Helem

Two figures in the UPDV bear the name Helem: a man in the genealogy of Asher and a returnee from Babylon associated with the symbolic crowning in Zechariah.

A Descendant of Asher

In the Asherite line, Helem appears as the father of four sons: "And the sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal" (1Ch 7:35).

A Returnee Honored in Zechariah's Crowning

Zechariah is told to take silver and gold from the captivity for a sign-act involving crowns. The first naming uses Heldai: "Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah; and you come the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have come from Babylon" (Zec 6:10). When the crowns are deposited in the temple, the same group is listed with the name Helem in place of Heldai: "And the crowns will be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and for the kindness of the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of Yahweh" (Zec 6:14). The two namings frame the same returning party at the start and end of the sign-act.