Ezra2
English Standard Version
1Now were the of the who of the of those the of had to . They to and , to his own .
2 , , , , , , , , , , and . The of the of the of :
3the of , .
4The of , .
5The of , .
6The of , namely the of and , .
7The of , .
8The of , .
9The of , .
10The of , .
11The of , .
12The of , .
13The of , .
14The of , .
15The of , .
16The of , namely of , .
17The of , .
18The of , .
19The of , .
20The of , .
21The of , .
22The of , .
23The of , .
24The of , .
25The of , , and , .
26The of and , .
27The of , .
28The of and , .
29The of , .
30The of , .
31The of the , .
32The of , .
33The of , , and , .
34The of , .
35The of , .
36The : the of , of the of , .
37The of , .
38The of , .
39The of , .
40The : the of and , of the of , .
41The : the of , .
42The of the : the of , the of , the of , the of , the of , and the of , in .
43The : the of , the of , the of ,
44the of , the of , the of ,
45the of , the of , the of ,
46the of , the of , the of ,
47the of , the of , the of ,
48the of , the of , the of ,
49the of , the of , the of ,
50the of , the of , the of ,
51the of , the of , the of ,
52the of , the of , the of ,
53the of , the of , the of ,
54the of , and the of .
55The of : the of , the of , the of ,
56the of , the of , the of ,
57the of , the of , the of , and the of .
58All the and the of were .
59The were those who , , , , and , though they their ’ or their , they belonged to :
60the of , the of , and the of , .
61Also, the of the : the of , the of , and the of ( had a the of the , and was their ).
62These their among those enrolled in the , but they were there, and so they were the as unclean.
63The them they were to the , there should be a to and .
64The was ,
65 their and , of there were , and they had and female .
66Their were , their were ,
67their were , and their were .
68 of the of , when they to the of the Lord is in , made freewill for the of , to it its .
69According to their they to the of the of , of , and ’ .
70Now the , the , of the , the , the , and the in their , and the rest of in their .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezra 2.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The numbers that returned. (1–35). The numbers of the priests and Levites. (36–63). The offerings for the temple. (64–70).
vv1-35
An account was kept of the families that came up out of captivity. See how sin lowers a nation, which righteousness would exalt!
vv36-63
Those who undervalue their relation to the Lord in times of reproach, persecution, or distress, will have no benefit from it when it becomes honourable or profitable. Those who have no evidence that they are, by the new birth, spiritual priests unto God, through Jesus Christ, have no right to the comforts and privileges of Christians.
vv64-70
Let none complain of the needful expenses of their religion. Seek first the kingdom of God, his favour and his glory, then will all other things be added unto them. Their offerings were nothing, compared with the offerings of the princes in David's time; yet, being according to their ability, were as acceptable to God. The Lord will carry us through all undertakings entered on according to his will, with an aim to his glory, and dependence on his assistance. Those who, at the call of the gospel, renounce sin and return to the Lord, shall be guarded and guided through all perils of the way, and arrive safely at the mansions provided in the holy city of God.
Key Words
אֵלֶּה: these or those
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
מְדִינָה: properly, a judgeship, i.e. jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region
עָלָה: to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
שְׁבִי: exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by extension, booty
גּוֹלָה: exile; concretely and collectively exiles
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר: Nebukadnetstsar (or -retstsar, or -retstsor), king of Babylon
מֶלֶךְ: a king
Cross References
Ezra 2The parallel census register in Nehemiah containing closely matching family lists and numbers.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel registry for Jedaiah's priestly course, reflecting differences discussed by commentators.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel count in Nehemiah's census for the children of Immer.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct parallel count in Nehemiah's register for the descendants of Pashur.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct parallel count in Nehemiah's register for the priestly family of Harim.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct parallel for the returning Levites of Jeshua and Kadmiel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct parallel text recording the register of the returning children of Koz and Habaiah.
Direct parallel verse detailing the genealogical search and disqualification of these priests.
Direct parallel regarding the Tirshatha's prohibition from eating the holy things.
Supported by JFB
Parallel registry details of the total congregation and their livestock.
Supported by JFB
Directly references Judah as a 'province' of the Persian empire.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies Zerubbabel and Jeshua (Joshua) as the leaders of the post-exilic return.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies Jedaiah as the second of David's original twenty-four priestly courses.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Immer as the sixteenth of David's original twenty-four priestly courses.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Harim as the third of David's original twenty-four priestly courses.
Supported by JFB
Solomon's servants were descendants of the Canaanite nations whom Solomon subdued and enlisted into servitude.
Supported by JFB
Establishes the identity and historical stature of Barzillai the Gileadite.
Supported by JFB
Background of Barzillai's noble status; priests preferred his name over Levi's.
Supported by JFB
Establishes the divine standard of Urim and Thummim for determining difficult cases.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Traces the messianic genealogy through Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, after the Babylon captivity.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel entry for children of Arah showing discrepancy in count (652 vs 775).
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Anathoth's dark history of rejecting Jeremiah, context for JFB's note on their return.
Supported by JFB
Parallel list verifying the one hundred twenty-eight returning men of Anathoth.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel record for the men of Bethel and Ai returning.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct parallel count for the children of "the other Elam."
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct parallel count for the children of Harim.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct parallel count for the children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct parallel count for the children of Senaah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes the Davidic appointment of the children of Asaph as singers for the sanctuary service.
Supported by JFB
Details the courses and families of the porters (gatekeepers) established under Davidic organization.
Explicitly connects the Nethinim to the temple servants whom David and the princes appointed.
The Gibeonites became the original temple servants, serving as the historical precursor to the Nethinim.
Requirement of consulting the judgment of Urim before the priest.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of the heads of families and Tirshatha contributing to the work.
Supported by JFB
Parallel conclusion detailing the resettlement of the priests and people in their cities.
Similar listing of returning groups (priests, Levites, Nethinims) dwelling in their cities.