Eliphelet, Descendant of Hashum
A returning Jewish exile from the family of Hashum who was identified as one of the men who had married foreign women in the time of Ezra.
Eliphelet was a member of the Jewish community that returned from the Babylonian Captivity to Jerusalem and Judah. He is specifically identified in the genealogical and census records found in the book of Ezra, belonging to the house or descendants of Hashum. His presence in these records marks him as a participant in the post-exilic restoration efforts directed by the priest and scribe Ezra.
His role in the biblical narrative is primarily associated with the spiritual reforms that took place during the mid-5th century BC. He is listed among a group of men who were addressed for their deviation from the Mosaic Law regarding intermarriage with the surrounding non-Jewish populations. This specific Eliphelet is defined by his inclusion in the collective effort of the returnees to maintain a distinct covenantal identity.
Background and Family
Eliphelet is identified in the post-exilic era as a descendant of Hashum. The family of Hashum was a significant group among the returning exiles. According to the census in Ezra 2:19, the "sons of Hashum" who originally returned with Zerubbabel numbered 223 individuals. By the time Ezra arrived in Jerusalem roughly eighty years later (c. 458 BC), the clan remained a recognized entity within the restoration community.
While the specific parentage of Eliphelet is not recorded, his membership in the house of Hashum places him within the broader socio-religious framework of the Second Temple period. The text does not provide details regarding his occupation, social standing, or specific age, focusing instead on his inclusion in a list of individuals facing a specific communal crisis.
Major Life Events
The only recorded event involving Eliphelet occurs in Ezra 10, following Ezra’s discovery that many of the returnees, including priests and Levites, had taken foreign wives from the neighboring pagan nations (Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, etc.). This was viewed as a violation of the command to remain separate from the idolatrous practices of the land (Ezra 9:1-2).
Eliphelet is listed in Ezra 10:33 as one of the seven men from the line of Hashum who were found to have married these women. Along with Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei, Eliphelet was confronted by the assembly of Israel.
From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. (Ezra 10:33, BSB)
Relationship to Other Biblical Figures
Eliphelet’s primary relationship within the text is his association with the "sons of Hashum." He is grouped with six other kinsmen in the list of those who had transgressed the law. His actions are recorded under the leadership of Ezra the Scribe, who presided over the reform.
Spiritual Significance
The inclusion of Eliphelet’s name in the biblical canon serves a specific historiographical and theological purpose. During the Post-Exilic Period, the preservation of the "holy seed" was considered vital for the survival of the nation and the fulfillment of Messianic promises. By recording the names of those who had intermarried, the text emphasizes the gravity of the spiritual compromise and the subsequent repentance of the community. Eliphelet represents the tension between the desire to assimilate with the surrounding cultures and the strict requirements of the Mosaic covenant during the rebuilding of the Jewish state.
Spiritual Significance
Eliphelet’s inclusion in the list of Ezra 10 highlights the transparency and accountability required of the post-exilic community. His significance lies in his participation in the public act of confession and reform, illustrating the difficult personal sacrifices made to ensure the religious purity of the returning exiles. He serves as a representative of the family of Hashum, showing that no clan was exempt from the scrutiny of the Law or the need for repentance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Eliphelet's father?
The Bible does not name his father specifically, only stating that he was a descendant or 'son' of Hashum.
What did Eliphelet do wrong according to the book of Ezra?
He was identified as one of the men who had married a foreign woman, which was a violation of the Mosaic Law as interpreted by Ezra and the elders of the returnees.
What happened to Eliphelet after the list in Ezra 10?
The biblical text provides no further details on his life after he is listed among those who had taken foreign wives. It is implied he participated in the communal divorce and sin offering mentioned in the chapter.
When did Eliphelet live?
He lived during the Post-Exilic Period, specifically during the time of Ezra's reforms, which took place around 458 BC.
Which tribe did Eliphelet belong to?
The biblical text does not explicitly state his tribe, though as a returning exile to Jerusalem, he was likely from the tribe of Judah or Benjamin.
Connected Figures
Ezra
Leader and Reformer
Hashum
Ancestral Patriarch
Zabad
Kinsman / Fellow descendant of Hashum
Categories
Mentions by Book
- Ezra1
Others Named Eliphelet
Eliphelet, Son of David2 Samuel 5:16
Eliphelet was a son of King David, born in Jerusalem during the United Monarchy, and is listed among the royal children in the books of Samuel and Chronicles.
Eliphelet, Descendant of Saul1 Chronicles 8:39
A Benjamite nobleman and descendant of King Saul who lived during the Divided Monarchy as the third son of Eshek.
Eliphelet, Son of Ahasbai2 Samuel 23:34
Eliphelet, son of Ahasbai, was a member of King David’s elite group of warriors known as 'The Thirty.'
Eliphelet, Descendant of AdonikamEzra 8:13
A descendant of Adonikam who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile as one of the heads of his family under the leadership of Ezra.