Sia

Temple Servant After the Exile

Also known as: Shaja

The returnLeaderc. 500s BC

Sia (also written Siaha) was the head of one of the families of temple servants (Nethinim) who returned from the Babylonian exile to Jerusalem. His descendants are mentioned among those who served at the temple after its rebuilding. Although little is known about him personally, he represents the faithful servants who ensured the continuation of temple service.

Key events

Registration Among the Temple Servants

Sia's descendants are listed among the temple servants (Nethinim) who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel's leadership.

44the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon,
בְּנֵי־קֵרֹ֥ס בְּֽנֵי־סִֽיעֲהָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י פָדֽוֹן׃ ‬

Listed in Nehemiah's Register

The descendants of Siaha (Sia) are mentioned again in Nehemiah's register of those who returned from exile, confirming the family's role among the temple servants.

47Keros, Sia, Padon,
בְּנֵי־קֵירֹ֥ס בְּנֵי־סִיעָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י פָדֽוֹן׃ ‬

Settlement of the Temple Servants in Jerusalem

The temple servants, including the descendants of Sia, settled on the Ophel hill near the temple in Jerusalem to carry out their service duties.

21The temple servants lived on Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of them.
וְהַנְּתִינִ֖ים יֹשְׁבִ֣ים בָּעֹ֑פֶל וְצִיחָ֥א וְגִשְׁפָּ֖א עַל־הַנְּתִינִֽים׃ פ ‬

Zerubbabel's Return from Exile

Shia was among the many who participated in the great return under Zerubbabel, when around 42,000 Jews returned to rebuild the temple and Jerusalem.

1These are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town.
וְאֵ֣לֶּה ׀ בְּנֵ֣י הַמְּדִינָ֗ה הָֽעֹלִים֙ מִשְּׁבִ֣י הַגּוֹלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶגְלָ֛ה *נבוכדנצור **נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל לְבָבֶ֑ל וַיָּשׁ֛וּבוּ לִירוּשָׁלַ֥͏ִם וִֽיהוּדָ֖ה אִ֥ישׁ לְעִירֽוֹ׃ ‬
2They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ עִם־זְרֻבָּבֶ֗ל יֵשׁ֡וּעַ נְ֠חֶמְיָה שְׂרָיָ֨ה רְֽעֵלָיָ֜ה מָרְדֳּכַ֥י בִּלְשָׁ֛ן מִסְפָּ֥ר בִּגְוַ֖י רְח֣וּם בַּעֲנָ֑ה מִסְפַּ֕ר אַנְשֵׁ֖י עַ֥ם יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס ‬

The Role of the Temple Servants in the Rebuilding

The temple servants, to whom Shia's family belonged, were given tasks to support the Levites and priests in the rebuilt temple worship.

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׃ ‬

Mentioned in the Bible (3)