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Ezra 2

Ezra2

New American Standard

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1 Now these are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had taken into exile to Babylon, and they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city.

2 These came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the number of the men of the people of Israel:

3 the sons of Parosh, 2,172;

4 the sons of Shephatiah, 372;

5 the sons of Arah, 775;

6 the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812;

7 the sons of Elam, 1,254;

8 the sons of Zattu, 945;

9 the sons of Zaccai, 760;

10 the sons of Bani, 642;

11 the sons of Bebai, 623;

12 the sons of Azgad, 1,222;

13 the sons of Adonikam, 666;

14 the sons of Bigvai, 2,056;

15 the sons of Adin, 454;

16 the sons of Ater, of Hezekiah, 98;

17 the sons of Bezai, 323;

18 the sons of Jorah, 112;

19 the sons of Hashum, 223;

20 the sons of Gibbar, 95;

21 the men of Bethlehem, 123;

22 the men of Netophah, 56;

23 the men of Anathoth, 128;

24 the sons of Azmaveth, 42;

25 the sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743;

26 the sons of Ramah and Geba, 621;

27 the men of Michmas, 122;

28 the men of Bethel and Ai, 223;

29 the sons of Nebo, 52;

30 the sons of Magbish, 156;

31 the sons of the other Elam, 1,254;

32 the sons of Harim, 320;

33 the sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725;

34 the men of Jericho, 345;

35 the sons of Senaah, 3,630.

36 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 973;

37 the sons of Immer, 1,052;

38 the sons of Pashhur, 1,247;

39 the sons of Harim, 1,017.

40 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74.

41 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128.

42 The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, 139 in all.

43 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,

44 the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon,

45 the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub,

46 the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shalmai, the sons of Hanan,

47 the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah,

48 the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam,

49 the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai,

50 the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim,

51 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,

52 the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,

53 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah,

54 the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.

55 The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda,

56 the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,

57 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami.

58 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants totaled 392.

59 Now these were the ones who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they were not able to provide evidence of their fathers’ households and their descendants, whether they were of Israel:

60 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652.

61 Of the sons of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and he was called by their name.

62 These searched among their genealogical registration but they could not be located; so they were considered defiled and excluded from the priesthood.

63 The governor said to them that they were not to eat from the most holy things until a priest stood up with Urim and Thummim.

64 The whole assembly together totaled 42,360,

65 besides their male and female slaves who totaled 7,337; and they had two hundred singing men and women.

66 Their horses numbered 736; their mules, 245;

67 their camels, 435; their donkeys, 6,720.

68 Some of the heads of fathers’ households, when they arrived at the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to erect it on its site.

69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work sixty-one thousand gold drachmas, five thousand silver minas, and a hundred priestly garments.

70 Now the priests and the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

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Ezra 2

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezra 2. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

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.

Cross References

Ezra 2
v1Nehemiah 7:6-73thematic

The parallel census register in Nehemiah containing closely matching family lists and numbers.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v36Nehemiah 7:39thematic

Parallel registry for Jedaiah's priestly course, reflecting differences discussed by commentators.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v37Nehemiah 7:40thematic

Direct parallel count in Nehemiah's census for the children of Immer.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v38Nehemiah 7:41thematic

Direct parallel count in Nehemiah's register for the descendants of Pashur.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v39Nehemiah 7:42thematic

Direct parallel count in Nehemiah's register for the priestly family of Harim.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v40Nehemiah 7:43thematic

Direct parallel for the returning Levites of Jeshua and Kadmiel.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v61Nehemiah 7:63thematic

Direct parallel text recording the register of the returning children of Koz and Habaiah.

v61Nehemiah 7:64thematic

Direct parallel verse detailing the genealogical search and disqualification of these priests.

v63Nehemiah 7:65thematic

Direct parallel regarding the Tirshatha's prohibition from eating the holy things.

Supported by JFB

v64Nehemiah 7:66-69thematic

Parallel registry details of the total congregation and their livestock.

Supported by JFB

v1Ezra 5:8thematic

Directly references Judah as a 'province' of the Persian empire.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v2Haggai 1:1thematic

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

v551 Kings 9:21typology

Solomon's servants were descendants of the Canaanite nations whom Solomon subdued and enlisted into servitude.

Supported by JFB

v612 Samuel 17:27thematic

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

v63Exodus 28:30thematic

Establishes the divine standard of Urim and Thummim for determining difficult cases.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v2Matthew 1:12thematic

Traces the messianic genealogy through Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, after the Babylon captivity.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v5Nehemiah 7:10thematic

Parallel entry for children of Arah showing discrepancy in count (652 vs 775).

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v23Jeremiah 11:21thematic

Anathoth's dark history of rejecting Jeremiah, context for JFB's note on their return.

Supported by JFB

v23Nehemiah 7:27thematic

Parallel list verifying the one hundred twenty-eight returning men of Anathoth.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v28Nehemiah 7:32thematic

Parallel record for the men of Bethel and Ai returning.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v31Nehemiah 7:34thematic

Direct parallel count for the children of "the other Elam."

Supported by Matthew Poole

v32Nehemiah 7:35thematic

Direct parallel count for the children of Harim.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v33Nehemiah 7:37thematic

Direct parallel count for the children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v35Nehemiah 7:38thematic

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.

v43Ezra 8:20thematic

Explicitly connects the Nethinim to the temple servants whom David and the princes appointed.

v58Joshua 9:23typology

The Gibeonites became the original temple servants, serving as the historical precursor to the Nethinim.

v63Numbers 27:21thematic

Requirement of consulting the judgment of Urim before the priest.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v68Nehemiah 7:70-72thematic

Parallel account of the heads of families and Tirshatha contributing to the work.

Supported by JFB

v70Nehemiah 7:73thematic

Parallel conclusion detailing the resettlement of the priests and people in their cities.

v701 Chronicles 9:2thematic

Similar listing of returning groups (priests, Levites, Nethinims) dwelling in their cities.