Bible Dictionary
Bilshan
Bilshan was one of the Israelites who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel.
Definition
Bilshan was an Israelite of some note who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel. His name is explained as “eloquent,” and the supplied material also connects it with meanings such as “inquirer” or “father of the tongue.”
Biblical Usage
Bilshan appears in the postexilic lists of those who returned with Zerubbabel. No further biblical role is described in the supplied material.
Historical Background
The name has several proposed explanations in the supplied material. In 1 Esdras, Bilshan is called Beelsarus; rabbinic tradition takes Bilshan as a surname of the preceding Mordecai.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Son of the tongue; i.e., “eloquent”, a man of some note who returned from the Captivity with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:2; Neh. 7:7).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(eloquent), one of Zerubbabel’s companions on his expedition from Babylon. (Ezra 2:2; Nehemiah 7:7) (B.C. 536).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>bil'-shan (bilshan): An Israelite who returned with Zerubbabel (Ezr 2:2 = Ne 7:7). The name may be explained as the "inquirer" (new Hebrew and Aramaic), balash, the ("b" being an abbreviation of ben, as in bidhqar, and bimhal. Bilshan would then be a compound of ben, and lashon. J. Halevy (Revue etudes juives, X, 3)) translates the name "pere de la langue," 'abh lashon. In 1 Esdras 5:8, he is called "Beelsarus," which is akin to the form "Belshar" = "Belshar-uccur" or "O Bel, protect king." Bilshan points to "Belsun," "his lord." The rabbis take Bilshan as a surname to the preceding</p><p>Mordecai. H. J. Wolf</p>