The List of Returning Exiles
This chapter is Ezra's first major digression from...
This chapter is Ezra's first major digression from the main story. The returning exiles needed to identify true Jews to maintain their community identity and theological purity. This helped them know whom they could marry and who could worship at the temple. This list is not the initial list of all Jews who returned to Jerusalem (compare Nehemiah 7:6–73). Instead, it is a slightly later list, created after Sheshbazzar died, of people who had settled in their towns.
1Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar its king. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, 2accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.† This is the count of the men of Israel:
In the ancient Near East, people identified themselves...
In the ancient Near East, people identified themselves by answering, “Who are your father and your family?” Priests were known as the sons of Aaron. If they could not prove this link, they could not serve (Ezra 2:61–62). Others identified themselves by a well-known elder in their group.
3the descendants of Parosh, 2,172;
4the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;
5the descendants of Arah, 775;
6the descendants of Pahath-moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,812;
7the descendants of Elam, 1,254;
8the descendants of Zattu, 945;
9the descendants of Zaccai, 760;
10the descendants of Bani,† 642;
11the descendants of Bebai, 623;
12the descendants of Azgad, 1,222;
13the descendants of Adonikam, 666;
14the descendants of Bigvai, 2,056;
15the descendants of Adin, 454;
16the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah), 98;
17the descendants of Bezai, 323;
18the descendants of Jorah,† 112;
19the descendants of Hashum, 223;
20the descendants of Gibbar,† 95;
the men of...the descendants of: Some returnees were...
the men of...the descendants of: Some returnees were identified by their hometowns. Not everyone knew their family history or had famous ancestors. Most cities mentioned were near Jerusalem.
21the men† of Bethlehem, 123;
22the men of Netophah, 56;
23the men of Anathoth, 128;
24the descendants of Azmaveth,† 42;
25the men of Kiriath-jearim,† Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743;
26the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;
27the men of Michmash, 122;
28the men of Bethel and Ai, 223;
29the descendants of Nebo, 52;
30the descendants of Magbish, 156;
31the descendants of the other Elam,† 1,254;
32the descendants of Harim, 320;
33the men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725;
34the men of Jericho, 345;
35and the descendants of Senaah, 3,630.
the priests...The Levites: Only seventy-four Levites returned to...
the priests...The Levites: Only seventy-four Levites returned to Jerusalem, which was a very low number. Ezra later worked hard to bring thirty-eight more with him (see study note on Ezra 8:18).
36The priests:
The descendants of Jedaiah (through the house of Jeshua), 973;
37the descendants of Immer, 1,052;
38the descendants of Pashhur, 1,247;
39and the descendants of Harim, 1,017.
40The Levites:
the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through the line of Hodaviah ),† 74.
The singers played instruments and sang for worship...
The singers played instruments and sang for worship at the temple (1 Chronicles 25:1–31; Psalms 73–83). The gatekeepers managed the temple gates and storehouses (1 Chronicles 9:26–27; 2 Chronicles 23:19; Nehemiah 12:25).
Asaph was one of the three Levites King David appointed to lead music at the temple (1 Chronicles 16:5, 7). He wrote a collection of psalms (Psalms 50, 73–83). His family continued his work (1 Chronicles 25:1–7).
The singers played instruments and sang for worship at the temple (1 Chronicles 25:1–31; Psalms 73–83). The gatekeepers managed the temple gates and storehouses (1 Chronicles 9:26–27; 2 Chronicles 23:19; Nehemiah 12:25).
Asaph was one of the three Levites King David appointed to lead music at the temple (1 Chronicles 16:5, 7). He wrote a collection of psalms (Psalms 50, 73–83). His family continued his work (1 Chronicles 25:1–7).
41The singers:
the descendants of Asaph, 128.
42The gatekeepers:
the descendants of Shallum,
the descendants of Ater,
the descendants of Talmon,
the descendants of Akkub,
the descendants of Hatita,
and the descendants of Shobai,
139 in all.
The temple servants were likely descendants of the...
The temple servants were likely descendants of the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:23–27). They helped the Levites (Ezra 8:20) by carrying water and wood and sweeping floors.
43The temple servants:†
the descendants of Ziha,
the descendants of Hasupha,
the descendants of Tabbaoth,
44the descendants of Keros,
the descendants of Siaha,†
the descendants of Padon,
45the descendants of Lebanah,
the descendants of Hagabah,
the descendants of Akkub,
46the descendants of Hagab,
the descendants of Shalmai,†
the descendants of Hanan,
47the descendants of Giddel,
the descendants of Gahar,
the descendants of Reaiah,
48the descendants of Rezin,
the descendants of Nekoda,
the descendants of Gazzam,
49the descendants of Uzza,
the descendants of Paseah,
the descendants of Besai,
50the descendants of Asnah,
the descendants of Meunim,
the descendants of Nephusim,†
51the descendants of Bakbuk,
the descendants of Hakupha,
the descendants of Harhur,
52the descendants of Bazluth,†
the descendants of Mehida,
the descendants of Harsha,
53the descendants of Barkos,
the descendants of Sisera,
the descendants of Temah,
54the descendants of Neziah,
and the descendants of Hatipha.
The descendants of King Solomon's servants are linked...
The descendants of King Solomon's servants are linked to the temple servants (Ezra 2:43–54). Their names might show their duties. For example:
Hassophereth, meaning "the scribe," probably kept inventories
Pokereth-hazzebaim, meaning "gazelle-hunter," likely hunted game
The descendants of King Solomon's servants are linked to the temple servants (Ezra 2:43–54). Their names might show their duties. For example:
Hassophereth, meaning "the scribe," probably kept inventories
Pokereth-hazzebaim, meaning "gazelle-hunter," likely hunted game
55The descendants of the servants of Solomon:
the descendants of Sotai,
the descendants of Hassophereth,
the descendants of Peruda,†
56the descendants of Jaala,
the descendants of Darkon,
the descendants of Giddel,
57the descendants of Shephatiah,
the descendants of Hattil,
the descendants of Pochereth-hazzebaim,
and the descendants of Ami.†
58The temple servants and descendants of the servants of Solomon numbered 392 in all.
Some returnees believed in Israel's God but lacked...
Some returnees believed in Israel's God but lacked genealogical records to prove they were Israelites. Without this information, the other Israelites were unsure whether to treat them as family and intermarry with them or as outsiders. The genealogies in 1 Chronicles 1–9 show how carefully many families kept their histories.
59The following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan,† and Immer, but they could not prove that their families were descended from Israel:
60the descendants of Delaiah,
the descendants of Tobiah,
and the descendants of Nekoda,
652 in all.
they could not find them: The lack of...
they could not find them: The lack of a genealogy was a problem for three families (Ezra 2:61–62). They were excluded from priestly privileges or responsibilities until the high priest received divine guidance through the Urim and Thummim to know God's will (see Exodus 28:30; Numbers 27:21). Although using the Urim and Thummim was like throwing dice or drawing straws, when done by the priest, the result was a divine decision, not random chance.
61And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah,
the descendants of Hakkoz,
and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).
62These men searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 63The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.†
42,360: This number might include children, as it...
42,360: This number might include children, as it does not match the 28,774 people listed in Ezra 2:3–42.
The large number of servants and animals indicates that some of the Jews who returned were wealthy.
42,360: This number might include children, as it does not match the 28,774 people listed in Ezra 2:3–42.
The large number of servants and animals indicates that some of the Jews who returned were wealthy.
64The whole assembly numbered 42,360, 65in addition to their 7,337 menservants and maidservants, as well as their 200 male and female singers. 66They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 67435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.
Offerings by the Exiles
(Exodus 38:21–31; Nehemiah 7:70–73)
When the tabernacle was built (Exodus 25:2–7; 35:4–9)...
When the tabernacle was built (Exodus 25:2–7; 35:4–9) and the temple was renovated (2 Kings 12:1–21), the people gave voluntary offerings to support the work. These funds added to the provincial grant by Darius (Ezra 6:8) and gifts from Israelites who remained in Babylon (1:6). Each person gave according to his resources.
68When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings to rebuild the house of God on its original site. 69According to their ability, they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priestly garments.††
70So the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, along with some of the people, settled in their own towns; and the rest of the Israelites† settled in their towns.