Jesh´yoo-uh; Heb., “Yah[weh] is salvation”
The Aramaic form of Joshua. 1 A Levite, the head of the ninth division of priests (1Chr 24:11); he is probably the ancestral head of the family groups below. 2 A priest who shared the responsibility for distributing the Levites’ portion of the offerings to the levitical cities during the reign of Hezekiah (2Chr 31:15). 3 The son of Jozadak (Jehozadak) and a priest and clan leader who, along with Zerubbabel, led the return of a group of exiles from the Babylonian captivity (ca. 521 BCE). He worked closely with Zerubbabel to reestablish worship in Jerusalem (Ezra 3:1-5; Ezra 8-9:1; Ezra 5:2). He is referred to as the high priest by Haggai (Hag 1:1) and Zechariah (Zech 6:11) and was the father of Joiakim, who probably succeeded him as high priest (Neh 12:10-12). 4 A clan (“house of Jeshua”) of which the family group of Jedaiah returned from the exile with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:36). 5 A family group of the clan of Pahath-moab who also returned from exile (Ezra 2:6). 6 A priestly family of the clan of Hodaviah who returned from exile (Ezra 2:40). 7 A Levite, the father of Jozabad, one who helped inventory the valuables brought back by the returning exiles (Ezra 8:33). 8 An official of the district of Mizpah who helped rebuild the walls of postexilic Jerusalem (Neh 3:19). 9 One who helped explain to the people the law read by Ezra (Neh 8:7); he is probably the same Levite who returned from the exile with Zerubbabel (Neh 12:8), took part in the covenant renewal ceremonies (Neh 9:4-5), and signed the covenant (Neh 10:9). He is possibly also the same as the son of Kadmiel who was a levitical leader under the priest Joiakim (Neh 12:24). 10 A name occurring once for Joshua the son of Nun (Neh 8:17). 11 A town settled by Judahites following the exile (Neh 11:26). Its location is suggested by some as modern Tel es-Sawa, about nine miles east of Beer-sheba.
