The Aramaic word Dahăvâʼ, represented by H1723, identifies the Dehavites, a people colonized in Samaria. Its derivation is uncertain. This term is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time in the entire Bible, within a single verse. Its sole usage is to name one of the groups of people settled in the region during the post-exilic period.
The only biblical mention of H1723 is in a historical list found in Ezra 4:9. In this passage, the Dehavites are named as part of a coalition of peoples who authored a letter to the king of Persia. This group, which included officials like Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe, wrote to formally oppose the rebuilding of the temple and the city of Jerusalem by the returning Jewish exiles.
The context of the Dehavites' appearance links them directly with other foreign peoples also settled in the land:
- H896 Bablîy: This term refers to a Babylonian. The Babylonians are listed in the same group as the Dehavites, highlighting the diverse origins of the peoples opposing the work in Jerusalem Ezra 4:9.
- H5962 ʻAlmîy: This word identifies an Elamite or inhabitant of Elam. Like the Babylonians, the Elamites are mentioned in the same list in Ezra 4:9, situating the Dehavites within a broader collective of transplanted populations.
The significance of H1723 is historical rather than theological, providing a specific detail about the political landscape of the time.
- Historical Marker: The term precisely identifies one of the many ethnic groups that were moved into Samaria by foreign empires.
- Political Opposition: The only action associated with the Dehavites in scripture is their participation in the effort to stop the rebuilding of Jerusalem, placing them in an adversarial role in the narrative of Ezra Ezra 4:9.
- Foreign Coalition: Their inclusion in the list emphasizes the mixed population of the region and the organized nature of the opposition faced by the returning Israelites.
In summary, H1723 is a specific patrial noun for the Dehavites. Its single appearance in Ezra 4:9 serves a distinct historical purpose: to document one of the specific peoples who joined a coalition to oppose the reconstruction of Jerusalem. The word provides a glimpse into the ethnic composition of Samaria during the Persian period and the challenges faced by the Jewish people upon their return from exile.
TRV