Besodja is mentioned in the book of Nehemiah as the father of Meshullam, one of those who participated in repairing the walls of Jerusalem after the exile in Babylon. He is among the many individuals briefly noted in connection with the rebuilding work under Nehemiah's leadership.
6The Old Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars in place.
Nehemiah organized the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and Besodja's son was among those who took responsibility for a specific section of the wall work.
1Then Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests set to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors in place, and they consecrated the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred, all the way to the Tower of Hananel.
4Next to them Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Next to them Meshullam son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to them Zadok son of Baana.
5Next to them the men of Tekoa made repairs, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.[fn: The Hebrew word can mean either their Lord (God) or their lords, that is, their supervisors.]
6The Old Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars in place.
7Next to them Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth made repairs, along with the men of Gibeon and Mizpah, which was under the authority of the governor of the province Beyond the River.
Despite opposition from enemies such as Sanballat and Tobiah, the workers, including Besodja's son, continued to build the walls with perseverance and faith.
1When Sanballat and Tobiah, along with the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the men of Ashdod, heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem was moving ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious.
16When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid, and their confidence sank low, for they knew that this work had been accomplished by our God.