Joiarib

The umbrella collects three men named Joiarib who appear in the Persian-period material of Ezra and Nehemiah: a teacher among the returning exiles, an ancestor in a Judahite genealogy, and a priest in the post-exilic temple roster.

A Teacher Among the Returnees

In Ezra's preparations to lead the second return from Babylon, Joiarib is sent for as one of the men entrusted to bring up Levites for the journey. He is named with Elnathan in the closing line of the summons: "Then I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, who were teachers" (Ezra 8:16). The designation "teachers" attaches to Joiarib here.

A Judahite Ancestor

A second Joiarib appears in Nehemiah's roll of those who settled in Jerusalem after the return. He is named in the genealogy of Maaseiah, four generations back: "and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite" (Neh 11:5). The line places this Joiarib in the Judahite chain that leads down to one of the men resident in the city.

A Priest in the Post-Exilic Roster

A third Joiarib stands among the priests who came up with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. He is named in the short list of priestly heads: "Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah" (Neh 12:6). When the Chronicler-style register of priests is given for the next generation, the house of Joiarib is represented by Mattenai: "and of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi" (Neh 12:19). Both notices fix this Joiarib as the head of one of the priestly courses of the rebuilt temple.