Ezra 2:64

64 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,

Ezra 2:64 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 2:64

The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand
three hundred [and] threescore.
] But the sums before given make no more, with Zerubbabel, and the ten principal men, than 29,829, so that there are more than 12,000 wanting; wherefore, in answer to the question, where are the 12,000? the Jews say in their chronology ^F1 these are they of the other tribes, who set up the altar on its bases, and gave money to the masons ( Ezra 3:1 Ezra 3:3 Ezra 3:7 ) , this was a much larger number than were carried captive; see ( 2 Kings 24:14 2 Kings 24:15 ) ( Jeremiah 52:28 Jeremiah 52:29 Jeremiah 52:30 ) , but not to be compared with the number that came out of Egypt, ( Exodus 12:37 ) . An Arabic writer ^F2 makes them 50,000, but wrongly.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 29. p. 86.
F2 Abulpharag. Hist. Dynast. Dyn. 5. p. 82.

Ezra 2:64 In-Context

62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy , but they were not found : therefore were they, as polluted , put from the priesthood.

63 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

64 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,

65 Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women .

66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;