Ezra 2

1 Here is a list of the people of the province who had been exiled, carried off to Bavel by N'vukhadnetzar king of Bavel, but who later returned from exile and went up to Yerushalayim and Y'hudah, each to his own city;
2 they went with Z'rubavel, Yeshua, Nechemyah, S'rayah, Re'elyah, Mordekhai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rechum and Ba'anah. The number of men from the people of Isra'el:
3 descendants of Par'osh 2,172
4 descendants of Sh'fatyah 372
5 descendants of Arach 775
6 descendants of Pachat-Mo'av, from the descendants of Yeshua and Yo'av 2,812
7 descendants of 'Eilam 1,254
8 descendants of Zatu 945
9 descendants of Zakkai 760
10 descendants of Bani 642
11 descendants of B'vai 623
12 descendants of 'Azgad 1,222
13 descendants of Adonikam 666
14 descendants of Bigvai 2,056
15 descendants of 'Adin 454
16 descendants of Ater, of Y'chizkiyah 98
17 descendants of Betzai 323
18 descendants of Yorah 112
19 descendants of Hashum 223
20 descendants of Gibbar 95
21 descendants of Beit-Lechem 123
22 people of N'tofah 56
23 people of 'Anatot 128
24 descendants of 'Azmavet 42
25 descendants of Kiryat-'Arim, K'firah and Be'erot
26 descendants of Ramah and Geva
27 people of Mikhmas
28 people of Beit-El and 'Ai
29 descendants of N'vo
30 descendants of Magbish
31 descendants of the other 'Eilam
32 descendants of Harim
33 descendants of Lod, Hadid and Ono
34 descendants of Yericho
35 descendants of S'na'ah
36 The cohanim: descendants of Y'da'yah, of the house of Yeshua
37 descendants of Immer
38 descendants of Pash'chur
39 descendants of Harim 621 122 223 52 156 1,254 320 725 345 3,630 973 1,052 1,247 1,017
40 The L'vi'im: descendants of Yeshua and Kadmi'el, of the descendants of Hodavyah
41 The singers: descendants of Asaf 128
42 The descendants of the gatekeepers: descendants of Shalum, descendants of Ater, descendants of Talmon, descendants of 'Akuv, descendants of Hatita, and descendants of Shovai in all, 139
43 The temple servants: descendants of Tzicha, descendants of Hasufa, descendants of Taba'ot,
44 descendants of Keros, descendants of Sia'ha descendants of Padon,
45 descendants of L'vanah, descendants of Hagavah, descendants of 'Akuv,
46 descendants of Hagav, descendants of Salmai, descendants of Hanan,
47 descendants of Giddel, descendants of Gachar, descendants of Re'ayah,
48 descendants of Retzin, descendants of N'koda, descendants of Gazam,
49 descendants of 'Uza, descendants of Paseach, descendants of Besai,
50 descendants of Asnah, descendants of Me'unim, descendants of N'fusim,
51 descendants of Bakbuk, descendants of Hakufa, descendants of Harhur,
52 descendants of Batzlut, descendants of M'chida, descendants of Harsha,
53 descendants of Barkos, descendants of Sisra, descendants of Temach,
54 descendants of N'tziach, and descendants of Hatifa.
55 The descendants of Shlomo's servants: descendants of Sotai, descendants of Hasoferet, descendants of P'ruda,
56 descendants of Ya'alah, descendants of Darkon, descendants of Giddel,
57 descendants of Sh'fatyah, descendants of Hatil, descendants of Pokheret-Hatzvayim, and descendants of Ami.
58 All the temple servants and the descendants of Shlomo's servants numbered 392
59 The following went up from Tel-Melach, Tel-Harsha, K'ruv, Adan and Immer; but they could not state which fathers' clan they or their children belonged to, [so it was not clear] whether they were from Isra'el:
60 descendants of D'layah, descendants of Toviyah, and descendants of N'koda 652
61 and of the descendants of the cohanim: descendants of Havayah, descendants of Hakotz, and descendants of Barzillai, who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gil'adi and was named after them.
62 These tried to locate their genealogical records, but they weren't found. Therefore they were considered defiled and were not allowed to serve as cohanim.
63 The Tirshata told them not to eat any of the especially holy food until a cohen appeared who could consult the urim and tumim.
64 The entire assembly numbered 42,360 -
65 not including their male and female slaves, of whom there were 7,337. They also had 200 male and female singers.
66 Their horses numbered 736; their mules, 245;
67 their camels, 435; and their donkeys, 6,720.
68 Some of the heads of fathers' clans, when they came to the house of ADONAI in Yerushalayim, made voluntary offerings for rebuilding the house of God on its site.
69 According to their means they gave into the treasury for the work 61,000 gold darkmonim [about two-thirds of a ton], 5,000 manim of silver [just over three tons], and a hundred tunics for the cohanim.
70 So the cohanim, the L'vi'im, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants lived in their towns and all Isra'el in their towns.

Ezra 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

The numbers that returned. (1-35) The numbers of the priests and Levites. (36-63) The offerings for the temple. (64-70)

Verses 1-35 An account was kept of the families that came up out of captivity. See how sin lowers a nation, which righteousness would exalt!

Verses 36-63 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.

Verses 64-70 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.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 2

This chapter contains a list of those that went up from Babylon to Jerusalem, of their leaders, their chief men, princes and priests, Ezr 2:1,2 of the people, described by their families, towns, and cities, and number of persons, Ezr 2:3-35, of the priests, Levites, and Nethinims, Ezr 2:36-58, and of those that could not make out their genealogy, people and priests, Ezr 2:59-63, and then the sum total of the whole congregation is given, Ezr 2:64, besides men and maidservants, singing men and women, and cattle of divers sorts, Ezr 2:65-67, and the chapter is closed with an account of the freewill offerings of the principal men towards the building of the temple, and of the settlement of the people in their respective cities, Ezr 2:68-70.

Ezra 2 Commentaries

Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.