חָשֻׁם

חָשֻׁם

Chashum, the name of two or three Israelites

Definition

Chashum is a proper name given to two or three different individuals in the post-exilic period of Israel's history. The name appears in lists of returning exiles, signifying a person of Jewish heritage who came back from Babylon to Judah. In Ezra 2:19 and Nehemiah 7:22, Chashum is listed among the families returning with Zerubbabel. A different individual, possibly a descendant, is mentioned in Ezra 10:33 as having married a foreign wife, and in Nehemiah 10:18 as a signatory to the covenant of renewal. In Nehemiah 8:4, a Chashum stands beside Ezra during the public reading of the Law.

Biblical Usage

The name Chashum is used exclusively in the post-exilic books of Ezra and Nehemiah, appearing five times total. Its usage is strictly as a personal identifier within genealogical lists and historical records of the community that returned from the Babylonian exile. It denotes membership within the reconstituted Israelite community in Jerusalem, as seen in the lists of returnees (Ezra 2:19; Nehemiah 7:22), and participation in key communal events like the covenant renewal (Nehemiah 10:18) and the reading of the Law (Nehemiah 8:4).

Etymology

The name Chashum (חָשֻׁם) is derived from the same root as the Hebrew word 'chashman' (חַשְׁמַן, H2831), which is of uncertain meaning but is often associated with richness, wealth, or possibly a dark, dusky color. As a proper name, it is likely descriptive, meaning 'enriched,' 'opulent,' or 'dark-complexioned,' reflecting a physical characteristic or a hoped-for quality of prosperity.

Semantic Range

In the cultural context of the Restoration period, personal names often carried significant meaning or reflected the circumstances of birth. Chashum, meaning 'enriched,' may have expressed parental hope for blessing or described an individual's appearance. Its appearance solely in post-exilic records highlights the importance of genealogy and identity for the returning community, which was keen to re-establish its tribal and familial lineages in the Promised Land after the dislocation of the exile. As a proper noun, Chashum does not have direct synonyms. It is one of many Hebrew names from the period, such as Parosh (פָּרוֹשׁ, H6551) and Pahath-moab (פַּחַת מוֹאָב, H6355), which identify specific family heads within the community.

Word Details