JESHUA (another form of Joshua ). 1. Joshua the son of Nun ( Nehemiah 8:17 ). 2. The head of the ninth course of priests ( 1 Chronicles 24:11 ). 3. A Levite in the time of Hezekiah ( 2 Chronicles 31:15 ). 4. A man of the house of Pahath-moab whose descendants returned with Zerub. ( Ezra 2:6 , Nehemiah 7:11 [ 1E Esther 5:11 Jesus ]); perhaps identical with No. 2 above. 5. A Levitical house or its successive heads in the times of Zerub., Ezra, and Nehemiah; mentioned in connexion with the building of the Temple ( Ezra 3:9 ), the explanation of the Law ( Nehemiah 8:7; cf. Nehemiah 9:4 f.), and the sealing of the covenant ( Nehemiah 10:9 ). Cf. also Ezra 2:40 [ 1Es 5:26 Jesus ] 1Es 8:33 [ 1Es 8:63 Jesus ], Nehemiah 7:43; Nehemiah 12:8; Nehemiah 12:24 . Nehemiah 12:6 . The high priest who along with Zerub. headed the first band of exiles. In Ezr. and Neb. he is called Jeshua, in Hag. and Zec. Joshua . He took a leading part in the erection of the altar of burnt-offering and the laying of the foundations of the Temple ( Ezra 3:2 ff.). In Hag. and Zec. he is frequently coupled with Zerub., after these prophets had begun to stimulate the people to undertake building operations in earnest ( Haggai 1:1; Haggai 1:12; Haggai 1:14 , Zechariah 3:1 ff; Zechariah 6:10-11 ). He is eulogized in Sir 49:12 [ Jesus ], 7. A priestly family, Ezra 2:36 = Nehemiah 7:39 = 1Es 5:24 [ Jesus ]. 8. A town in the south of Judah ( Nehemiah 11:26 ). The site is possibly at the ruin Sa’wi west of Tett ’Arad and south of ‘Attîr .