Attharates
The Title Attharates
Attharates is a form of the Persian title that designated a local or provincial governor in the Persian Empire. In the biblical text, it appears as a title for Nehemiah, who served as the governor of Judah under Persian authorization in the mid-fifth century BC. The title appears in variant forms across different manuscripts and translations, reflecting the challenges of transmitting Persian official terminology through Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
Variant Forms of the Title
The same title appears in several different forms depending on the translation and manuscript tradition. In the Hebrew text of Nehemiah 8:9 and 10:1, it appears as "Tirshatha." The Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) uses forms like Attharates or Athersatha. The Vulgate renders it "Athersatha." In 1 Esdras 9:49, the title appears in its Greek form alongside Nehemiah's name. These variations all derive from the same Old Persian term, which was transliterated differently as it passed through multiple languages.
The Role of the Tirshatha
The Tirshatha was the title given to the Persian-appointed governor of a province or district. In the post-exilic period, Judah was a small province within the larger satrapy of Beyond the River (Ezra 5:3), and its governor answered to the satrap while exercising local authority. The title appears in Ezra 2:63 and Nehemiah 7:65, where "the governor" (Tirshatha) instructs certain priests who could not prove their genealogy that they should not eat of the most holy food until a priest could consult the Urim and Thummim. This decision demonstrates the governor's authority over both civil and religious matters.
Nehemiah as Governor
Nehemiah received his commission from the Persian king Artaxerxes I around 445 BC (Nehemiah 2:1-8). He was granted authority to travel to Jerusalem, rebuild its walls, and govern the province. Nehemiah served as governor for twelve years during his first term (Nehemiah 5:14) and returned for a second term at a later date (Nehemiah 13:6-7). During his governorship, he rebuilt Jerusalem's walls in just fifty-two days (Nehemiah 6:15), addressed economic injustice among the people (Nehemiah 5:1-13), and supported Ezra's religious reforms.
The Reading of the Law
The specific context where Attharates appears most prominently is Nehemiah 8:9, during the great public reading of the Law. Ezra the scribe read the Torah aloud to the assembled people from dawn until midday, and the Levites helped the people understand what was being read (Nehemiah 8:1-8). When the people wept upon hearing the words of the Law, "Nehemiah who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, 'This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep'" (Nehemiah 8:9). The use of the title Attharates or Tirshatha here underscores Nehemiah's official authority in directing the community's response.
Persian Administration and Biblical History
The title Attharates provides a window into how the Persian Empire governed its far-flung territories. Rather than imposing direct rule, the Persians often appointed local leaders from among the subject population to serve as governors. This policy allowed figures like Nehemiah and Zerubbabel before him to serve as bridges between imperial authority and local identity. The preservation of this Persian title in the biblical text reflects the historical accuracy of the Ezra-Nehemiah narratives and their rootedness in the administrative realities of the Persian period.
Biblical Context
Attharates (Tirshatha) appears in Nehemiah 8:9 and 10:1 as a title for Nehemiah, and in Ezra 2:63 and Nehemiah 7:65 referring to the governor's authority over priestly matters. The parallel passage in 1 Esdras 9:49 uses the Greek form Attharates. The title connects to the broader narrative of post-exilic governance and the restoration of Jerusalem under Persian authorization.
Theological Significance
The title Attharates illustrates how God used secular political structures to accomplish His purposes for His people. Nehemiah's role as a Persian-appointed governor placed him at the intersection of imperial politics and covenant faithfulness. His leadership during the reading of the Law demonstrates that civil authority, when exercised in alignment with God's purposes, can serve the spiritual renewal of God's people.
Historical Background
The Persian Empire (550-330 BC) governed its vast territory through a system of satrapies and sub-provinces. Governors like Nehemiah held significant local authority while remaining accountable to the Persian king. Archaeological evidence from the Persian period, including seal impressions, coins, and administrative documents, confirms the existence of governors in the province of Yehud (Judah). Bullae bearing the inscription 'Governor of Yehud' have been found at various sites, corroborating the biblical account of provincial administration.