1 Now these are the children H1121 of the province H4082 that went up H5927 out of the captivity, H7628 of those which had been carried away, H1473 whom Nebuchadnezzar H5019 the king H4428 of Babylon H894 had carried away H1540 unto Babylon, H894 and came again H7725 unto Jerusalem H3389 and Judah, H3063 every one H376 unto his city; H5892
2 Which came H935 with Zerubbabel: H2216 Jeshua, H3442 Nehemiah, H5166 Seraiah, H8304 Reelaiah, H7480 Mordecai, H4782 Bilshan, H1114 Mispar, H4558 Bigvai, H902 Rehum, H7348 Baanah. H1196 The number H4557 of the men H582 of the people H5971 of Israel: H3478
3 The children H1121 of Parosh, H6551 two thousand H505 an hundred H3967 seventy H7657 and two. H8147
4 The children H1121 of Shephatiah, H8203 three H7969 hundred H3967 seventy H7657 and two. H8147
5 The children H1121 of Arah, H733 seven H7651 hundred H3967 seventy H7657 and five. H2568
6 The children H1121 of Pahathmoab, H6355 of the children H1121 of Jeshua H3442 and Joab, H3097 two thousand H505 eight H8083 hundred H3967 and twelve. H8147 H6240
7 The children H1121 of Elam, H5867 a thousand H505 two hundred H3967 fifty H2572 and four. H702
8 The children H1121 of Zattu, H2240 nine H8672 hundred H3967 forty H705 and five. H2568
9 The children H1121 of Zaccai, H2140 seven H7651 hundred H3967 and threescore. H8346
10 The children H1121 of Bani, H1137 six H8337 hundred H3967 forty H705 and two. H8147
11 The children H1121 of Bebai, H893 six H8337 hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and three. H7969
12 The children H1121 of Azgad, H5803 a thousand H505 two H8147 hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and two. H8147
13 The children H1121 of Adonikam, H140 six H8337 hundred H3967 sixty H8346 and six. H8337
14 The children H1121 of Bigvai, H902 two thousand H505 fifty H2572 and six. H8337
15 The children H1121 of Adin, H5720 four H702 hundred H3967 fifty H2572 and four. H702
16 The children H1121 of Ater H333 of Hezekiah, H3169 ninety H8673 and eight. H8083
17 The children H1121 of Bezai, H1209 three H7969 hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and three. H7969
18 The children H1121 of Jorah, H3139 an hundred H3967 and twelve. H8147 H6240
19 The children H1121 of Hashum, H2828 two hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and three. H7969
20 The children H1121 of Gibbar, H1402 ninety H8673 and five. H2568
21 The children H1121 of Bethlehem, H1035 an hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and three. H7969
22 The men H582 of Netophah, H5199 fifty H2572 and six. H8337
23 The men H582 of Anathoth, H6068 an hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and eight. H8083
24 The children H1121 of Azmaveth, H5820 forty H705 and two. H8147
25 The children H1121 of Kirjatharim, H7157 Chephirah, H3716 and Beeroth, H881 seven H7651 hundred H3967 and forty H705 and three. H7969
26 The children H1121 of Ramah H7414 and Gaba, H1387 six H8337 hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and one. H259
27 The men H582 of Michmas, H4363 an hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and two. H8147
28 The men H582 of Bethel H1008 and Ai, H5857 two hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and three. H7969
29 The children H1121 of Nebo, H5015 fifty H2572 and two. H8147
30 The children H1121 of Magbish, H4019 an hundred H3967 fifty H2572 and six. H8337
31 The children H1121 of the other H312 Elam, H5867 a thousand H505 two hundred H3967 fifty H2572 and four. H702
32 The children H1121 of Harim, H2766 three H7969 hundred H3967 and twenty. H6242
33 The children H1121 of Lod, H3850 Hadid, H2307 and Ono, H207 seven H7651 hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and five. H2568
34 The children H1121 of Jericho, H3405 three H7969 hundred H3967 forty H705 and five. H2568
35 The children H1121 of Senaah, H5570 three H7969 thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred H3967 and thirty. H7970
36 The priests: H3548 the children H1121 of Jedaiah, H3048 of the house H1004 of Jeshua, H3442 nine H8672 hundred H3967 seventy H7657 and three. H7969
37 The children H1121 of Immer, H564 a thousand H505 fifty H2572 and two. H8147
38 The children H1121 of Pashur, H6583 a thousand H505 two hundred H3967 forty H705 and seven. H7651
39 The children H1121 of Harim, H2766 a thousand H505 and seventeen. H7651 H6240
40 The Levites: H3881 the children H1121 of Jeshua H3442 and Kadmiel, H6934 of the children H1121 of Hodaviah, H1938 seventy H7657 and four. H702
41 The singers: H7891 the children H1121 of Asaph, H623 an hundred H3967 twenty H6242 and eight. H8083
42 The children H1121 of the porters: H7778 the children H1121 of Shallum, H7967 the children H1121 of Ater, H333 the children H1121 of Talmon, H2929 the children H1121 of Akkub, H6126 the children H1121 of Hatita, H2410 the children H1121 of Shobai, H7630 in all an hundred H3967 thirty H7970 and nine. H8672
43 The Nethinims: H5411 the children H1121 of Ziha, H6727 the children H1121 of Hasupha, H2817 the children H1121 of Tabbaoth, H2884
44 The children H1121 of Keros, H7026 the children H1121 of Siaha, H5517 the children H1121 of Padon, H6303
45 The children H1121 of Lebanah, H3838 the children H1121 of Hagabah, H2286 the children H1121 of Akkub, H6126
46 The children H1121 of Hagab, H2285 the children H1121 of Shalmai, H8073 the children H1121 of Hanan, H2605
47 The children H1121 of Giddel, H1435 the children H1121 of Gahar, H1515 the children H1121 of Reaiah, H7211
48 The children H1121 of Rezin, H7526 the children H1121 of Nekoda, H5353 the children H1121 of Gazzam, H1502
49 The children H1121 of Uzza, H5798 the children H1121 of Paseah, H6454 the children H1121 of Besai, H1153
50 The children H1121 of Asnah, H619 the children H1121 of Mehunim, H4586 the children H1121 of Nephusim, H5300 H5304
51 The children H1121 of Bakbuk, H1227 the children H1121 of Hakupha, H2709 the children H1121 of Harhur, H2744
52 The children H1121 of Bazluth, H1213 the children H1121 of Mehida, H4240 the children H1121 of Harsha, H2797
53 The children H1121 of Barkos, H1302 the children H1121 of Sisera, H5516 the children H1121 of Thamah, H8547
54 The children H1121 of Neziah, H5335 the children H1121 of Hatipha. H2412
55 The children H1121 of Solomon's H8010 servants: H5650 the children H1121 of Sotai, H5479 the children H1121 of Sophereth, H5618 the children H1121 of Peruda, H6514
56 The children H1121 of Jaalah, H3279 the children H1121 of Darkon, H1874 the children H1121 of Giddel, H1435
57 The children H1121 of Shephatiah, H8203 the children H1121 of Hattil, H2411 the children H1121 of Pochereth of Zebaim, H6380 the children H1121 of Ami. H532
58 All the Nethinims, H5411 and the children H1121 of Solomon's H8010 servants, H5650 were three H7969 hundred H3967 ninety H8673 and two. H8147
59 And these were they which went up H5927 from Telmelah, H8528 Telharsa, H8521 Cherub, H3743 Addan, H135 and Immer: H564 but they could H3201 not shew H5046 their father's H1 house, H1004 and their seed, H2233 whether they were of Israel: H3478
60 The children H1121 of Delaiah, H1806 the children H1121 of Tobiah, H2900 the children H1121 of Nekoda, H5353 six H8337 hundred H3967 fifty H2572 and two. H8147
61 And of the children H1121 of the priests: H3548 the children H1121 of Habaiah, H2252 the children H1121 of Koz, H6976 the children H1121 of Barzillai; H1271 which took H3947 a wife H802 of the daughters H1323 of Barzillai H1271 the Gileadite, H1569 and was called H7121 after their name: H8034
62 These sought H1245 their register H3791 among those that were reckoned by genealogy, H3187 but they were not found: H4672 therefore were they, as polluted, H1351 put from the priesthood. H3550
63 And the Tirshatha H8660 said H559 unto them, that they should not eat H398 of the most H6944 holy things, H6944 till there stood up H5975 a priest H3548 with Urim H224 and with Thummim. H8550
64 The whole congregation H6951 together H259 was forty H702 H7239 and two thousand H505 three H7969 hundred H3967 and threescore, H8346
65 Beside their servants H5650 and their maids, H519 of whom there were seven H7651 thousand H505 three H7969 hundred H3967 thirty H7970 and seven: H7651 and there were H428 among them two hundred H3967 singing men H7891 and singing women. H7891
66 Their horses H5483 were seven H7651 hundred H3967 thirty H7970 and six; H8337 their mules, H6505 two hundred H3967 forty H705 and five; H2568
67 Their camels, H1581 four H702 hundred H3967 thirty H7970 and five; H2568 their asses, H2543 six H8337 thousand H505 seven H7651 hundred H3967 and twenty. H6242
68 And some of the chief H7218 of the fathers, H1 when they came H935 to the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 which is at Jerusalem, H3389 offered freely H5068 for the house H1004 of God H430 to set it up H5975 in his place: H4349
69 They gave H5414 after their ability H3581 unto the treasure H214 of the work H4399 threescore H8337 H7239 and one thousand H505 drams H1871 of gold, H2091 and five H2568 thousand H505 pound H4488 of silver, H3701 and one hundred H3967 priests' H3548 garments. H3801
70 So the priests, H3548 and the Levites, H3881 and some of the people, H5971 and the singers, H7891 and the porters, H7778 and the Nethinims, H5411 dwelt H3427 in their cities, H5892 and all Israel H3478 in their cities. H5892
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezra 2
Commentary on Ezra 2 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 2
Ezr 2:1-70. Number of the People That Turned.
1. children of the province—that is, Judea (Ezr 5:8), so called as being now reduced from an illustrious, independent, and powerful kingdom to an obscure, servile, tributary province of the Persian empire. This name is applied by the sacred historian to intimate that the Jewish exiles, though now released from captivity and allowed to return into their own land, were still the subjects of Cyrus, inhabiting a province dependent upon Persia.
came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city—either the city that had been occupied by his ancestors, or, as most parts of Judea were then either desolate or possessed by others, the city that was rebuilt and allotted to him now.
2. Which came with Zerubbabel—He was the chief or leader of the first band of returning exiles. The names of other influential persons who were associated in the conducting of the caravans are also mentioned, being extracted probably from the Persian archives, in which the register was preserved: conspicuous in the number are Jeshua, the high priest, and Nehemiah.
3. The children—This word, as used throughout this catalogue, means "posterity" or "descendants."
5. children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five—The number is stated in Ne 7:10 to have been only six hundred fifty-two. It is probable that all mentioned as belonging to this family repaired to the general place of rendezvous, or had enrolled their names at first as intending to go; but in the interval of preparation, some died, others were prevented by sickness or insurmountable obstacles, so that ultimately no more than six hundred fifty-two came to Jerusalem.
23. The men of Anathoth—It is pleasant to see so many of this Jewish town returning. It was a city of the Levites; but the people spurned Jeremiah's warning and called forth against themselves one of his severest predictions (Jer 32:27-35). This prophecy was fulfilled in the Assyrian conquest. Anathoth was laid waste and continued a heap of ruins. But the people, having been brought during the captivity to a better state of mind, returned, and their city was rebuilt.
36-39. The priests—Each of their families was ranged under its prince or head, like those of the other tribes. It will be remembered that the whole body was divided into twenty-four courses, one of which, in rotation, discharged the sacerdotal duties every week, and each division was called after the name of its first prince or chief. It appears from this passage that only four of the courses of the priests returned from the Babylonish captivity; but these four courses were afterwards, as the families increased, divided into twenty-four, which were distinguished by the names of the original courses appointed by David [1Ch 23:6-13]. Hence we find the course of Abijah or Abia (1Ch 24:10) subsisting at the commencement of the Christian era (Lu 1:5).
55. The children of Solomon's servants—either the strangers that monarch enlisted in the building of the temple, or those who lived in his palace, which was deemed a high honor.
61, 62. the children of Barzillai—He preferred that name to that of his own family, deeming it a greater distinction to be connected with so noble a family, than to be of the house of Levi. But by this worldly ambition he forfeited the dignity and advantages of the priesthood.
63. Tirshatha—a title borne by the Persian governors of Judea (see also Ne 7:65-70; 8:9; 10:1). It is derived from the Persian torsh ("severe"), and is equivalent to "your severity," "your awfulness."
64. The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore—This gross amount is twelve thousand more than the particular numbers given in the catalogue, when added together, come to. Reckoning up the smaller numbers, we shall find that they amount to 29,818 in this chapter, and to 31,089 in the parallel chapter of Nehemiah [see Ne 7:66-69]. Ezra also mentions four hundred ninety-four persons omitted by Nehemiah, and Nehemiah mentions 1765 not noticed by Ezra. If, therefore, Ezra's surplus be added to the sum in Nehemiah, and Nehemiah's surplus to the number in Ezra, they will both become 31,583. Subtracting this from 42,360, there will be a deficiency of 10,777. These are omitted because they did not belong to Judah and Benjamin, or to the priests, but to the other tribes. The servants and singers, male and female, are reckoned separately (Ezr 2:65), so that putting all these items together, the number of all who went with Zerubbabel amounted to fifty thousand, with eight thousand beasts of burden [Alting, quoted in Davidson's Hermeneutics].
68. some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord offered freely for the house of God, &c.—The sight of a place hallowed by the most endearing and sacred associations, but now lying in desolation and ruins, made the wellsprings of their piety and patriotism gush out afresh. Before taking any active measures for providing accommodation to themselves and their families, the chief among them raised a large sum by voluntary contributions towards the restoration of the temple.
69. drams of gold—rather, "darics," a Persian coin (see on 1Ch 29:7).
priests' garments—(compare Ne 7:70). This—in the circumstances—was a very appropriate gift. In general, it may be remarked that presents of garments, or of any other usable commodities, however singular it may seem to us, is in harmony with the established notions and customs of the East.