Ezra2
New International Version
1Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own town,
2in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah): The list of the men of the people of Israel:
3the descendants of Parosh 2,172
4of Shephatiah 372
5of Arah 775
6of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab) 2,812
7of Elam 1,254
8of Zattu 945
9of Zakkai 760
10of Bani 642
11of Bebai 623
12of Azgad 1,222
13of Adonikam 666
14of Bigvai 2,056
15of Adin 454
16of Ater (through Hezekiah) 98
17of Bezai 323
18of Jorah 112
19of Hashum 223
20of Gibbar 95
21the men of Bethlehem 123
22of Netophah 56
23of Anathoth 128
24of Azmaveth 42
25of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth 743
26of Ramah and Geba 621
27of Mikmash 122
28of Bethel and Ai 223
29of Nebo 52
30of Magbish 156
31of the other Elam 1,254
32of Harim 320
33of Lod, Hadid and Ono 725
34of Jericho 345
35of Senaah 3,630
36The priests:the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) 973
37of Immer 1,052
38of Pashhur 1,247
39of Harim 1,017
40The Levites:the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (of the line of Hodaviah) 74
41The musicians:the descendants of Asaph 128
42The gatekeepers of the temple:the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon,Akkub, Hatita and Shobai 139
43The temple servants:the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
44Keros, Siaha, Padon,
45Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,
46Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,
47Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,
48Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,
49Uzza, Paseah, Besai,
50Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim,
51Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
52Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
53Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
54Neziah and Hatipha
55The descendants of the servants of Solomon:the descendants ofSotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,
56Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,
57Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Ami
58The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon 392
59The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel:
60The descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda652
61And from among the priests:The descendants ofHobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).
62These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.
63The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.
64The whole company numbered 42,360,
65besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 200 male and female singers.
66They had 736 horses, 245 mules,
67435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
68When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site.
69According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver and 100 priestly garments.
70The priests, the Levites, the musicians, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.
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.