Sanabassar
-a good name -1Esdras 6:20
-is he Zerubbabel? probably not...
further
info
SHESHBAZZAR
設巴薩 shesh-bazʹər [Heb šēšbaṣṣar, probably corrupt from Akk Sin-aba-uṣur, O Sin (the moon deity), protect the father; LXX Sasabasar]; AV Apoc also Sanabassar (1 Esd. 2:12, 15), Sanabassarus (1 Esd. 6:18, 20). The leader appointed by the Persians for the first returnees from exile after the Cyrus Edict in 538 B.C. (Ezr. 1:1–4, 11). He is likely to be identified with SHENAZZAR of 1 Ch. 3:18 (Heb šen˒aṣṣar; see Clines; cf. Williamson) and was thus a son of Jehoiachin and the uncle of Zerubbabel, who followed him as leader of the returnees and largely overshadowed him in the biblical history (cf. Ezr. 5:1f; Hag. 1:1).
Sheshbazzar is given two titles: (1) “prince” (Heb nāśî˒, Ezr. 1:8), a title which recalls the prophecies of Ezekiel (Ezk. 37:25) and is also in accordance with Persian generosity toward subjects of the empire; and (2) “governor” (Heb peḥâ, Ezr. 5:14), which stops short of a royal designation and indicates his subordination to the Persian emperor as provincial ruler. As these titles suggest, his authority was entirely dependent on Persian approval. Cyrus commissioned him to oversee the reconstruction of the temple in Jerusalem and to handle the treasures sent back with the returnees for that purpose (Ezr. 1:11). These few facts are all that is known about Sheshbazzar. He passes quietly from the biblical scene and is not mentioned again.
Much scholarly attention has been given to whether Sheshbazzar is to be identified with ZERUBBABEL. Several items argue in favor of an identification. First, portions of Ezra leave a somewhat confusing picture by closely associating the work of the two men and never making an explicit differentiation (Ezr. 1:1–4:4). Second, both men are called “governor” (Ezr. 5:14; Hag. 1:1). Third, both are commissioned to rebuild the temple (Ezr. 1:1–11; 3:1–13). Fourth, both men are credited with completing the foundations of the temple (Ezr. 5:16; 3:2, 8). In line with this evidence it has been suggested that Sheshbazzar was the Babylonian name and Zerubbabel was the Jewish name for one individual.
Nevertheless, it seems best to treat Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel as two individuals. Several considerations point in this direction. First, both Zerubbabel and Sheshbazzar are Babylonian names. Second, 1 Esd. 6:18 appears to distinguish between the two by stating that temple vessels were entrusted to both Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel. Third, it seems clear from the text of Ezra that Sheshbazzar was commissioned under Cyrus (Ezr. 1:1–11) and that Zerubbabel received his authorization from Darius (2:2; 3:1–4:5). Fourth, the list of 1 Ch. 3:18 strongly suggests that Sheshbazzar was the uncle of Zerubbabel. In the light of this evidence it may be concluded that these were two different men.
Bibliography.—W. F. Albright, JBL, 60 (1921), 108–110; D. J. A. Clines, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (NCBC, 1984), pp. 40f; C. C. Torrey, Ezra Studies (1910), pp. 136–38; H. G. M. Williamson, Ezra, Nehemiah (Word Biblical comm, 1985), pp. 17–19.
R. L. PRATT, JR.
Geoffrey W. Bromiley, vol. 4, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1988; 2002), 475.
