Who was Sotai in the Bible?

Sotai was the ancestor of a family of Solomon's servants. His descendants were among the exiles who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon after the captivity (Ezra 2:55; Nehemiah 7:57).

Why is Sotai mentioned in the Bible?

Sotai is listed to document the faithful families who returned from exile, showing God's preservation of His people. His inclusion validates the lineage and community of those who rebuilt Judah.

What is the significance of Sotai being a servant of Solomon?

It connects his family to Israel's royal history and the temple service. This heritage likely gave his descendants a recognized role in the post-exilic community's restoration efforts.

Sotai

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleReturned from exile

Sotai was the ancestor of a family of Solomon's servants who were among the exiles that returned to Jerusalem from Babylon.

Sotai

Biography

Sotai was the progenitor of a family enrolled among "Solomon's servants" who successfully returned from Babylonian captivity to Jerusalem, as recorded in Ezra 2:55 and Nehemiah 7:57. Like Sophereth, Sotai's descendants were part of a class of temple workers whose origins traced to the time of Solomon's extensive building projects, likely including both Israelite and non-Israelite laborers incorporated into the temple service (1 Kings 9:20–21). The family's name was preserved in the official registration of returnees, demonstrating that their identity and heritage survived the trauma of exile. Though no narrative details survive about Sotai himself, the perpetuation of his family's name through generations of exile and return is a testament to communal memory and the ongoing identity of Israel's temple-service class.

Significance

The family of Sotai, by returning from exile to resume their role as temple servants, participates in the broader theological drama of restoration and renewal that characterizes the post-exilic era. Their presence in the returnees' lists affirms God's meticulous care for all strata of the covenant community, not merely the priests and Levites of elevated status. The inclusion of Solomon's servants' families in the official registry reflects the Chronicler's and Ezra-Nehemiah's insistence that the entire worshiping community must be reconstituted for authentic temple service to resume. Such families embody the principle that faithful, humble service, however obscure, is integral to the ongoing life of God's people and the maintenance of his worship.

Authority Records

Wikidata

Verse Appearances (2)

Ezra

Ezra 2:55

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 7:57

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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