The name Judah, meaning "praise" in Hebrew, is notably associated with two priests mentioned in the context of the Babylonian exile. These individuals are part of the broader narrative of the Jewish people during a time of significant upheaval and transformation.

1. Judah, the Priest in Nehemiah's Time

The first mention of a priest named Judah occurs in the book of Nehemiah. During the period of the return from Babylonian exile, Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, was instrumental in the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and the spiritual renewal of the Jewish community. In Nehemiah 12, a list of priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua is provided. Among these priests is Judah, who is noted for his role in the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 12:8 states: "The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who, together with his associates, was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving." This passage highlights Judah's involvement in the liturgical and musical aspects of worship, emphasizing the importance of praise and thanksgiving in the restored community.

2. Judah, the Priest in the Book of Ezra

Another priest named Judah is mentioned in the book of Ezra, which parallels the events of Nehemiah. Ezra, a scribe and priest, led a group of exiles back to Jerusalem and was pivotal in reestablishing the Law of Moses among the people. In Ezra 10, a list of those who had taken foreign wives and subsequently pledged to put them away is recorded. This list includes a priest named Judah.

Ezra 10:23 states: "Among the priests: the descendants of Joiarib, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name)." While Judah is not directly named in this verse, the context of the chapter suggests that he was among those priests who had to make difficult decisions to align with the covenantal laws.

Historical and Theological Context

The mention of priests named Judah during the post-exilic period underscores the challenges and reforms faced by the Jewish community as they sought to reestablish their identity and religious practices. The return from exile was not merely a physical journey but also a spiritual revival, requiring adherence to the Law and a renewed commitment to the covenant with God.

The role of priests like Judah was crucial in guiding the people through this transition. They were responsible for maintaining the purity of worship and ensuring that the community's practices aligned with the teachings of the Torah. The emphasis on praise and thanksgiving, as seen in Nehemiah, reflects the community's acknowledgment of God's faithfulness in restoring them to their homeland.

In summary, the priests named Judah serve as representatives of the broader priestly class that played a vital role in the spiritual and communal life of post-exilic Israel. Their actions and commitments were integral to the reestablishment of Jewish identity and religious observance during a pivotal moment in biblical history.Ezra 10:23
Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
Nave's Topical Index

Nehemiah 12:8
Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brothers.
Nave's Topical Index

Zechariah
... is a unity and assign it to at least two authors. ... a pre-exilic date: eg the mention
of Judah and Ephraim ... Israel came into hostile contact, and the name was not ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/zechariah.htm

The Release of Hope. (xxiv, xxix. )
... his Letter was carried to Babylon by two ambassadors from ... son of Hilkiah, whom Sedekiah,
king of Judah, sent to ... they prophesying unto you in My Name; I have ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 the release of hope.htm

Hebrew Captives; Or, Mordecai and Esther.
... captivity"those of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and ... making the famous
Septuagint"the name probably referring ... the children in Bethlehem under two years ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/hebrew captives or mordecai and.htm

Appendix v. Rabbinic Theology and Literature
... that is the tongue; and He bound two-and-twenty ... 25th the tax-gatherers were withdrawn
from Judah and Jerusalem ... Tishri the mention of the Divine Name was removed ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix v rabbinic theology and.htm

Isaiah
... to spread the knowledge of His name throughout the ... there are two opposed classes
within Israel itself (cf ... 1-8. But the general situation (in Judah) is deplorable ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/isaiah.htm

A Sermon on Isaiah xxvi. By John Knox.
... time, the earth, that is, the land of Judah, which sometimes ... Two vices lurk in this
our nature: the one is ... Christ, unto whom God for his own name's sake will be ...
/.../knox/the pulpit of the reformation nos 1 2 and 3 /a sermon on isaiah xxvi.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... predecessor Manasseh; but when, after less than two years' rule ... Josiah had been king,
in name at any rate, for ... of Josiah, the son of Amon, King of Judah, in the ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Prophet Joel.
... perish in the sea, and, moreover, in two different seas ... Babylon are comprehended
under the common name [Hebrew: ebr ... Joel has to do mainly with Judah, upon which ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet joel.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... book of the Magi, as well as that of the priests who handed ... Ormazd, usually employed
by Europeans, is that assumed by the name in modern ... These two names are ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... two petty kings, Eparna and Shitirparna, and exiled them to ... Partakka and Partukka
seem to be two different adaptations of the name Paraituka, the ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

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