Gabbai was a Benjamite who settled in Jerusalem after returning from the Babylonian exile. He is mentioned in Nehemiah's list of those living in Jerusalem as part of the rebuilding of the Jewish community. Although little is known about him personally, he represents the faithful who returned to restore the nation.
Événements clés
Mentioned among the inhabitants of Jerusalem
Gabbai is mentioned as one of the Benjamites who settled in Jerusalem after returning from Babylon, as part of Nehemiah's census.
After the walls were rebuilt, Nehemiah organized a repopulation of Jerusalem in which one out of every ten Israelites was chosen to live in the holy city. Gabbai was among those who took part in this.
1The leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine remained in the towns.
Gabbai was part of a group of Benjamites under the leadership of Joel, son of Zikri, which formed an important part of Jerusalem's population after the exile.
Nehemiah kept careful lists of the families who returned and settled in Jerusalem and the surrounding cities, showing the importance of preserving genealogical records.
3These are the heads of the province who settled in Jerusalem, while in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his own property in his own town — Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon's servants.
4In Jerusalem there settled some of the people of Judah and some of the people of Benjamin. From the people of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the descendants of Perez;