A family, 324 of whose members returned with Zerubbabel (Ezra ii. 17, and the parallel account, Neh. vii. 23). The name also occurs in the list of those who signed the covenant with Nehemiah, and may there be identified with the leader of the clan (Neh. x. 19); who in I Esd. v. 16 is called Bassai. It is interesting to note that the name "Besai" occurs on a clay tablet found at Nippur (Hilprecht, "Pal. Explor. Fund, Quarterly Statement," Jan., 1898, p. 55).
Categories: [Jewish encyclopedia 1906]