthened communal bonds through shared suffering. Parosh's decision to return echoes the faith of Abraham, who also left a settled land in response to God's call. His family's return contributed materially to the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its temple, fulfilling the prophecies of Jeremiah and Isaiah. Parosh stands as an example of faithful response to God's invitation to participate in redemptive restoration.

Authority Records

Wikidata

Verse Appearances (1)

Ezra

Ezra 8:3

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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