Who was Rehum in the Bible?

Rehum was a Levite who lived during the time of Nehemiah. He is specifically noted for helping to repair a section of Jerusalem's wall after the Babylonian exile (Nehemiah 3:17).

What did Rehum do in the Book of Nehemiah?

Rehum's key action was assisting in the reconstruction of Jerusalem's wall. He is listed among the Levites who repaired a section next to his district, showing the communal effort to restore the city (Nehemiah 3:17).

Why is Rehum's role in Nehemiah significant?

Rehum's participation highlights that the restoration of Jerusalem was a collective effort involving people from all roles, including Levites. His mention underscores the detailed record of faithfulness and the importance of every contributor in God's work.

Rehum

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleLevite

Rehum was a Levite who helped repair a section of the wall of Jerusalem during Nehemiah's time.

Rehum

Biography

Rehum the Levite is identified in Nehemiah 3:17 as one of the workers who helped repair the walls of Jerusalem during the restoration effort led by Nehemiah. He is described as the son of Bani and is noted to have repaired a specific section of the wall alongside his fellow Levites. The wall-building project recorded in Nehemiah 3 was a coordinated community endeavor in which priests, Levites, rulers, merchants, and craftspeople each took responsibility for particular sections of Jerusalem's defenses. Rehum's participation as a Levite in physical construction labor reflects the all-hands involvement of the restoration community, where no one was exempt from the demanding work of rebuilding the holy city's fortifications.

Significance

The image of a Levite engaged in the manual labor of wall construction is theologically suggestive. Levites were traditionally associated with sanctuary service, teaching, and worship leadership, not masonry. Yet Rehum's willingness to take up a section of the wall demonstrates the communal ethic of Nehemiah's Jerusalem, where sacred vocation did not exempt anyone from shared civic responsibility. This convergence of spiritual and practical service reflects a holistic view of covenant faithfulness: serving God was not confined to the sanctuary. Rehum's contribution, however modest, formed part of the completed wall that signaled Jerusalem's rebirth as a functioning city and a visible testimony to God's restorative power.

Verse Appearances (1)

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 10:25

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