Ezra 2

The Exiles Who Returned

1 These^[a] now are the people of the province^[b] who came from those captive exiles King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon^[c] had deported to Babylon. Each of them returned to his hometown Jerusalem and Judah.

2 They came with Zerubbabel,^[d] Jeshua,^[e] Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the Israelite men [included]:^[f]

3 Parosh's descendants 2,172

4 Shephatiah's descendants 372

5 Arah's descendants 775

6 Pahath-moab's descendants: Jeshua's and Joab's descendants 2,812

7 Elam's descendants 1,254

8 Zattu's descendants 945

9 Zaccai's descendants 760

10 Bani's descendants 642

11 Bebai's descendants 623

12 Azgad's descendants 1,222

13 Adonikam's descendants 666

14 Bigvai's descendants 2,056

15 Adin's descendants 454

16 Ater's descendants: Hezekiah's 98

17 Bezai's descendants 323

18 Jorah's descendants 112

19 Hashum's descendants 223

20 Gibbar's descendants 95

21 Bethlehem's people 123

22 Netophah's men 56

23 Anathoth's men 128

24 Azmaveth's people 42

25 Kiriatharim's, Chephirah's, and Beeroth's people 743

26 Ramah's and Geba's people 621

27 Michmas's men 122

28 Bethel's and Ai's men 223

29 Nebo's people 52

30 Magbish's people 156

31 the other Elam's people 1,254

32 Harim's people 320

33 Lod's, Hadid's, and Ono's people 725

34 Jericho's people 345

35 Senaah's people 3,630

36 The priests [included]: Jedaiah's descendants of the house of Jeshua 973

37 Immer's descendants 1,052

38 Pashhur's descendants 1,247

39 and Harim's descendants 1,017

40 The Levites [included]: Jeshua's and Kadmiel's descendants from Hodaviah's descendants 74

41 The singers [included]: Asaph's descendants 128

42 The gatekeepers' descendants [included]: Shallum's descendants, Ater's descendants, Talmon's descendants, Akkub's descendants, Hatita's descendants, Shobai's descendants, in all 139

43 The temple servants [included]: Ziha's descendants, Hasupha's descendants, Tabbaoth's descendants,

44 Keros's descendants, Siaha's descendants, Padon's descendants,

45 Lebanah's descendants, Hagabah's descendants, Akkub's descendants,

46 Hagab's descendants, Shalmai's^[g] descendants, Hanan's descendants,

47 Giddel's descendants, Gahar's descendants, Reaiah's descendants,

48 Rezin's descendants, Nekoda's descendants, Gazzam's descendants,

49 Uzza's descendants, Paseah's descendants, Besai's descendants,

50 Asnah's descendants, Meunim's^[h] descendants, Nephusim's^[i] descendants,

51 Bakbuk's descendants, Hakupha's descendants, Harhur's descendants,

52 Bazluth's descendants, Mehida's descendants, Harsha's descendants,

53 Barkos's descendants, Sisera's descendants, Temah's descendants,

54 Neziah's descendants, and Hatipha's descendants.

55 The descendants of Solomon's servants [included]: Sotai's descendants, Hassophereth's descendants, Peruda's descendants,

56 Jaalah's descendants, Darkon's descendants, Giddel's descendants,

57 Shephatiah's descendants, Hattil's descendants, Pochereth-hazzebaim's descendants, and Ami's descendants.

58 All the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants 392

59 The following are those who came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer but were unable to prove that their families and ancestry were Israelite:

60 Delaiah's descendants, Tobiah's descendants, Nekoda's descendants 652

61 and from the descendants of the priests: the descendants of Habaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, the descendants of Barzillai- who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name.

62 These searched for their entries in the genealogical records, but they could not be found, so they were disqualified from the priesthood.

63 The governor^[j] ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest who could consult the Urim and Thummim.^[k]

64 The whole combined assembly numbered 42,360

65 not including their 7,337 male and female slaves, and their 200 male and female singers.

66 They had 736 horses, 245 mules,

67 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

Gifts for the Work

68 After they arrived at the Lord's house in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders gave freewill offerings for the house of God in order to have it rebuilt on its [original] site.

69 Based on what they could give, they gave 61,000 gold coins,^[l] 6,250 pounds^[m] of silver, and 100 priestly garments to the treasury for the project.

70 The priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and some of the people settled in their towns, and [the rest of] Israel [settled] in their towns.^[n]

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Neh 7:6-73
• [b]. Neh 11:3
• [c]. Nebuchadnezzar reigned 605-562 b.c.
• [d]. 1 Ch 3:19; Hg 1:1; Zch 4:6
• [e]. Hg 1:1; Zch 3:1
• [f]. Lit the men of the people of Israel
• [g]. Alt Hb tradition reads Shamlai's or Salmai's
• [h]. Alt Hb tradition reads Meinim's
• [i]. Alt Hb tradition reads Nephisim's
• [j]. Neh 7:65; 8:9-12
• [k]. Two objects used to determine God's will; Ex 28:30
• [l]. Lit drachmas
• [m]. Lit 5,000 minas
• [n]. Jos 21; 1 Ch 9:2

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.