Ezra 2

The List of the Exiles Who Returned

1 Now 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,

2 in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah): The list of the men of the people of Israel:

3 the descendants of Parosh¹, 2,172

4 of Shephatiah, 372

5 of Arah, 775

6 of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,812

7 of Elam, 1,254

8 of Zattu, 945

9 of Zaccai, 760

10 of Bani, 642

11 of Bebai, 623

12 of Azgad, 1,222

13 of Adonikam², 666

14 of Bigvai, 2,056

15 of Adin, 454

16 of Ater (through Hezekiah), 98

17 of Bezai, 323

18 of Jorah, 112

19 of Hashum, 223

20 of Gibbar, 95

21 the men of Bethlehem³, 123

22 of Netophah, 56

23 of Anathoth, 128

24 of Azmaveth, 42

25 of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth, 743

26 of Ramah⁴ and Geba, 621

27 of Micmash, 122

28 of Bethel and Ai⁵, 223

29 of Nebo, 52

30 of Magbish, 156

31 of the other Elam, 1,254

32 of Harim, 320

33 of Lod, Hadid and Ono, 725

34 of Jericho⁶, 345

35 of Senaah, 3,630

36 The priests:

37 of Immer⁷, 1,052

38 of Pashhur⁸, 1,247

39 of Harim⁹, 1,017

40 The Levites:

41 The musicians:

42 The gatekeepers of the temple:

43 The temple servants:

44 Keros, Siaha, Padon,

45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,

46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,

47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,

48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,

49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai,

50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim,

51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,

52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,

53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,

54 Neziah and Hatipha

55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:

56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,

57 Shephatiah, Hattil,

58 The temple servants¹⁰ and the descendants of the servants of Solomon, 392

59 The 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:

60 The descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda 652

61 And from among the priests: The descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).

62 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.

63 The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.

64 The whole company numbered 42,360,

65 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 200 male and female singers.

66 They had 736 horses, 245 mules,

67 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.

68 When 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.

69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics^[a] of gold, 5,000 minas^[b] of silver and 100 priestly garments.

70 The 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.

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.

Cross References

• 1. S 2 Chronicles 36:20; Nehemiah 7:6
• 2. S 2 Kings 24:16; 2 Kings 25:12
• 3. ver 70; 1 Chronicles 9:2; Nehemiah 7:73; Nehemiah 11:3
• 4. S 1 Chronicles 3:19; Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27
• 5. Ezra 3:2; Ezra 5:2; Ezra 10:18; Nehemiah 12:1,8; Haggai 1:1,12; Haggai 2:4; Zechariah 3:1-10; Zechariah 6:9-15
• 6. 1 Chronicles 6:14; Nehemiah 10:2; Nehemiah 11:11; Nehemiah 12:1
• 7. Ezra 8:3; Ezra 10:25; Nehemiah 3:25
• 8. Ezra 8:13
• 9. Micah 5:2
• 10. S Joshua 18:25
• 11. S Genesis 12:8
• 12. 1 Kings 16:34; 2 Chronicles 28:15
• 13. S 1 Chronicles 24:7
• 14. S 1 Chronicles 24:14
• 15. S 1 Chronicles 9:12
• 16. S 1 Chronicles 24:8
• 17. Genesis 29:34; Numbers 3:9; Deuteronomy 18:6-7; 1 Chronicles 16:4; Ezra 7:7; Ezra 8:15; Nehemiah 12:24
• 18. Ezra 3:9
• 19. S 1 Chronicles 15:16
• 20. 1 Samuel 3:15; S 1 Chronicles 9:17
• 21. S 1 Chronicles 9:2; Nehemiah 11:21
• 22. 1 Kings 9:21; S 1 Chronicles 9:2
• 23. S Numbers 1:18
• 24. Numbers 3:10; Numbers 16:39-40
• 25. Leviticus 2:3,10
• 26. S Exodus 28:30; Numbers 27:21
• 27. S 2 Samuel 19:35
• 28. Isaiah 66:20
• 29. S Exodus 25:2
• 30. S ver 1; S 1 Chronicles 9:2; Nehemiah 11:3-4

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, about 1,100 pounds or about 500 kilograms
• [b]. That is, about 3 tons or about 2.8 metric tons

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.