Shelomith
Shelomith, a descendant of Bani who returned from Babylonian exile.
Biography
Shelomith, a descendant of Bani, is listed in Ezra 8:10 among the Israelites who returned from Babylonian exile with Ezra's second wave of returnees, approximately 457 BC. The text records that Shelomith led a group of one hundred and sixty males from the clan of Bani on the dangerous four-month journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. Ezra had proclaimed a fast before departure, trusting God for protection rather than requesting a Persian military escort, a deliberate act of faith. Shelomith thus participated in one of the most significant acts of covenant renewal in post-exilic history: the return of Torah-faithful Israelites to the land, led by a scribe devoted to teaching and practicing the law of Moses.
Significance
Shelomith's role as a clan leader among the returning exiles situates him within the theological drama of restoration that Ezra's journey represents. The return from Babylon was understood in prophetic terms as a new exodus, God once again delivering His people and reconstituting them as a covenant community in the land of promise. By leading one hundred and sixty family members on this journey, Shelomith exercised the kind of faithful, courageous leadership that God's purposes required in the post-exilic period. His participation in Ezra's return exemplifies the truth that the renewal of God's people depends on ordinary leaders who are willing to uproot themselves and commit to the covenant community's restoration.
Verse Appearances (1)
Ezra
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]