Ezra 2

The Exiles Return

1 ¹Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles ²whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town.

2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, ³Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:

3 ⁴the sons of Parosh, 2,172.

4 The sons of Shephatiah, 372.

5 The sons of Arah, 775.

6 The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812.

7 The sons of Elam, 1,254.

8 The sons of Zattu, 945.

9 The sons of Zaccai, 760.

10 The sons of Bani, 642.

11 The sons of Bebai, 623.

12 The sons of Azgad, 1,222.

13 The sons of Adonikam, 666.

14 The sons of Bigvai, 2,056.

15 The sons of Adin, 454.

16 The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98.

17 The sons of Bezai, 323.

18 The sons of Jorah, 112.

19 The sons of Hashum, 223.

20 The sons of Gibbar, 95.

21 The sons of Bethlehem, 123.

22 The men of Netophah, 56.

23 The men of Anathoth, 128.

24 The sons of Azmaveth, 42.

25 The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743.

26 The sons of Ramah and Geba, 621.

27 The men of Michmas, 122.

28 The men of Bethel and Ai, 223.

29 The sons of Nebo, 52.

30 The sons of Magbish, 156.

31 The sons of ⁵the other Elam, 1,254.

32 The sons of Harim, 320.

33 The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725.

34 The sons of Jericho, 345.

35 The sons of Senaah, 3,630.

36 The priests: the ⁶sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973.

37 The sons of Immer, 1,052.

38 The ⁷sons of Pashhur, 1,247.

39 The sons of Harim, 1,017.

40 The Levites: the sons of ⁸Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74.

41 The singers: the sons of ⁹Asaph, 128.

42 The sons of the ¹⁰gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, in all 139.

43 ¹¹The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,

44 the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon,

45 the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub,

46 the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan,

47 the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah,

48 the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam,

49 the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai,

50 the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim,

51 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,

52 the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,

53 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah,

54 the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.

55 ¹²The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda,

56 the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,

57 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami.

58 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were 392.

59 The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, ¹³though they could not prove their fathers' houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel:

60 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652.

61 Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of ¹⁴Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name).

62 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and ¹⁵so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.

63 The ¹⁶governor told them that they were not ¹⁷to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult ¹⁸Urim and Thummim.

64 ¹⁹The whole assembly together was 42,360,

65 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female ²⁰singers.

66 Their horses were 736, their mules were 245,

67 their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720.

68 ²¹Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site.

69 According to their ability they gave to ²²the treasury of the work 61,000 darics^[a] of gold, 5,000 minas^[b] of silver, and 100 priests' garments.

70 ²³Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel^[c] 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. For ver. 1-70, see Nehemiah 7:6-73
• 2. 2 Kings 24:14-16; 2 Kings 25:11; 2 Chronicles 36:20
• 3. Esther 2:5, 6
• 4. Ezra 8:3; Ezra 10:25
• 5. [ver. 7]
• 6. For ver. 36-39, see 1 Chronicles 24:7-18
• 7. 1 Chronicles 9:12
• 8. [Nehemiah 10:9]
• 9. See 1 Chronicles 6:39
• 10. 1 Chronicles 9:17, 18
• 11. 1 Chronicles 9:2; Nehemiah 11:3
• 12. Nehemiah 11:3; [1 Kings 9:21]
• 13. [1 Chronicles 9:1]
• 14. 2 Samuel 17:27
• 15. [Numbers 3:10]
• 16. Nehemiah 8:9
• 17. Lev. 22:2, 10, 15, 16
• 18. See Exodus 28:30
• 19. Nehemiah 7:66, 67
• 20. See 2 Chronicles 35:25
• 21. Nehemiah 7:70-72
• 22. [1 Chronicles 26:20]
• 23. Nehemiah 7:73

Footnotes

• [a]. A daric was a coin weighing about 1/4 ounce or 8.5 grams
• [b]. A mina was about 1 1/4 pounds or 0.6 kilogram
• [c]. Hebrew all Israel

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.