Senuah
Who Was Senuah?
Senuah is a Benjamite ancestral name that appears in the post-exilic records of those who resettled in Jerusalem. The KJV renders the name as "Senuah" in Nehemiah 11:9, while the Revised Version reads "Hassenuah," reflecting the Hebrew definite article "ha-" prefixed to the name. The same name appears in 1 Chronicles 9:7 in the parallel list of Jerusalem's inhabitants.
The Post-Exilic Settlement Lists
Nehemiah 11:9 identifies Judah son of Senuah (or Hassenuah) as a leader or overseer of the Benjamites who settled in Jerusalem after the return from Babylonian exile. The context is Nehemiah's account of how the restored community organized itself, with leaders casting lots to determine which families would reside in Jerusalem, the holy city, and which would settle in the surrounding towns (Nehemiah 11:1-2). Living in Jerusalem carried both honor and burden, as the city needed rebuilding and the population had to be sufficient to sustain its institutions.
The Parallel in 1 Chronicles
First Chronicles 9:7 provides a parallel list of the Benjamites who settled in Jerusalem, and Hassenuah appears there as well. The Chronicles passage presents the information as part of the broader genealogical framework that opens the book, establishing the continuity of Israel's tribes from the patriarchal period through the exile and into the restoration. The slight differences between the two lists in names and details reflect the use of different source documents by the Chronicler and Nehemiah.
The Tribe of Benjamin After the Exile
Benjamin was one of the two tribes (along with Judah) that formed the southern kingdom and maintained its identity through the Babylonian exile. The presence of Benjamite families like Senuah's in the post-exilic settlement lists demonstrates that the restored community included both major tribal groups of the former kingdom. Benjamin's territory bordered Jerusalem, and Benjamites had long historical ties to the city, making their resettlement there a natural continuation of pre-exilic patterns.
The Question of the Definite Article
The textual question about whether the name is Senuah or Hassenuah involves the Hebrew definite article "ha-." Some scholars argue that "Hassenuah" with the article is the correct form, treating it as a family or clan designation rather than a personal name. Others prefer the KJV reading of "Senuah" as a straightforward personal name. This kind of ambiguity is common in biblical genealogies and does not affect the essential historical information conveyed by the passage.
Biblical Context
Senuah (Hassenuah) appears in Nehemiah 11:9 and 1 Chronicles 9:7 in the lists of Benjamites who settled in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. The name identifies the father or ancestor of Judah, a leader among the post-exilic Benjamite community.
Theological Significance
The presence of Senuah's descendants in post-exilic Jerusalem demonstrates God's faithfulness in preserving the tribal structure of Israel through exile. The careful recording of Benjamite families alongside Judahite ones shows that the restored community maintained its connection to the covenant promises given to all of Israel's tribes.
Historical Background
The post-exilic resettlement of Jerusalem required deliberate organization, as many returning exiles preferred to live in their ancestral towns rather than the partially ruined capital. Nehemiah's account of the lot-casting to populate Jerusalem reflects the practical challenges of urban restoration in the Persian period.