Telem

The name Telem belongs to two distinct entries: a town in the south of Judah, and a gatekeeper among the post-exilic returnees. The two are unrelated and meet only in sharing the name.

A City of Judah

In the catalogue of southern Judahite towns, Telem is grouped with Ziph and Bealoth: "Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth," (Jos 15:24). It receives no further notice in the narrative.

A Porter in Ezra's List

In the list of those who had taken foreign wives and put them away, Telem appears among the porters (gatekeepers): "And of the singers: Eliashib. And of the porters: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri" (Ezr 10:24).