Sallu, Priest of the Return

Background and Family

Sallu appears in the biblical record within the context of the Restoration, specifically the period following the decree of Cyrus the Great in 538 BC. As a priest, Sallu belonged to the tribe of Levi and the house of Aaron, though his specific sub-lineage is not detailed beyond his own name as the head of a father's house. During this era, the identification of valid priestly lineages was of paramount importance to ensure the ritual purity and legitimacy of the Temple service. Sallu was among those who could prove their ancestry, allowing him to serve as a leader among his peers.

In the lists provided by the chronicler, Sallu is associated with other prominent priestly leaders such as Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These men represented the ecclesiastical backbone of the community that returned to Zion to rebuild the altar and eventually the Temple itself.

Major Life Events

The primary historical event involving Sallu was the migration from Babylon to Jerusalem. This journey, occurring around 537 BC, was a physically and spiritually demanding trek across hundreds of miles of desert. Upon arrival, Sallu and his associates were tasked with the immediate restoration of the religious life of Israel. According to Nehemiah 12:7, he was one of the 'heads of the priests and their associates in the days of Jeshua.' This indicates that he served during the high priesthood of Jeshua (also known as Joshua), the son of Jozadak.

By the following generation, the records show a slight shift in the orthography of the family name. In the days of Joiakim (the son and successor of Jeshua), the head of Sallu’s priestly house is listed as Kallai. In this register (Nehemiah 12:20), the name is recorded as 'Sallai.' Scholars generally agree this is a spelling variant of the same family line established by Sallu.

Relationship to Other Biblical Figures

Sallu’s primary associations are professional and communal. He is linked directly to Jeshua, the first High Priest of the return, and Zerubbabel, the Davidic descendant who led the people. He is also grouped with Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah, suggesting these families may have had specific shared responsibilities or geographic proximity within the tribal allotments of the priests around Jerusalem.

Spiritual Significance

The significance of Sallu lies in his role as a 'remnant-bearer.' His willingness to leave the established (though captive) life in Babylon to return to the ruins of Jerusalem reflects a commitment to the covenantal promises of God. As a priest, his life was dedicated to the mediation between God and the people through the sacrificial system.

Furthermore, Sallu represents the preservation of the divine order. Despite the trauma of the exile and the destruction of the first Temple, the priestly lines remained intact. Sallu serves as a link in the chain that connects the pre-exilic worship of Solomon's Temple to the post-exilic worship of the Second Temple, ensuring that the 'daily sacrifice' could be offered once more in accordance with the Law of Moses.