Harsja

Levite and father of Ussi

Also known as: Harsha

The returnPriestc. 500s BC

Harsja was a Levite mentioned in the genealogies concerning Israel's return from exile in Babylon. He is known as part of the Levitical lineage that served in the temple after its rebuilding. He is mentioned in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah as part of the restoration of the Jewish community.

Family

ChildUzzah

Key events

Mentioned in the Levitical genealogy

Harsja is mentioned as part of the Levitical lineage that returned from the Babylonian exile and served in the temple in Jerusalem.

Ezra 8:24 Show in context →

24Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, together with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers,

וָאַבְדִּ֛ילָה מִשָּׂרֵ֥י הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר לְשֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֣ה חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה וְעִמָּהֶ֥ם מֵאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם עֲשָׂרָֽה׃ ‬

The service of the Levites in the rebuilt temple

As part of the Levitical family, Harsja's descendants contributed to the service in the restored temple in Jerusalem after the exile.

Ezra 8:18 Show in context →

18Since the gracious hand of our God was upon us, they brought us a capable man from the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel—Sherebiah—along with his sons and brothers, eighteen men;

וַיָּבִ֨יאּוּ לָ֜נוּ כְּיַד־אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ הַטּוֹבָ֤ה עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ שֶׂ֔כֶל מִבְּנֵ֣י מַחְלִ֔י בֶּן־לֵוִ֖י בֶּן־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֛ה וּבָנָ֥יו וְאֶחָ֖יו שְׁמֹנָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃ ‬

Ezra 8:19 Show in context →

19also Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, twenty men;

וְאֶת־חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה וְאִתּ֥וֹ יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖ה מִבְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֑י אֶחָ֥יו וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם עֶשְׂרִֽים׃ ס ‬

Ezra 8:20 Show in context →

20and 220 of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had appointed to assist the Levites. All of them were registered by name.

וּמִן־הַנְּתִינִ֗ים שֶׁנָּתַ֨ן דָּוִ֤יד וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ לַעֲבֹדַ֣ת הַלְוִיִּ֔ם נְתִינִ֖ים מָאתַ֣יִם וְעֶשְׂרִ֑ים כֻּלָּ֖ם נִקְּב֥וּ בְשֵׁמֽוֹת׃ ‬

Recording of genealogies

Harsja's name was recorded among the Levitical families as part of the careful keeping of lineages after the return from Babylon.

Neh 11:15 Show in context →

15From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni;

וּמִֽן־הַלְוִיִּ֑ם שְׁמַעְיָ֧ה בֶן־חַשּׁ֛וּב בֶּן־עַזְרִיקָ֥ם בֶּן־חֲשַׁבְיָ֖ה בֶּן־בּוּנִּֽי׃ ‬

Neh 11:16 Show in context →

16Shabbethai and Jozabad, two of the heads of the Levites, who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God;

וְשַׁבְּתַ֨י וְיוֹזָבָ֜ד עַל־הַמְּלָאכָ֤ה הַחִֽיצֹנָה֙ לְבֵ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים מֵרָאשֵׁ֖י הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ ‬

The role of the Levites in renewing the covenant

The Levites, including descendants of the family of Harsha, participated in renewing the covenant with God under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Neh 9:4 Show in context →

4On the platform of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani, and they cried out with a loud voice to the LORD their God.

וַיָּ֜קָם עַֽל־מַֽעֲלֵ֣ה הַלְוִיִּ֗ם יֵשׁ֨וּעַ וּבָנִ֜י קַדְמִיאֵ֧ל שְׁבַנְיָ֛ה בֻּנִּ֥י שֵׁרֵבְיָ֖ה בָּנִ֣י כְנָ֑נִי וַֽיִּזְעֲקוּ֙ בְּק֣וֹל גָּד֔וֹל אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ ‬

Neh 9:5 Show in context →

5Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said: "Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting." "Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above every blessing and praise.

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ הַלְוִיִּ֡ם יֵשׁ֣וּעַ וְ֠קַדְמִיאֵל בָּנִ֨י חֲשַׁבְנְיָ֜ה שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֤ה הֽוֹדִיָּה֙ שְׁבַנְיָ֣ה פְתַֽחְיָ֔ה ק֗וּמוּ בָּרֲכוּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם מִן־הָעוֹלָ֖ם עַד־הָעוֹלָ֑ם וִיבָֽרְכוּ֙ שֵׁ֣ם כְּבוֹדֶ֔ךָ וּמְרוֹמַ֥ם עַל־כָּל־בְּרָכָ֖ה וּתְהִלָּֽה׃ ‬

Mentioned in the Bible (2)

Ezra 2:52 Nehemiah 7:54