Amok

Priestly Head after the Exile

The returnPriestPriestly headc. 5th century BC

Amok was the head of a priestly family in Jerusalem after returning from the Babylonian exile. He is mentioned in Nehemiah 12 among the priests and Levites who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua. In the next generation, under the high priest Joiakim, it was Eber who represented Amok's family as its head. The fact that Amok is listed in the priestly genealogies testifies to the careful documentation of priestly lineage, which was essential for maintaining the legitimacy of temple service in the restored community. Through his role as head of the priestly line, Amok helped ensure continuity in Israel's worship life after the exile.

Key events

Returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel

Amok is mentioned among the priestly heads who returned with Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua from Babylon to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.

1These are the priests and Levites who came up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָל֛וּ עִם־זְרֻבָּבֶ֥ל בֶּן־שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵ֖ל וְיֵשׁ֑וּעַ שְׂרָיָ֥ה יִרְמְיָ֖ה עֶזְרָֽא׃ ‬
2Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
אֲמַרְיָ֥ה מַלּ֖וּךְ חַטּֽוּשׁ׃ ‬
3Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
שְׁכַנְיָ֥ה רְחֻ֖ם מְרֵמֹֽת׃ ‬
4Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,
עִדּ֥וֹא גִנְּת֖וֹי אֲבִיָּֽה׃ ‬
5Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
מִיָּמִ֥ין מַֽעַדְיָ֖ה בִּלְגָּֽה׃ ‬
6Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה וְיוֹיָרִ֖יב יְדַֽעְיָֽה׃ ‬
7Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and of their kinsmen in the days of Jeshua.
סַלּ֣וּ עָמ֔וֹק חִלְקִיָּ֖ה יְדַֽעְיָ֑ה אֵ֣לֶּה רָאשֵׁ֧י הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים וַאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם בִּימֵ֥י יֵשֽׁוּעַ׃ פ ‬

The Lineage of Amok under High Priest Joiakim

During the time of high priest Joiakim, Amok's priestly lineage was represented by Eber as the head of the family, showing the lineage's continued role in temple service.

12In the days of Joiakim these were the priests who were heads of the fathers' houses: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
וּבִימֵי֙ יֽוֹיָקִ֔ים הָי֥וּ כֹהֲנִ֖ים רָאשֵׁ֣י הָאָב֑וֹת לִשְׂרָיָ֣ה מְרָיָ֔ה לְיִרְמְיָ֖ה חֲנַנְיָֽה׃ ‬
13of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
לְעֶזְרָ֣א מְשֻׁלָּ֔ם לַאֲמַרְיָ֖ה יְהוֹחָנָֽן׃ ‬
14of Malluch, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
*למלוכי **לִמְלִ֙יכוּ֙ יֽוֹנָתָ֔ן לִשְׁבַנְיָ֖ה יוֹסֵֽף׃ ‬
15of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;
לְחָרִ֣ם עַדְנָ֔א לִמְרָי֖וֹת חֶלְקָֽי׃ ‬
16of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
*לעדיא **לְעִדּ֥וֹא זְכַרְיָ֖ה לְגִנְּת֥וֹן מְשֻׁלָּֽם׃ ‬
17of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin and of Moadiah, Piltai;
לַאֲבִיָּ֖ה זִכְרִ֑י לְמִ֨נְיָמִ֔ין לְמוֹעַדְיָ֖ה פִּלְטָֽי׃ ‬
18of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
לְבִלְגָּ֣ה שַׁמּ֔וּעַ לִֽשְׁמַעְיָ֖ה יְהוֹנָתָֽן׃ ‬
19of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
וּלְיוֹיָרִ֣יב מַתְּנַ֔י לִֽידַֽעְיָ֖ה עֻזִּֽי׃ ‬
20of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;
לְסַלַּ֥י קַלָּ֖י לְעָמ֥וֹק עֵֽבֶר׃ ‬

Mentioned in the Bible (2)