Atomic Bible

Babylonian city from which exiles returned

Tel-melah

Named in 2 verses across 2 books, first in Ezra 2:59.

תֵּל מֶ֫לַחTel-melah

The name means “heap of salt.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

About Tel-melah Written by AI

Tel-melah is mentioned in Ezra 2:59 and Nehemiah 7:61 as one of the Babylonian cities from which Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem after the decree of Cyrus the Great. Along with the exiles from Tel-harsha and Cherub-addan-immer, those from Tel-melah were unable to prove their ancestry or demonstrate that they belonged to the people of Israel. This indicates that during the Babylonian captivity, some Jews may have lost track of their genealogical records or intermarried with non-Jewish populations. The exact location of Tel-melah is unknown, but it was likely situated in Babylonia, the region where the Jewish exiles had been deported. The name "Tel-melah" may be derived from the Akkadian language, meaning "mound of salt" or "hill of salt." The mention of Tel-melah in the context of the returning exiles underscores the challenges faced by some Jews in establishing their identity and lineage after the 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

Hill of salt, a place in Babylon from which the Jews returned (id.).

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

32.127, 45.230 See it on a map

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names it

  1. Ezra 2:59

    The following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they could not prove that their families were descended from Israel:

  2. Nehemiah 7:61

    The following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove that their families were descended from Israel:

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.