Ezra 2

1 Here is the list of the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar had deported them to Babylon, but now they returned to Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah where they originally lived.

2 Their leaders were Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the number of the men of Israel who returned from exile:

3 The family of Parosh 2,172

4 The family of Shephatiah 372

5 The family of Arah 775

6 The family of Pahath-moab (descendants of Jeshua and Joab) 2,812

7 The family of Elam 1,254

8 The family of Zattu 945

9 The family of Zaccai 760

10 The family of Bani 642

11 The family of Bebai 623

12 The family of Azgad 1,222

13 The family of Adonikam 666

14 The family of Bigvai 2,056

15 The family of Adin 454

16 The family of Ater (descendants of Hezekiah) 98

17 The family of Bezai 323

18 The family of Jorah 112

19 The family of Hashum 223

20 The family of Gibbar 95

21 The people of Bethlehem 123

22 The people of Netophah 56

23 The people of Anathoth 128

24 The people of Beth-azmaveth 42

25 The people of Kiriath-jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth 743

26 The people of Ramah and Geba 621

27 The people of Micmash 122

28 The people of Bethel and Ai 223

29 The citizens of Nebo 52

30 The citizens of Magbish 156

31 The citizens of West Elam 1,254

32 The citizens of Harim 320

33 The citizens of Lod, Hadid, and Ono 725

34 The citizens of Jericho 345

35 The citizens of Senaah 3,630

36 These are the priests who returned from exile: The family of Jedaiah (through the line of Jeshua) 973

37 The family of Immer 1,052

38 The family of Pashhur 1,247

39 The family of Harim 1,017

40 These are the Levites who returned from exile: The families of Jeshua and Kadmiel (descendants of Hodaviah) 74

41 The singers of the family of Asaph 128

42 The gatekeepers of the families of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai 139

43 The descendants of the following Temple servants returned from exile: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,

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 these servants of King Solomon returned from exile: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,

56 Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel,

57 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-hazzebaim, and Ami.

58 In all, the Temple servants and the descendants of Solomon’s servants numbered 392.

59 Another group returned at this time from the towns of Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Kerub, Addan, and Immer. However, they could not prove that they or their families were descendants of Israel.

60 This group included the families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda—a total of 652 people.

61 Three families of priests—Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai—also returned. (This Barzillai had married a woman who was a descendant of Barzillai of Gilead, and he had taken her family name.)

62 They searched for their names in the genealogical records, but they were not found, so they were disqualified from serving as priests.

63 The governor told them not to eat the priests’ share of food from the sacrifices until a priest could consult the LORD about the matter by using the Urim and Thummim—the sacred lots.

64 So a total of 42,360 people returned to Judah,

65 in addition to 7,337 servants and 200 singers, both men and women.

66 They took with them 736 horses, 245 mules,

67 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.

68 When they arrived at the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders made voluntary offerings toward the rebuilding of God’s Temple on its original site,

69 and each leader gave as much as he could. The total of their gifts came to 61,000 gold coins, 6,250 pounds of silver, and 100 robes for the priests.

70 So the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, the Temple servants, and some of the common people settled in villages near Jerusalem. The rest of the people returned to their own towns throughout Israel.

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]. As in parallel text at Neh 7:28 ; Hebrew reads Azmaveth.
• [b]. As in some Hebrew manuscripts and Greek version (see also Neh 7:29 ); Hebrew reads Kiriath-arim.
• [c]. Or of the other Elam.
• [d]. As in an alternate reading of the Masoretic Text (see also Neh 7:48 ); the other alternate reads Shamlai.
• [e]. Hebrew 61,000 darics of gold, about 1,100 pounds or 500 kilograms in weight.
• [f]. Hebrew 5,000 minas [3,000 kilograms].

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.