Ezra 2 KJV: The Identity and Genealogy of the Returning Exiles
Ezra 2 documents the census of the first wave of 42,360 returnees who traveled from Babylon to Judea. By listing specific families and their contributions, the chapter emphasizes that God values individual identity and genealogical purity in the rebuilding of His community.
v1-2: The Leaders of the Return: Zerubbabel and Jeshua
v3-35: The Census by Family and City
v36-58: The Priests, Levites, Singers, and Temple Servants
v59-63: The Unverified Genealogies and the Urim and Thummim
v64-70: The Grand Totals and the Generous Offerings for the Foundation
Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;
Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
The children of the porters: 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 an hundred thirty and nine.
And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel:
And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:
These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.
Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:
They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.
So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
Read the 'honor roll' of those who left the comfort of Babylon for the rubble of Zion, proving that your name matters to God. Begin your study with ezra 2 summary.
The mention of the 'Urim and Thummim' shows that the returnees were looking for a return to direct divine guidance that had been lost. The 'Word Secret' is Nethinim, meaning 'given ones,' referring to the temple servants who, despite their humble status, were vital to the mission. Discover the riches with ezra 2 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.
Unlock the hidden ezra 2 1 meaning and summary by exploring context, analyzing original greek and hebrew words, and studying cross references of each verse.
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