Lexical Summary Salmay: Salmai Original Word: שַׂלְמַי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shalmai From salmah; clothed; Salmai, an Israelite -- Shalmai. see HEBREW salmah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition head of a postexilic family NASB Translation Shalmai (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs שַׂלְמַי proper name, masculine head of post-exilic family; — ׳שׂEzra 2:46 Qr (Kt. שׂמלי [compare Late Hebrew proper name שִׂמְלַי Dalm, Lihyanian שמלDHMEpigr. Denkm. Arabic No.13]; so Baer; van d. H. Gi Qr שַׁלְמַי; Σαμααν, A ᵐ5L Σελαμ(ε)ι) = שַׂלְמָ֑י Nehemiah 7:48 (Σελαμει; א Σαμαει). שׂמלי Kt Ezra 2:46 see שַׂלְמַי Topical Lexicon Scriptural OccurrencesSalmai appears in the post-exilic records that enumerate those who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel. Ezra 2:46 lists him among “the descendants of Salmai”, and Nehemiah 7:48 repeats the same family line when a later census is taken under Nehemiah’s leadership. In both passages the clan is grouped with the Nethinim, a hereditary order of temple servants dedicated to supporting the priesthood in worship and maintenance of the house of the Lord. Historical Context: The Return from Exile The Babylonian captivity had uprooted the people of Judah, silenced temple worship, and scattered Levitical service. When Cyrus’s decree (Ezra 1:1-4) opened the way home, families such as that of Salmai seized the opportunity to re-establish covenant life in Jerusalem. The lists in Ezra and Nehemiah served not merely as immigration records but as covenant documents that authenticated genealogies, land rights, and ministerial assignments. Salmai’s descendants came in the first wave (Ezra 2) and are still accounted for nearly a century later (Nehemiah 7), indicating persistent faithfulness across generations. Role among the Temple Servants (Nethinim) The Nethinim were originally appointed by David and the leaders “for the service of the Levites” (Ezra 8:20). Their tasks ranged from wood-cutting and water-drawing (Joshua 9:27) to gatekeeping and assisting in sacrificial preparations. Though their status was lower than that of Levites, their contribution was indispensable for daily worship. Salmai’s family therefore belonged to a class whose humble service enabled the priests to minister without distraction. This underscores a biblical pattern: in God’s economy, functions often deemed menial are honored as integral to the corporate worship of His people (1 Corinthians 12:22-24). Lessons in Covenant Faithfulness 1. Continuity: The appearance of Salmai’s line in two separate censuses reveals inter-generational perseverance. Amid political upheaval, maintaining identity as temple servants exemplified steadfast loyalty to the covenant. Christological and Typological Insights The Nethinim, though not priests, bore daily burdens so that sacrificial worship could proceed. Their hidden labor foreshadows the Servant nature of Christ, who “emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). Just as the priests relied on the Nethinim, fallen humanity relies wholly on the greater Servant-Priest, Jesus Christ, who secures access to God. Furthermore, the preservation of Salmai’s name in Scripture prefigures the Lamb’s Book of Life, where every humble laborer in Christ’s service is permanently recorded (Revelation 20:12). Application for Ministry Today • Value unseen service: Janitors, children’s workers, and sound technicians mirror Salmai’s clan, enabling corporate worship. Recognize and honor such ministries. Salmai’s brief appearances therefore illuminate themes of humble devotion, covenant continuity, and God’s delight in willing servants—truths that remain vital for the Church’s worship and witness today. Forms and Transliterations שַׁלְמָֽי׃ שַׁלְמַ֖י שלמי שלמי׃ šal·may šal·māy šalmay šalmāy shalMaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 2:46 HEB: [שַׁמְלַי כ] (שַׁלְמַ֖י ק) בְּנֵ֥י NAS: the sons of Shalmai, the sons INT: of Hagab the sons Shalmai the sons of Hanan Nehemiah 7:48 2 Occurrences |
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