Ezra 8:7
And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.
Original Language Analysis
בֶּן
And of the sons
H1121
בֶּן
And of the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
1 of 8
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
עֵילָ֔ם
of Elam
H5867
עֵילָ֔ם
of Elam
Strong's:
H5867
Word #:
2 of 8
elam, a son of shem and his descendants, with their country; also of six israelites
בֶּן
And of the sons
H1121
בֶּן
And of the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 8
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
עֲתַלְיָ֑ה
of Athaliah
H6271
עֲתַלְיָ֑ה
of Athaliah
Strong's:
H6271
Word #:
5 of 8
athaljah, the name of an israelitess and two israelites
וְעִמּ֖וֹ
H5973
וְעִמּ֖וֹ
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
6 of 8
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
Historical Context
The Elam family sent 1,254 with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:7), making the seventy males with Ezra a smaller subsequent wave. The regional name Elam appears in Genesis 10:22 (son of Shem) and throughout biblical history as a significant civilization. By the Persian period, Elam was incorporated into the empire. Whether this family had Elamite ancestry or simply lived there during exile, their Hebrew names demonstrate maintained covenant identity despite geographical dispersion.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jeshaiah's name ('Yahweh is salvation') proclaim the gospel truth that only God, not human effort, accomplishes redemption?
- What does the inclusion of families possibly connected to Elamite region teach about the inclusive yet theologically defined nature of God's people?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males. The Elam family contributed seventy males. Jeshaiah means 'Yahweh is salvation,' a name particularly apt for exile context—only God could deliver from Babylon and restore Jerusalem. Athaliah, despite being predominantly a feminine name (notably the wicked queen in 2 Kings 11), was occasionally used for males, meaning 'Yahweh is exalted.'
The number seventy carries symbolic resonance in Scripture: seventy elders (Exodus 24:1), seventy years of exile (Jeremiah 25:11), seventy descendants of Jacob (Genesis 46:27), Jesus sending seventy disciples (Luke 10:1). While this may be coincidental, the biblical pattern associates seventy with completeness in governance and mission. Elam's seventy males thus represented a complete, organized family unit ready for covenant community participation.
Geographically, 'Elam' also named a region east of Babylon (modern southwestern Iran). Whether this family descended from Elamite converts or Israelites who had lived in Elam remains unclear. Either interpretation demonstrates that God's covenant people transcend pure ethnic boundaries—faith, not bloodline alone, determined membership in restored community.