The son of Pedaiah and governor of Judah during the time of Israelite exile and return.
About Sheshbazzar (Zerubbabel)
A Jewish leader who served as governor of Judah under Cyrus the Great, king of Persia. When Cyrus became king, he ordered that the temple in Jerusalem should be rebuilt (Ezra 1:1–4; compare 6:1–5). He chose Sheshbazzar to be governor of Judah (Ezra 5:14). Cyrus gave him the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple when he took control of Jerusalem (1:7–9). Sheshbazzar fulfilled this commission and took the vessels to Jerusalem with the returning exiles (verse 9). He helped to begin the restoration of the temple (5:16).
Sheshbazzar appears in the Bible only four times, all in the book of Ezra (1:8–9; 5:14–16). For many years, it scholars thought that Sheshbazzar was another name for Zerubbabel, another Jewish leader. Both men were from the royal family of Judah. The Bible calls Sheshbazzar "the prince of Judah," which might mean he was next in line to be king.
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Pedaiah (1 Chronicles 3:18)
- Half-sibling
- Shimei (1 Chronicles 3:19)
- Children 9
- Meshullam (1 Chronicles 3:19), Hananiah, Shelomith (1 Chronicles 3:19), Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, Jushab-hesed, Abiud
- Uncles 5
- Malchiram, Shenazzar, Jekamiah (1 Chronicles 3:18), Hoshama, Nedabiah
Key References
Cyrus king of Persia had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
He also removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles belonging to the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken and carried there from the temple in Jerusalem. King Cyrus gave these articles to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he appointed governor
So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed.”
All Scripture References (4)
Ezra (4)
Cyrus king of Persia had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
In all, there were 5,400 gold and silver articles. Sheshbazzar brought all these along when the exiles went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
He also removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles belonging to the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken and carried there from the temple in Jerusalem. King Cyrus gave these articles to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he appointed governor
So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been under construction, but it has not yet been completed.”