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bil´shan (בּלש×ן, bilshaÌ„n): An Israelite who returned with Zerubbabel ( = ). The name may be explained as “inquirer†(new Hebrew and Aramaic), בלש×, baÌ„lash, the (ב “b†being an abbreviation of בּן, ben, as in בּדקר, bidhkÌ£ar, and בּמהל, bimhaÌ„lÌŒ. Bilshan would then be a compound of בּן, ben, and לשון, laÌ„shoÌ„nÌŒ. J. Halévy (Revue études juives, X, 3) translates the name “père de la langue,†×ב לש×ון, 'abh laÌ„shoÌ„nÌŒ. In 1 Esdras 5:8, he is called “Beelsarus,†which is akin to the form “Belshar†= “Belshar-usÌ£sÌ£ur†or “O Bel, protect the king.†Bilshan points to “BelsÌŒun,†“his lord.†The rabbis take Bilshan as a surname to the preceding Mordecai.