Ater is a name found in the genealogical records of the Jewish people who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile. Like many in these census lists, Ater is not mentioned for his personal exploits but for his role as the head of a family whose members dedicated themselves to the reconstruction of the covenant community.
The name Ater ($\text{‘Âá¹Ä“r}$) is a Hebrew word that means “Shut Up,” “Disabled,” or “Bound,” though in this context, it is simply a family name whose lineage survived the seventy years of captivity.
The Return from Exile
Ater is listed in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah among the collective body of people who left Babylon under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua to re-establish the Jewish presence in their ancestral homeland.
The specific designation Ater receives is that of a porter. Porters were the Temple servants and gatekeepers whose duty was to guard the entrances to the sanctuary complex, regulate access, and ensure the security and sanctity of the holy place.
The King James Version lists the descendants of Ater who returned:
The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. (Ezra 2:16)
The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. (Nehemiah 7:21)
The Family of Ater of Hezekiah
The phrase “of Hezekiah” is a critical qualifier attached to Ater’s name. This phrase may imply one of two things:
- A Special Association: The family of Ater may have been associated with, or descended from, a particular individual named Hezekiah (perhaps a family head or a notable figure), distinguishing them from any other family named Ater.
- A Covenant Identity: More significantly, some scholars suggest “of Hezekiah” may designate a family that was tied to the royal house or a distinct group known for their piety during the reforms of King Hezekiah centuries earlier. This would serve as a mark of honor and fidelity to the Law.
Regardless of the precise meaning, the listing confirms that ninety-eight members of the family of Ater made the arduous journey back to Jerusalem. These individuals, with their precise number recorded in both historical accounts, were essential to the function of the restored Temple. Their commitment to their hereditary duty as porters ensured the continuity of ritual worship and the security of the newly rebuilt sanctuary.
Ater, therefore, represents the quiet faithfulness of the Temple Servants—those whose commitment to duty ensured that the physical and spiritual restoration of Israel could proceed after the long period of exile.