Ezra 2
Ezra 2 is the chapter that records the list of the people of Israel who returned from their exile in Babylon to Jerusalem and Judea. This list shows in detail the members of the returning community and their numbers. As the account of the first large-scale return after the Babylonian exile, it allows you to see how those who had been taken into exile and their descendants returned.
1verseNow these are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city;
2versewho came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
3verseThe children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
4verseThe children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two.
5verseThe children of Arah, seven hundred seventy-five.
6verseThe children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve.
7verseThe children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
8verseThe children of Zattu, nine hundred forty-five.
9verseThe children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty.
10verseThe children of Bani, six hundred forty-two.
11verseThe children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three.
12verseThe children of Azgad, one thousand two hundred twenty-two.
13verseThe children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-six.
14verseThe children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty-six.
15verseThe children of Adin, four hundred fifty-four.
16verseThe children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
17verseThe children of Bezai, three hundred twenty-three.
18verseThe children of Jorah, one hundred twelve.
19verseThe children of Hashum, two hundred twenty-three.
20verseThe children of Gibbar, ninety-five.
21verseThe children of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty-three.
22verseThe men of Netophah, fifty-six.
23verseThe men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight.
24verseThe children of Azmaveth, forty-two.
25verseThe children of Kiriath Arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three.
26verseThe children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.
27verseThe men of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two.
28verseThe men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three.
29verseThe children of Nebo, fifty-two.
30verseThe children of Magbish, one hundred fifty-six.
31verseThe children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
32verseThe children of Harim, three hundred twenty.
33verseThe children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five.
34verseThe children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
35verseThe children of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty.
36verseThe priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three.
37verseThe children of Immer, one thousand fifty-two.
38verseThe children of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
39verseThe children of Harim, one thousand seventeen.
40verseThe Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy-four.
41verseThe singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight.
42verseThe children of the gatekeepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty-nine.
43verseThe temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
44versethe children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
45versethe children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
46versethe children of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children of Hanan,
47versethe children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
48versethe children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
49versethe children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
50versethe children of Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephisim,
51versethe children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
52versethe children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
53versethe children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,
54versethe children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
55verseThe children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda,
56versethe children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
57versethe children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, the children of Ami.
58verseAll the temple servants, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety-two.
59verseThese were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses and their offspring, whether they were of Israel:
60versethe children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty-two.
61verseOf the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, and the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.
62verseThese sought their place among those who were registered by genealogy, but they were not found; therefore they were deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood.
63verseThe governor told them that they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest stood up to serve with Urim and with Thummim.
64verseThe whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
65versein addition to their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven; and they had two hundred singing men and singing women.
66verseTheir horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five;
67versetheir camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.
68verseSome of the heads of fathers’ households, when they came to the LORD’s house which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for God’s house to set it up in its place.
69verseThey gave according to their ability into the treasury of the work sixty-one thousand darics of gold, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments.
70verseSo the priests and the Levites, with some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
Structure and Flow
- Verses 1-2: An overall introduction to the returnees and a list of the leaders (Zerubbabel, Joshua, etc.)
- Verses 3-35: The number of the people of Israel who returned by each family (each clan)
- Verses 36-39: Lists and numbers of the priests
- Verses 40-42: Lists of the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers
- Verses 43-54: Lists of the Nethinim who worked at the temple and the descendants of Solomon’s servants
- Verses 55-63: Mentions of those whose ancestry was uncertain and candidates for the priesthood
- Verses 64-67: Totals of the entire number of returnees, and numbers of livestock and animals
- Verses 68-70: Offerings for rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem, and the settlement of the people
The Overall Meaning of Chapter 2
Ezra 2 carries more meaning than just a simple list. The specific names and numbers prove that the returning community truly existed and show that God’s promises came to pass in reality. It also emphasizes that everyone who returned was individually important. The fact that people of different social levels (leaders, priests, ordinary people, temple workers, and so on) returned together becomes a symbol of the community’s diversity and unity.
Points for Reflection
- The fact that God knows each person’s name and remembers them is also important for us today.
- The way the returning community begins anew together in each person’s own place makes us reflect again that, in the community we belong to, each person has a calling assigned to them.
Applying It to Me
Through Ezra chapter 2, I can reflect on the truth that God remembers and calls me as I am in my own life. In the community that God has established, I can thoughtfully consider my role and responsibilities, and apply this to a life of living by respecting and helping one another.