A Persian official who wrote to King Artaxerxes
Rehum
Named in 4 verses of Ezra, first in Ezra 4:8.
רְחוּםRehum
The name means “merciful; compassionate.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Rehum Written by AI
Rehum is mentioned in the book of Ezra as a high-ranking Persian official who held the title of "commander" (Ezra 4:8). When the enemies of the Jews learned that they had begun rebuilding the temple and the city walls of Jerusalem, they wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes to persuade him to stop the work (Ezra 4:7 to 16). Rehum was one of the officials who signed this letter, along with Shimshai the scribe and others (Ezra 4:9). In the letter, they accused the Jews of rebuilding a rebellious and wicked city that had a history of causing trouble for kings (Ezra 4:12 to 16). As a result, Artaxerxes ordered the work to be stopped until further notice (Ezra 4:17 to 22). Rehum and his associates then went to Jerusalem and forcibly made the Jews stop building (Ezra 4:23). This opposition delayed the completion of the temple and the city walls until the reign of King Darius (Ezra 4:24). Rehum's actions demonstrate the political challenges faced by the Jews as they sought to rebuild Jerusalem after returning from Babylonian exile.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Rehum, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
Merciful. (1.) One of “the children of the province” who returned from the Captivity (Ezra 2:2); the same as “Nehum” (Neh. 7:7).
(2.) The “chancellor” of Artaxerxes, who sought to stir him up against the Jews (Ezra 4:8-24) and prevent the rebuilding of the walls and the temple of Jerusalem.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- Ezra 4:8
Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote the letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:
- Ezra 4:9
From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,
- Ezra 4:17
Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.
- Ezra 4:23
When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.