Zerubbabel in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

("dispersed to Babylon".) Head of Judah in the Jews' return in the first year of Cyrus. Son of Shealtiel (Salathiel) (Ezra 3:2; Ezra 3:8; Ezra 5:2; Haggai 1:1; Haggai 1:12; Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27); but in 1 Chronicles 3:19 "son of Pedaiah," Shealtiel's brother. "Son" probably means next heir, the direct line failing; by the Levirate law Shealtiel's widow would marry her brother-in-law Pedaiah, who would raise seed to his brother Shealtiel (Deuteronomy 25:5-10; Matthew 22:24-28). Matthew deduces his line from Jechonias and Solomon, Luke deduces it through Neri and Nathan, because Zerubbabel was the legal successor and heir of Jeconiah's royalty and at the same time the grandson of Neri and lineal descendant of Nathan the son of David. At Babylon he bore the Babylonian or Persian name Shesh-bazzar, being governor or tirshatha there (Nehemiah 8:9; Nehemiah 10:1; Ezra 1:8-11; Ezra 5:14-16; Nehemiah 7:65). His name Zerubbabel occurs in Ezra 2:2; Ezra 3:2; "prince (nasi') of Judah," Ezra 1:8. Sheshbazzar laid the foundation of the temple (Ezra 5:16), answering to Zerubbabel (Zechariah 4:9); "governor of Judah" (Haggai 1:1; Haggai 1:14; Haggai 2:2). To him Cyrus, by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, had committed the precious vessels of the temple to bring to Jerusalem; at the same time he, Zerubbabel, with the chief of the fathers, the priests, and the Levites whose spirit God had raised, led back from Babylon the first caravan, consisting of 42,360 besides servants, etc...