### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Bêbay**, represented by `{{H893}}`, identifies an Israelite individual and the clan descended from him. The name, which is noted as probably being of foreign origin, appears **6 times** across **5 unique verses**. The references to **Bêbay** are exclusively found in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, placing him and his descendants squarely within the context of Israel's return from exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The family of **Bêbay** is documented as part of the community returning to Judah. Two census lists of returnees, found in Ezra and Nehemiah, record the "children of **Bêbay**" numbering six hundred twenty-three [[Ezra 2:11]] and six hundred twenty-eight [[Nehemiah 7:16]], respectively. Later, a group from this clan is mentioned, with Zechariah the son of **Bêbay** leading twenty-eight males back with Ezra [[Ezra 8:11]]. The name also appears in a list of leaders who sealed a covenant to follow God's law [[Nehemiah 10:15]]. Finally, four of the "sons of **Bêbay**" are named among those who had married foreign women and were required to separate from them [[Ezra 10:28]].
### Related Words & Concepts
The narrative of **Bêbay** is connected to several other individuals and groups who were prominent in the post-exilic period:
* `{{H1121}}` **bên** (son): This word, meaning "a son (as a builder of the family name)," is critical to understanding **Bêbay**. Its frequent use in phrases like "children of **Bêbay**" or "sons of **Bêbay**" establishes that the name represents a significant family clan ([[Ezra 2:11]], [[Ezra 8:11]]).
* `{{H5803}}` **ʻAzgâd** (stern troop; Azgad, an Israelite): Azgad is listed alongside **Bêbay** as one of the leaders who sealed the covenant [[Nehemiah 10:15]]. The "children of Azgad" are also numbered in the census lists, showing that these two were heads of prominent returning families.
* `{{H2148}}` **Zᵉkaryâh** (Jah has remembered): He is identified specifically as "Zechariah the son of **Bêbay**" [[Ezra 8:11]], providing a named descendant who played a role in the return to Judah.
* `{{H3076}}` **Yᵉhôwchânân** (Jehovah-favored): He is listed as one of the sons of **Bêbay** who had taken a foreign wife [[Ezra 10:28]], highlighting the family's involvement in the push for religious purity.
### Theological Significance
The accounts involving `{{H893}}` highlight several key themes of the restoration period:
* **Post-Exilic Return:** The family of **Bêbay** is a clear example of the clans that returned to Judah, with specific numbers recorded to document their presence and significance in the restored community ([[Ezra 2:11]], [[Nehemiah 7:16]]).
* **Covenant Renewal:** The individual named **Bêbay** is listed among the chiefs of the people who sealed the covenant, a solemn act of recommitting the nation to God's laws after the exile [[Nehemiah 10:15]].
* **Community Purity:** The descendants of **Bêbay** were directly involved in the effort to purify the community from foreign influences, as seen when Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai are listed among those who agreed to put away their foreign wives [[Ezra 10:28]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H893}}` **Bêbay** is not just a name but the signifier of an important Israelite clan during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Though mentioned only a few times, the story of this family encapsulates the major struggles and triumphs of their era: the organized return from Babylon, the formal renewal of the covenant with God, and the difficult process of re-establishing a distinct religious and national identity in the promised land.
TRV