Cheluhi
Who was Cheluhi in the Bible?
Cheluhi was an Israelite among those who returned from the Babylonian Exile and was identified as having married a foreign woman in violation of the Mosaic Law.
Cheluhi is a minor biblical figure mentioned exclusively in the book of Ezra. He appears within the context of the Post-Exilic Period, a time when the Jewish people were returning from captivity in Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple under the leadership of Ezra the priest. His name is preserved in a genealogical list of individuals who had transgressed the covenant regarding marriage to foreign inhabitants of the land.
While his personal history is not detailed in the biblical text, his inclusion in the record serves a specific structural and theological purpose. He is listed among the descendants of Bani, representing the wider community of returnees who were called to spiritual and social reform following the discovery of their intermarriage with neighboring pagan nations.
Background and Family
The biblical record concerning Cheluhi is brief, restricted to a single mention in the tenth chapter of the Book of Ezra. He is listed as one of the individuals who returned to Judah following the Babylonian Exile. Based on the structure of the list in Ezra 10, Cheluhi is associated with the family or clan of Bani (Ezra 10:34), though his specific lineage and tribal affiliation are not explicitly defined beyond this connection to the returning exiles.
Major Life Events
The defining event of Cheluhi’s life, as preserved in Scripture, occurs during the reforms of Ezra the scribe in approximately 458 BC. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Ezra was informed that many of the people, including priests and Levites, had taken foreign wives from the surrounding Canaanite, Hittite, Perizzite, and other pagan populations. This was considered a serious breach of the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 7:3-4), which forbade such unions to prevent the Israelites from being led into idolatry.
"Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi," (Ezra 10:35)
Cheluhi was identified as one of the men who had married a foreign woman. In response to Ezra’s intercession and the subsequent public confession, a covenant was made to put away these wives and their children. Cheluhi is recorded as one of those who complied with this communal decision, participating in the mass purification of the post-exilic community.
Relationship to Other Biblical Figures
Cheluhi appears in a sequence alongside Benaiah and Bedeiah. While no specific familial relationship is detailed between these three men, they are grouped under the larger heading of the sons of Bani. This suggests a shared clan identity. His primary interaction with the biblical narrative is his submission to the leadership of Ezra and the elders of Israel during the assembly at Jerusalem.
Spiritual Significance
Cheluhi serves as a representative of the challenges faced by the returning remnant. His presence in the text highlights the biblical theme of repentance and the difficulty of maintaining distinct religious identity in a multicultural environment. Although his individual voice is not heard, his inclusion in the list of those who separated from their foreign wives signifies a commitment to the restoration of the covenant and the preservation of the holy seed of Israel in the land of promise.
Cheluhi signifies the individual accountability required within the covenant community. His name is preserved not for his own achievements, but as a record of his participation in a difficult act of national and personal repentance. For the chronicler of Ezra, Cheluhi represents the 'remnant' that, while flawed, was willing to undergo painful social and familial reorganization to ensure the spiritual survival of the nation.
Theologically, he is a figure of the Post-Exilic restoration. His inclusion ensures that the history of the return is not merely a history of leaders like Ezra or Nehemiah, but a history of common individuals who had to make practical decisions to align their lives with the Law of Moses after years of displacement in Babylon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cheluhi mentioned in the Bible?
Cheluhi is mentioned only once in the Bible, in Ezra 10:35.
What does the name Cheluhi mean?
The exact meaning of Cheluhi (כְּלוּהוּ) is uncertain, though some scholars suggest it may be related to a root meaning 'completed' or 'all'.
What did Cheluhi do wrong?
He was among those who married foreign women, which was a violation of the Law of Moses intended to prevent the Israelites from falling into idolatry.
What happened to Cheluhi's family?
According to the decree in Ezra 10, Cheluhi and the others listed agreed to put away their foreign wives and their children to remain part of the holy community.
To which tribe did Cheluhi belong?
His specific tribe is not mentioned; he is only identified as a descendant of Bani among the returning exiles.
Categories
Mentions by Book
- Ezra1
Scripture References
All 1 indexed verse, in canonical order, from the Berean Standard Bible.
Ezra · 1
- Ezra 10:35
Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,