Habaiah is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically within the context of the post-exilic period when the Israelites returned from Babylonian captivity. The name "Habaiah" is understood to mean "Yahweh has hidden" or "Yahweh is hiding," reflecting a common practice in Hebrew nomenclature where names often bear theological significance.

Biblical References:

Habaiah is referenced in the Book of Ezra and the Book of Nehemiah, both of which detail the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem and the reestablishment of the temple and its services. The specific mention of Habaiah is found in the genealogical records concerning the priesthood.

· Ezra 2:61-62 : "And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name). These men searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean."

· Nehemiah 7:63-64 : "And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name). These men searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean."

Context and Significance:

The mention of Habaiah occurs in the context of the genealogical scrutiny that took place as the Jewish community sought to reestablish the temple services according to the Law of Moses. The priests were required to prove their lineage to Aaron, the brother of Moses, to serve in the temple. The descendants of Habaiah, along with those of Hakkoz and Barzillai, were unable to provide the necessary genealogical records. As a result, they were considered unclean and were excluded from the priesthood until a priest could consult the Urim and Thummim (Ezra 2:63; Nehemiah 7:65).

This exclusion underscores the importance of maintaining the purity and legitimacy of the priestly line, a critical aspect of Israelite worship and identity. The inability to verify their lineage meant that the descendants of Habaiah could not participate in the sacred duties of the temple, highlighting the stringent requirements for priestly service.

Theological Implications:

The account of Habaiah and his descendants serves as a reminder of the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, where adherence to divine instructions was paramount. The emphasis on genealogical purity reflects the broader biblical theme of holiness and separation unto God, particularly for those serving in priestly roles. It also illustrates the challenges faced by the returning exiles in reestablishing their religious and communal life in accordance with the Torah.

In a broader theological context, the account of Habaiah's descendants can be seen as a foreshadowing of the New Testament's emphasis on spiritual lineage and purity through faith in Christ, rather than mere physical descent.Habaiah

the hiding of the Lord

HABAIAH; HOBAIAH

ha-ba'-ya, (cha-bhayah, chobhayah): A post-exilic priestly family which was unable to establish its pedigree. "Habaiah" is the form in Ezra 2:61; in the parallel passage (Nehemiah 7:63), the King James Version has "Habaiah," and the Revised Version (British and American) "Hobaiah"; in the parallel passage in 1 Esdras 5:38, the form is Obdia, Codex Vaticanus, Obbeia.

2252. Chabayah -- "Yah has hidden," an Israelite
... "Yah has hidden," an Israelite. Transliteration: Chabayah Phonetic Spelling:
(khab-ah-yaw') Short Definition: Habaiah. ... NASB Word Usage Habaiah (1), Hobaiah (1). ...
/hebrew/2252.htm - 6kHabaiah (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia HABAIAH; HOBAIAH. ha-ba'-ya ... Codex Vaticanus,
Obbeia. Multi-Version Concordance Habaiah (2 Occurrences). ...
/h/habaiah.htm - 7k

Hobaiah (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia HABAIAH; HOBAIAH. ha-ba'-ya, (cha-bhayah, chobhayah):
A post-exilic priestly family which was unable to establish its pedigree. ...
/h/hobaiah.htm - 8k

Barzil'lai (10 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:61 And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children
of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of ...
/b/barzil'lai.htm - 9k

Habai'ah (1 Occurrence)
Habai'ah. Habaiah, Habai'ah. Habakkuk . Multi-Version Concordance Habai'ah
(1 Occurrence). ... (See RSV). Habaiah, Habai'ah. Habakkuk . Reference Bible.
/h/habai'ah.htm - 6k

Koz (5 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:61 Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children
of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of ...
/k/koz.htm - 8k

Obdia
... ob-di'-a (Codex Alexandrinus Obdia; Codex Vaticanus Hobbeia): One of the families
of usurping priests (1 Esdras 5:38) = "Habaiah" of Ezra 2:61; "Hobaiah" of ...
/o/obdia.htm - 6k

Gileadite (10 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:61 Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children
of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of ...
/g/gileadite.htm - 9k

Barzillai (10 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:61 Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children
of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of ...
/b/barzillai.htm - 12k

Haaraloth (1 Occurrence)

/h/haaraloth.htm - 6k

Hakkoz (6 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:61 Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children
of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of ...
/h/hakkoz.htm - 9k

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