Zatthu
Name and Spelling
Zatthu is the spelling found in the KJV of Nehemiah 10:14, while modern translations render the name as Zattu. The same family appears in Ezra 2:8, Nehemiah 7:13, and Ezra 10:27 under slight variations. These spelling differences reflect the evolving conventions of English Bible translation rather than differences in the underlying Hebrew text.
The Family of Zattu in the Return
The descendants of Zattu were among the families who returned from Babylonian exile to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel's leadership around 538 BC. According to Ezra 2:8, 945 members of this family made the journey (Nehemiah 7:13 records the number as 845). The discrepancy in numbers between these two census lists is a well-known feature of the parallel texts, likely reflecting different stages of counting or slightly different source documents.
Involvement in Ezra's Reforms
Several members of the Zattu family were named among those who had married foreign women during the post-exilic period. In Ezra 10:27, seven men from this family are listed as having taken foreign wives and agreeing to separate from them as part of Ezra's religious reforms. This participation in the covenant renewal indicates that the family was actively engaged in the community's spiritual life, even when it required difficult personal sacrifices.
Sealing the Covenant
In Nehemiah 10:14, Zatthu (Zattu) appears among the leaders of the people who sealed the renewed covenant under Nehemiah. This ceremony represented a solemn commitment to observe God's law, including obligations regarding Sabbath observance, temple support, and marriage within the covenant community (Nehemiah 10:28-39). The participation of family heads like Zattu gave the covenant communal authority and widespread support.
Significance
The repeated appearances of the Zattu family across multiple biblical texts paint a picture of a prominent post-exilic family that participated in both the challenges and triumphs of rebuilding the Jewish community in Jerusalem.
Biblical Context
Zatthu/Zattu appears in Nehemiah 10:14 as a covenant sealer, in Ezra 2:8 and Nehemiah 7:13 in the return census lists, and in Ezra 10:27 in connection with the foreign wives reform. The family was a recognized clan in post-exilic Jerusalem.
Theological Significance
The Zattu family's journey from exile through covenant renewal illustrates the biblical pattern of restoration requiring both return and reform. Their willingness to seal the covenant demonstrates that genuine faithfulness involves ongoing commitment to God's standards, even when personally costly.
Historical Background
Post-exilic Jewish society was organized around extended family groups (beit avot) whose heads served as community leaders. The covenant ceremony in Nehemiah 10 formalized the community's commitment to Torah observance and served as a foundational document for the restored community's identity.