Who was Sallu in the Bible?

Sallu was a leader from the tribe of Benjamin who resettled in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. He is listed among the men of valor who volunteered to live in the newly repopulated city (Nehemiah 11:7-8).

Why is Sallu mentioned in the book of Nehemiah?

Sallu is recorded as part of the faithful remnant who repopulated Jerusalem, demonstrating obedience to God's call to rebuild. His inclusion highlights the importance of tribal leadership and personal commitment in restoring the community after exile.

What was Sallu's role or significance?

As a Benjamite leader, Sallu represented his tribe in the crucial re-establishment of Jerusalem. His voluntary settlement helped fulfill the prophetic vision of the city being restored and repopulated after decades of desolation.

Sallu

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleReturned from exile

Sallu was a Benjamite leader who settled in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, as recorded in Nehemiah 11.

Sallu

Biography

Sallu, son of Meshullam and descendant of Joed, is recorded in Nehemiah 11:7 as a Benjamite leader who settled in Jerusalem following the Babylonian exile. He is identified as one of the prominent Benjamites who took up residence in the restored city during Nehemiah's governorship, part of the organized effort to repopulate Jerusalem and reinstate its sacred identity. The genealogical line provided in Nehemiah 11:7 traces Sallu's ancestry through Meshullam, Joed, Pedaiah, Kolaiah, Maaseiah, Ithiel, and Jeshaiah, an eight-generation pedigree suggesting his standing as a notable family head within the Benjamite community in the post-exilic period.

Significance

Sallu's detailed genealogical record in Nehemiah 11:7 distinguishes him as a figure of recognized standing within the returning community. The careful preservation of his eight-generation ancestry reflects the importance placed on legitimate tribal lineage in post-exilic Israel, where genealogical credentials determined one's right to land, priestly service, and full membership in the covenant community. As a Benjamite leader resettling in Jerusalem, Sallu participated in the fulfillment of prophetic promises regarding Israel's return to the land (Jeremiah 29:10-14). His presence in the holy city as part of Nehemiah's restoration effort witnesses to the theological conviction that God's purposes for His people and His city cannot ultimately be thwarted.

Authority Records

Wikidata

Verse Appearances (1)

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 11:7

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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