Mattattah
Who was Mattattah in the Bible?
A descendant of Hashum who was listed among those who married foreign women during the Post-Exilic period.
Mattattah was a Jewish man who lived during the era of the Exile and Return. He is specifically identified in the biblical record as a descendant of Hashum, a family line that returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity. His historical significance is tied to the reforms initiated by Ezra the scribe.
In the aftermath of the return to Judah, Mattattah was named among a group of men who had taken foreign wives, an act considered a violation of the Mosaic Law at that time. He is recorded as one of the individuals who participated in the subsequent covenant to separate from these foreign influences to preserve the religious and cultural integrity of the restored community.
Background and Family
Mattattah lived during the Post-Exilic Period, a time of reconstruction and religious reformation for the Jewish people returning from Babylon. According to the genealogical records in the Book of Ezra, Mattattah belonged to the descendants of Hashum. The family of Hashum was a significant group among the returning exiles; according to Ezra 2:19, 223 members of this family had originally returned with Zerubbabel. While his specific parentage is not provided, his inclusion in the list of Hashum’s descendants establishes his place within the tribal community of Israel during the reconstruction of Jerusalem.
Major Life Events
The primary event associated with Mattattah occurs in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes I of Persia (c. 458 BC). Upon Ezra’s arrival in Jerusalem, he discovered that many of the people, including the priests and Levites, had intermarried with the surrounding pagan nations. Mattattah is explicitly named in Ezra 10:33 as one of the seven sons of Hashum who had taken foreign wives.
Under the leadership of Ezra and the communal leaders, a proclamation was issued requiring all those who had intermarried to assemble in Jerusalem. Mattattah and his kinsmen were part of the group that acknowledged their transgression. The record indicates that these men committed to putting away their foreign wives and the children born of those unions to adhere to the strictures of the Law of Moses.
Relationship to Other Biblical Figures
Mattattah is listed alongside six other descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. His life is defined by his interaction with the administrative and spiritual reforms of Ezra the Priest. While no specific personal interactions are recorded, Mattattah’s submission to the public decree highlights his role within the collective response of the community to Ezra's call for repentance.
Spiritual Significance
Though Mattattah is mentioned in only one verse, his inclusion in the sacred text serves a specific theological purpose. He represents the tension between the returning exiles and the cultural pressures of the surrounding region. His story reflects the Post-Exilic emphasis on "holy seed" and the preservation of the Jewish identity. By being named in this list, Mattattah’s life stands as a testament to the difficult and often painful process of corporate repentance and the prioritization of covenantal faithfulness over personal domestic ties.
Mattattah’s significance lies in his role as a representative of the Post-Exilic community's struggle for purity. His inclusion in the list of those who sinned and subsequently repented illustrates the high cost of religious reformation under Ezra's leadership. It underscores the biblical theme that individual actions have communal consequences and that restoration requires specific, often difficult, acts of obedience.
Furthermore, the recording of his name alongside his kinsmen ensures that the historical reality of the return from exile is grounded in specific individuals. Mattattah serves as a primary source evidence for the social and religious challenges faced by the 'remnant' of Israel as they sought to re-establish their relationship with God in their ancestral homeland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Mattattah in the Bible?
Mattattah was a descendant of Hashum who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile and was later listed among those who had married foreign women.
What did Mattattah do wrong according to Ezra?
He was identified as one of the men who had violated the covenant by marrying women from the surrounding pagan nations, which was prohibited under the reforms of Ezra.
Which book of the Bible mentions Mattattah?
Mattattah is mentioned exclusively in the Book of Ezra, specifically in Ezra 10:33.
What happened to Mattattah after he was named by Ezra?
The biblical text implies that he, along with the others listed, agreed to the covenant to put away his foreign wife and seek purification for the community.
Categories
Mentions by Book
- Ezra1
Scripture References
All 1 indexed verse, in canonical order, from the Berean Standard Bible.
Ezra · 1
- Ezra 10:33
From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.