Addon

Addon (meaning basis or foundation) was one of the persons named in Nehemiah 7:61 (called Tel-harsha in Ezra 2:59) who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon after the exile but could not demonstrate their genealogical connection to Israel. These returnees came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but were unable to prove whether their fathers' houses and descent were of Israel. The passage reflects the importance of genealogical documentation in post-exilic Judah for determining membership in the covenant community.

The inability to verify ancestry had practical consequences: priests in this group were excluded from serving at the altar until a high priest could consult the Urim and Thummim to determine their status. Addon represents the broader challenge of identity and continuity that faced the Jewish community returning from Babylonian captivity after several generations of displacement.