The Family That Returned to Reclaim the Sanctuary
The name Bakbuk appears twice in the biblical records, each time identifying a family of Temple servants who courageously returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile to restart the sacred ministries that had been interrupted for seventy years. Though the individuals themselves are not named, the presence of the family name in the official registry speaks volumes about their dedication to the restoration of true worship.
The name Bakbuk means “a bottle” or “a flask,” a surprisingly common term for a family name, perhaps suggesting a trade or the role of a container used in Temple service for water, wine, or oil.
The Return from Babylon
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah record the meticulous accounting of the Jewish remnant that returned to Jerusalem under the decrees of the Persian kings. This was not a random migration; it was a carefully organized movement that emphasized priestly and Levitical purity.
The family of Bakbuk is listed among the Nethinims—a class of Temple servants (often non-Israelites who had fully integrated into the worship of the LORD) who assisted the Levites with the more manual tasks of the sanctuary, such as drawing water, hewing wood, and cleaning. Their labor was vital to the functioning of the Temple.
Ezra 2:51 (KJV): “The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, the children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim, the children of Bakbuk,” (Note: The mention here is usually taken to be Bakbuk’s lineage, though the name is often associated with the very next verse in the parallel text.)
The key verse specifically listing the family head is found in Nehemiah’s account:
Nehemiah 7:51 (KJV): “The children of Bakbuk (and others listed), the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,”
These lists are not mere trivia; they are the inspired Defence of the Truth that confirmed who had the legitimate right to serve in the newly re-established Temple. The inclusion of the family of Bakbuk validates their role and their commitment to the LORD.
The Significance of Hidden Service
The family of Bakbuk provides an enduring spiritual lesson for every generation committed to God’s service:
- Valuing all Labor: The Nethinims, whose ancestry was perhaps less prestigious than the priests or Levites, performed the necessary, practical, and often unglamorous work of the Temple. The Holy Spirit ensured their name was preserved, teaching us that there is no inferior service in the Kingdom of God. Whether one is preaching a sermon or simply keeping the sanctuary clean, all labor done unto the LORD is worthy of eternal record.
- Commitment to the Sanctuary: The family of Bakbuk had to make a choice to leave the relative comfort of Babylon—where they had settled for decades—to face the hardships of rebuilding a ruined city. Their return was a costly act of faith, motivated by a powerful desire to restore the proper worship of Jehovah. Their “bottle” was needed to hold the water for the priests’ purification and the oil for the lamps, symbolizing their essential contribution to the sanctity of the service.
The Defence of Rebuilding
For those who eagerly await the Lord’s Return, the example of Bakbuk and his family is one of profound encouragement. We are living in a time of spiritual rebuilding and restoration of truth.
Our “Defence of the Truth” must be comprehensive, involving both the bold preaching (like the priests) and the humble, diligent, day-to-day service (like the Nethinims). The Lord does not look only at the size of the ministry, but at the faithfulness of the heart that returns to the work of the Sanctuary. We are called to be like the family of Bakbuk: found faithful in the necessary work of the house until the Lord of the Temple returns.