Ezra 2
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 following is a list of all of the Israelites who returned to Israel for the rebuilding of the temple. It is important to note, even though there many names who did return, that this was a small percentage of the Jews in Babylon. The trip to Jerusalem, which was in ruins, without a wall, was a pilgrimage of faith. Only those who truly understood God and desired to honor him through the building of the temple went. The rest were indicative of the broad road: they desired their comfort more than God.
In this chapter there are 11 names included as leaders of this exodus. Zerubbabel is a name we will hear a lot of in this study. The second temple is often attributed to him as “Zerubbabel’s temple”. He was the governor appointed to Judah. Three other names may jump out at you: Joshua, Nehemiah and Mordecai. Of course, these are not the famous biblical figures. Joshua was the successor of Moses centuries before. Nehemiah, the famous builder of Jerusalem’s wall years later, was still in the citadel of King Xerxes at this time. Mordecai, a character in the book of Esther, is thought to have lived in Susa, under Xerxes, before the events of Ezra.
The list of the men of the people of Israel:
3 the descendants of Parosh 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 Zakkai 760
10 of Bani 642
11 of Bebai 623
12 of Azgad 1,222
13 of Adonikam 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 Bethlehem 123
22 of Netophah 56
23 of Anathoth 128
24 of Azmaveth 42
25 of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth 743
26 of Ramah and Geba 621
27 of Mikmash 122
28 of Bethel and Ai 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 Jericho 345
35 of Senaah 3,630
The first list is a compilation fo the heads of families that came. The ancient way of counting normally only includes the heads of families, so the exact number of people coming was much higher. Between this account and Nehemiah 7:6-69, which also lists the returning Jewish population, there are discrepancies. These are most likely copying errors. Nehemiah 7:7 lists 12 officials rather than the 11 listed in Ezra. 12 makes more sense biblically, as 12 is the symbolic number for perfect governance.
In Babylonian culture it was common to give those in captivity new names. In Daniel 1:6-7, we see new names given to Daniel and his friends. The concept is played out in the book of Daniel as a plot by King Nebuchadnezzar to assimilate the Jewish people into Babylonian culture. First their name is changed, their culture is killed and then replaced by Babylonian ideals. The names in this list are the names of the Jews of Babylon who were given Babylonian names:
Parosh: flea.
Shephatiah: Yahweh has judged.
Arah: wild ox.
Zaccai: pure.
Bani: Yahweh has built.
Bebai: pupil of the eye.
Azgad: Gad is strong.
Adonikam: my Lord has arisen.
Adin: voluptuous.
Ater: lefty.
Bezai: The shadow of God.
Jorah: autumn rain.
Hashum: broad nose.
Gibbar: strong man.
36 The priests:
the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) 973
37 of Immer 1,052
38 of Pashhur 1,247
39 of Harim 1,017
40 The Levites:
the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (of the line of Hodaviah) 74
What is interesting here is the small number of priests who travelled to Jerusalem. This is telling of the spiritual condition of the Babylonian Jews: most of the priests stayed behind. The Levites, the tribe of which priests descended from, is even smaller than the priest class.
41 The musicians:
the descendants of Asaph 128
42 The gatekeepers of the temple:
the descendants of
Shallum, Ater, Talmon,
Akkub, Hatita and Shobai 139
The musicians would play a special part in the ceremonies that sealed began the building and the consecration of the temple.
43 The temple servants:
the descendants of
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 the servants of Solomon:
the descendants of
Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,
56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,
57 Shephatiah, Hattil,
Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Ami
58 The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon 392
These were not tribe-specific Jews but descendants from the conquests of David. These would have been slaves who were brought along for hard-labor tasks.
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.
These last groups were people who came on the pilgrimage but whose lineage could not be determined. This shows an earnestness from the Jewish leaders. They were determined to follow God’s ways going forward, and if lineage could not be determined, then they were not allowed to become priests.
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 of gold, 5,000 minas 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.
Although the number of Jewish people returning to Jerusalem is about 50,000, it is important to once again note that this is about 2% of the population of Babylon. Those who did return vowed to return generously and piously to the Lord’s house and commit to the rebuilding. They came into Jerusalem with meager belongings (note the small number of animals, which was a sign of wealth in the ancient world), yet they gave with a heart that was wide open to God. This is an important note, because as we explore this book further, and compare it to additional texts (namely Haggai), we will see that although the Jews started on a strong note, it soon falters. A clue to their faltering is that they went to their own towns to settle. There, of course, is nothing wrong with this and they would need to in order to do the important work ahead. But it will also become a problem for them going forward. In the book of Haggai, we learn that the Jews returned to Jerusalem on fire for building the temple. But when they realize it will be hard work, they begin to falter, and eventually go back to their “paneled houses” while the Lord’s house is in ruins. They take a 15 year break before they are called out by the Prophet Haggai. As we go forward in the story, we will see the fracture lines develop.
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 following is a list of all of the Israelites who returned to Israel for the rebuilding of the temple. It is important to note, even though there many names who did return, that this was a small percentage of the Jews in Babylon. The trip to Jerusalem, which was in ruins, without a wall, was a pilgrimage of faith. Only those who truly understood God and desired to honor him through the building of the temple went. The rest were indicative of the broad road: they desired their comfort more than God.
In this chapter there are 11 names included as leaders of this exodus. Zerubbabel is a name we will hear a lot of in this study. The second temple is often attributed to him as “Zerubbabel’s temple”. He was the governor appointed to Judah. Three other names may jump out at you: Joshua, Nehemiah and Mordecai. Of course, these are not the famous biblical figures. Joshua was the successor of Moses centuries before. Nehemiah, the famous builder of Jerusalem’s wall years later, was still in the citadel of King Xerxes at this time. Mordecai, a character in the book of Esther, is thought to have lived in Susa, under Xerxes, before the events of Ezra.
The list of the men of the people of Israel:
3 the descendants of Parosh 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 Zakkai 760
10 of Bani 642
11 of Bebai 623
12 of Azgad 1,222
13 of Adonikam 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 Bethlehem 123
22 of Netophah 56
23 of Anathoth 128
24 of Azmaveth 42
25 of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth 743
26 of Ramah and Geba 621
27 of Mikmash 122
28 of Bethel and Ai 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 Jericho 345
35 of Senaah 3,630
The first list is a compilation fo the heads of families that came. The ancient way of counting normally only includes the heads of families, so the exact number of people coming was much higher. Between this account and Nehemiah 7:6-69, which also lists the returning Jewish population, there are discrepancies. These are most likely copying errors. Nehemiah 7:7 lists 12 officials rather than the 11 listed in Ezra. 12 makes more sense biblically, as 12 is the symbolic number for perfect governance.
In Babylonian culture it was common to give those in captivity new names. In Daniel 1:6-7, we see new names given to Daniel and his friends. The concept is played out in the book of Daniel as a plot by King Nebuchadnezzar to assimilate the Jewish people into Babylonian culture. First their name is changed, their culture is killed and then replaced by Babylonian ideals. The names in this list are the names of the Jews of Babylon who were given Babylonian names:
Parosh: flea.
Shephatiah: Yahweh has judged.
Arah: wild ox.
Zaccai: pure.
Bani: Yahweh has built.
Bebai: pupil of the eye.
Azgad: Gad is strong.
Adonikam: my Lord has arisen.
Adin: voluptuous.
Ater: lefty.
Bezai: The shadow of God.
Jorah: autumn rain.
Hashum: broad nose.
Gibbar: strong man.
36 The priests:
the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) 973
37 of Immer 1,052
38 of Pashhur 1,247
39 of Harim 1,017
40 The Levites:
the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (of the line of Hodaviah) 74
What is interesting here is the small number of priests who travelled to Jerusalem. This is telling of the spiritual condition of the Babylonian Jews: most of the priests stayed behind. The Levites, the tribe of which priests descended from, is even smaller than the priest class.
41 The musicians:
the descendants of Asaph 128
42 The gatekeepers of the temple:
the descendants of
Shallum, Ater, Talmon,
Akkub, Hatita and Shobai 139
The musicians would play a special part in the ceremonies that sealed began the building and the consecration of the temple.
43 The temple servants:
the descendants of
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 the servants of Solomon:
the descendants of
Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,
56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,
57 Shephatiah, Hattil,
Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Ami
58 The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon 392
These were not tribe-specific Jews but descendants from the conquests of David. These would have been slaves who were brought along for hard-labor tasks.
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.
These last groups were people who came on the pilgrimage but whose lineage could not be determined. This shows an earnestness from the Jewish leaders. They were determined to follow God’s ways going forward, and if lineage could not be determined, then they were not allowed to become priests.
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 of gold, 5,000 minas 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.
Although the number of Jewish people returning to Jerusalem is about 50,000, it is important to once again note that this is about 2% of the population of Babylon. Those who did return vowed to return generously and piously to the Lord’s house and commit to the rebuilding. They came into Jerusalem with meager belongings (note the small number of animals, which was a sign of wealth in the ancient world), yet they gave with a heart that was wide open to God. This is an important note, because as we explore this book further, and compare it to additional texts (namely Haggai), we will see that although the Jews started on a strong note, it soon falters. A clue to their faltering is that they went to their own towns to settle. There, of course, is nothing wrong with this and they would need to in order to do the important work ahead. But it will also become a problem for them going forward. In the book of Haggai, we learn that the Jews returned to Jerusalem on fire for building the temple. But when they realize it will be hard work, they begin to falter, and eventually go back to their “paneled houses” while the Lord’s house is in ruins. They take a 15 year break before they are called out by the Prophet Haggai. As we go forward in the story, we will see the fracture lines develop.