Calitas - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CALITAS

kal'-i-tas (Kalitas, or Kaleitais):

One of the Levites who put away their foreign wives at the request of Esdras (Ezra), 1 Esdras 9:23, "Colius, who was called Calitas." It is the Greek form of Hebrew Kelita (compare parallel passage, Ezra 10:23, elaiah, the same is "Kelita"). He is also named with those who explained the law when read to the people by Esdras (1 Esdras 9:48; compare Nehemiah 8:7). It is not certain whether he is to be identified with the Kelita of Nehemiah 10:10 (one of the Levites who signed the covenant made by Nehemiah). The word probably means "dwarf."

D. Miall Edwards

Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'CALITAS'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.