Pethahiah

The name Pethahiah belongs to three Old Testament figures, all in priestly, Levitical, or court contexts: a priest in the Davidic temple-courses, a Levite of the post-exilic restoration who put away a foreign wife and afterward led the assembly in blessing Yahweh, and a Judahite at the Persian king's hand for matters concerning the people.

A Priest in the Davidic Courses

In David's organization of the priesthood into twenty-four courses, Pethahiah is named as the head of the nineteenth division:

"the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel," (1Ch 24:16).

A Levite of the Restoration

Among the Levites listed by Ezra as having taken foreign wives — and putting them away — Pethahiah appears with Jozabad, Shimei, and others:

"And of the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer." (Ezr 10:23).

The same figure — or one closely associated with the same group — leads the Levites in the great public blessing at the renewal of the covenant under Nehemiah:

"Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, [and] Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless Yahweh your⁺ God from everlasting to everlasting; and let them bless your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise." (Ne 9:5).

A Judahite at the King's Hand

A third Pethahiah, distinct from the Levite, holds a position of Persian-court influence on behalf of the people of Judah:

"And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people." (Ne 11:24).

His descent is traced from Zerah son of Judah, and his role is described as standing at the king's hand for everything concerning the community.