Lives of Scripture

Meremoth, son of Uriah the priest, appears at two distinct moments in the postexilic restoration of Judah. When Ezra led a group of exiles back to Jerusalem carrying a great weight of silver, gold, and sacred vessels donated for the temple, he was careful to entrust the treasure to trustworthy hands rather than risk it on the journey through hostile territory. Upon arrival, 'the silver and the gold and the utensils were weighed into the hands of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah... they weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the utensils, giving a full account at that time' (Ezra 8:33-34) -- a task requiring integrity given the value involved and the temptation for such wealth to go missing. Years later, during Nehemiah's rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, Meremoth is named as repairing not one but two separate sections -- from the tower of Hananel to the house of Eliashib, and again near the priests' district (Nehemiah 3:4, 21) -- suggesting particular energy or standing among the builders. He also appears among those who sealed Nehemiah's covenant of renewed obedience to the Law (Nehemiah 10:5) and among the priestly families listed at that time (12:3). Meremoth's story is one of quiet, repeated trustworthiness rather than dramatic action -- entrusted with treasure, then entrusted with labor, in both cases faithfully accountable.