Sotai is mentioned as the ancestor of one of the families among the descendants of Solomon's servants who returned from the Babylonian exile to Jerusalem. He is a lesser-known biblical figure, but his family is documented among those who returned with Zerubbabel. His descendants were counted among the temple servants in the rebuilt Jerusalem.
Key events
Listed Among the Descendants of Solomon's Servants in Ezra
Sotai's descendants are mentioned among those who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem after the exile, in the list of the descendants of Solomon's servants.
Listed Among the Descendants of Solomon's Servants in Nehemiah
In a parallel list in the book of Nehemiah, Sotai's descendants are again mentioned among the descendants of Solomon's servants who returned from the exile.
Sotai's family was part of the large group that returned from the Babylonian exile under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua 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.
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:
6These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town.
7They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
The descendants of Solomon's servants, including Sotai's family, were counted together with the temple servants (the Nethinim) and had specific duties related to the operation of the temple.