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

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.