### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Châshum**, represented by `{{H2828}}`, is a proper name meaning **enriched**. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. The name is used to identify two or three different Israelites who were active during the period of Israel's return from exile and subsequent rebuilding.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, **Châshum** (or Hashum) appears in several key historical records. The name first identifies the head of a family, with "the children of **Hashum**" being numbered among those who returned from the Babylonian captivity ([[Ezra 2:19]]; [[Nehemiah 7:22]]). The descendants of this same **Hashum** are also listed among those who had taken foreign wives and agreed to separate from them during Ezra's reforms [[Ezra 10:33]]. Separately, an individual named **Hashum** is mentioned as one of the men standing on Ezra's left side during the public reading of the Law [[Nehemiah 8:4]], and a **Hashum** is also listed among the leaders who sealed the covenant to follow God's Law [[Nehemiah 10:18]].
### Related Words & Concepts
One key related word helps establish the identity of the family of Hashum:
* `{{H1121}}` **bên** (son): This word, meaning a son in the widest sense as a builder of the family name, is used to identify the descendants of **Hashum**. The phrases "The children of **Hashum**" ([[Ezra 2:19]]; [[Nehemiah 7:22]]) and "Of the sons of **Hashum**" [[Ezra 10:33]] use this term to designate them as a distinct genealogical clan within the restored community of Israel.
### Theological Significance
While a proper name, the context of **Châshum**'s appearances carries significant weight regarding Israel's post-exilic life.
* **Restoration of the Remnant:** The family of **Hashum** is part of the official census of those who returned to Judah, underscoring their role in the continuity and restoration of the nation ([[Ezra 2:19]]; [[Nehemiah 7:22]]).
* **Commitment to the Covenant:** An individual named **Hashum** is documented as a participant in two pivotal acts of covenant renewal: witnessing the reading of the Law with Ezra [[Nehemiah 8:4]] and formally sealing the written agreement to obey God's commands [[Nehemiah 10:18]].
* **Community Purity:** The sons of **Hashum** are included in the records of those who repented of intermarriage, a crucial step in re-establishing the holiness and distinct identity of the covenant people [[Ezra 10:33]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2828}}` **Châshum** is a name tied directly to the historical and spiritual restoration of Israel after the Babylonian exile. Though not a theological term itself, it represents a family and individuals who were integral to the reconstituted nation. The name appears in census lists, records of covenant renewal, and accounts of purification, marking the family of **Hashum** as active participants in one of the most formative periods in Israel's history.
TRV