### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **Bêtsay**, represented by `{{H1209}}`, is defined as **Bezai**, the name of two Israelites. It appears **3 times** in **3 unique verses**, identifying an individual and a family line within the post-exilic community.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The name `{{H1209}}` appears in the context of the return from exile and the re-establishment of the Israelite community. In lists of returning families, "The children of **Bezai**" are numbered at three hundred and twenty-three [[Ezra 2:17]] and three hundred and twenty-four [[Nehemiah 7:23]]. The name also appears individually, where **Bezai** is listed among those who sealed a covenant alongside figures like Hodijah and Hashum [[Nehemiah 10:18]].
### Related Words & Concepts
The verses recording the descendants of Bezai use several key numerical terms, and the concept of lineage is central:
* `{{H1121}}` **bên** (a son): This word, used in the phrase "The children of **Bezai**," signifies a son as a builder of the family name and is used in the widest sense of literal and figurative relationship ([[Ezra 2:17]], [[Nehemiah 7:23]]).
* `{{H3967}}` **mêʼâh** (a hundred): Used to quantify the family of Bezai, this primitive numeral denotes a hundred ([[Ezra 2:17]], [[Nehemiah 7:23]]).
* `{{H6242}}` **ʻesrîym** (twenty): This word is also part of the census count for the family of Bezai ([[Ezra 2:17]], [[Nehemiah 7:23]]).
* `{{H7969}}` **shâlôwsh** (three): This primitive number is used to specify the exact count of Bezai's descendants in the census records [[Ezra 2:17]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H1209}}` is rooted in its historical context within the restoration of Israel:
* **Genealogical Identity:** The specific mention of "The children of **Bezai**" in the census lists of Ezra and Nehemiah underscores the critical importance of lineage and family identity in reconstituting the nation after the exile ([[Ezra 2:17]], [[Nehemiah 7:23]]).
* **Covenant Faithfulness:** An individual named **Bezai** is recorded as a signatory to the covenant, representing personal and collective commitment to upholding God's law during a pivotal moment of national renewal [[Nehemiah 10:18]].
* **Community Foundation:** The family of **Bezai**, numbering over three hundred people, represents one of the foundational family units that made up the restored community, highlighting that the nation was rebuilt upon the strength of these clans.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1209}}` is not a theological term but a significant proper name, **Bezai**, that appears in the biblical record of Israel's restoration. It represents both an individual who actively participated in the nation's covenant renewal and the progenitor of a large family clan essential to the census of the returning exiles. The name's usage demonstrates the scriptural emphasis on genealogical continuity and communal commitment in the life of Israel.
TRV