Ezra2
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Now these are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city;
2who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
3The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
4The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two.
5The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy-five.
6The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve.
7The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
8The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty-five.
9The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty.
10The children of Bani, six hundred forty-two.
11The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three.
12The children of Azgad, one thousand two hundred twenty-two.
13The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-six.
14The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty-six.
15The children of Adin, four hundred fifty-four.
16The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
17The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty-three.
18The children of Jorah, one hundred twelve.
19The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty-three.
20The children of Gibbar, ninety-five.
21The children of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty-three.
22The men of Netophah, fifty-six.
23The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight.
24The children of Azmaveth, forty-two.
25The children of Kiriath Arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three.
26The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.
27The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two.
28The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three.
29The children of Nebo, fifty-two.
30The children of Magbish, one hundred fifty-six.
31The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
32The children of Harim, three hundred twenty.
33The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five.
34The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
35The children of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty.
36The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three.
37The children of Immer, one thousand fifty-two.
38The children of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
39The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen.
40The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy-four.
41The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight.
42The children of the gatekeepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty-nine.
43The temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
44the children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
45the children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
46the children of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children of Hanan,
47the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
48the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
49the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
50the children of Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephisim,
51the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
52the children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
53the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,
54the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
55The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda,
56the children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
57the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, the children of Ami.
58All the temple servants, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety-two.
59These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses and their offspring, whether they were of Israel:
60the children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty-two.
61Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, and the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.
62These sought their place among those who were registered by genealogy, but they were not found; therefore they were deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood.
63The governor told them that they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest stood up to serve with Urim and with Thummim.
64The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
65in addition to their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven; and they had two hundred singing men and singing women.
66Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five;
67their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.
68Some of the heads of fathers’ households, when they came to Yahweh’s house which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for God’s house to set it up in its place.
69They gave according to their ability into the treasury of the work sixty-one thousand darics of gold, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments.
70So the priests and the Levites, with some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
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.