Sherebiah

Sherebiah (meaning: flame of the Lord or Jehovah has brought the heat) was a leading Levite of the post-exilic community, prominent in the records of Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra sought capable Levites for the return journey to Jerusalem and specifically asked for Sherebiah from the community at Casiphia; he is described as a chief man, and of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi — making him a man of Levitical standing whose recruitment required special effort (Ezra 8:17–18).

Sherebiah's subsequent service was extensive: he was among the Levites entrusted with the silver, gold, and temple vessels for the journey (Ezra 8:24); he assisted in explaining the law during Ezra's great public reading (Nehemiah 8:7); he led praise and confession in the great assembly of Nehemiah 9 (Nehemiah 9:4–5); and he sealed the covenant renewal document (Nehemiah 10:12). He is also listed among the leading Levites who came up with Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 12:8). Sherebiah stands as one of the most prominent Levitical figures of the entire restoration period.