Bezai

Bezai is the name borne by a family of returned exiles. The umbrella collects two distinct entries — a head of household whose descendants return from Babylon under Zerubbabel, and a family signatory to the covenant under Nehemiah.

Head of a Returning Family

The list of those who returned from Babylon names the sons of Bezai twice, with slightly differing tallies. Ezra's list reads: "The sons of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three" (Ezra 2:17). Nehemiah's parallel register gives a slightly higher count: "The sons of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four" (Neh 7:23).

A Family Sealing the Covenant

A family by the name of Bezai is among the signatories to the covenant under Nehemiah, listed alongside Hodiah and Hashum: "Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai," (Neh 10:18).