Adin
“Delicate or adorned”
Summary
The head of a Jewish family whose descendants returned from the Babylonian exile in significant numbers under Zerubbabel and later under Ezra.
☩Identity
Adin was the ancestor of a prominent Israelite family among the exiles who returned from Babylon. His name appears among those who sealed the religious covenant with Nehemiah, indicating his family's continued prominence in the post-exilic community.
☩Return from Exile
A large number of Adin's descendants returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel in 536 BC, numbering 454 according to Ezra or 655 according to Nehemiah, the discrepancy likely arising from different points of counting or copyist variations. Later, in 459 BC, fifty additional members of his family, led by Ebed the son of Jonathan, returned with Ezra.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Adin," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Adin," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).