Bebai
בֵּבַי/BEE-bye/
“Fatherly”
Summary
The head of a family that returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel, and later a chief who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah.
☩Returning Exiles
The descendants of Bebai numbered 623 (or 628 in another reckoning) who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel. Later, Zechariah son of Bebai returned with 28 more men under Ezra. Some of this family were among those who had married foreign wives and were required to divorce them.
Key verses:Ezra 2:11Ezra 8:11Ezra 10:28Nehemiah 7:16
☩Covenant Signer
A Bebai (possibly the same or a descendant) was among the chiefs of the people who signed the sacred covenant with Nehemiah.
Key verses:Nehemiah 10:15
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Bebai," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Bebai," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).