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Texts -- Ezra 2:47-70 (NET)

Context
2:47 the descendants of Giddel , the descendants of Gahar , the descendants of Reaiah , 2:48 the descendants of Rezin , the descendants of Nekoda , the descendants of Gazzam , 2:49 the descendants of Uzzah , the descendants of Paseah , the descendants of Besai , 2:50 the descendants of Asnah , the descendants of Meunim , the descendants of Nephussim , 2:51 the descendants of Bakbuk , the descendants of Hakupha , the descendants of Harhur , 2:52 the descendants of Bazluth , the descendants of Mehida , the descendants of Harsha , 2:53 the descendants of Barkos , the descendants of Sisera , the descendants of Temah , 2:54 the descendants of Neziah , and the descendants of Hatipha . 2:55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon : the descendants of Sotai , the descendants of Hassophereth , the descendants of Peruda , 2:56 the descendants of Jaala , the descendants of Darkon , the descendants of Giddel , 2:57 the descendants of Shephatiah , the descendants of Hattil , the descendants of Pokereth-Hazzebaim , and the descendants of Ami . 2:58 All the temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon : 392 . 2:59 These are the ones that came up from Tel Melah , Tel Harsha , Kerub , Addon , and Immer (although they were unable to certify their family connection or their ancestry , as to whether they really were from Israel ): 2:60 the descendants of Delaiah , the descendants of Tobiah , and the descendants of Nekoda : 652 . 2:61 And from among the priests : the descendants of Hobaiah , the descendants of Hakkoz , and the descendants of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name ). 2:62 They searched for their records in the genealogical materials , but did not find them. They were therefore excluded from the priesthood . 2:63 The governor instructed them not to eat any of the sacred food until there was a priest who could consult the Urim and Thummim . 2:64 The entire group numbered 42,360 , 2:65 not counting their male and female female servants , who numbered 7,337 . They also had 200 male and female singers 2:66 and 736 horses , 245 mules , 2:67 435 camels , and 6,720 donkeys . 2:68 When they came to the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem , some of the family leaders offered voluntary offerings for the temple of God in order to rebuild it on its site . 2:69 As they were able , they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas of gold , 5,000 minas of silver , and 100 priestly robes . 2:70 The priests , the Levites , some of the people , the singers , the gatekeepers , and the temple servants lived in their towns , and all the rest of Israel lived in their towns .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Zerubbabel

    [ebd] the seed of Babylon, the son of Salathiel or Shealtiel (Hag. 1:1; Zorobabel, Matt. 1:12); called also the son of Pedaiah (1 Chr. 3:17-19), i.e., according to a frequent usage of the word "son;" the grandson or the nephew of ...
    [isbe] ZERUBBABEL - ze-rub'-a-bel (zerubbabhel, probably a transliteration of the Babylonian name Zeru-Babili, "seed of Babylon"; Zorobabel): 1. Name: Is commonly called the son of Shealtiel (Ezr 3:2,8; 5:2; Neh 12:1; Hag 1:1,12,14...
    [nave] ZERUBBABEL, called also Sheshbazzar. Directs the rebuilding of the altar and temple after his return from captivity in Babylon, Ezra 3:2-8; 4:2, 3; 5:2, 14-16; Hag. 1:12-14. Leads the emancipated Jews back from Babylon, Ezra...

  • Zechariah

    [ebd] Jehovah is renowned or remembered. (1.) A prophet of Judah, the eleventh of the twelve minor prophets. Like Ezekiel, he was of priestly extraction. He describes himself (1:1) as "the son of Berechiah." In Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 h...

  • Temple, the Second

    [ebd] After the return from captivity, under Zerubbabel (q.v.) and the high priest Jeshua, arrangements were almost immediately made to reorganize the long-desolated kingdom. The body of pilgrims, forming a band of 42,360, includi...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Captivity

    [ebd] (1.) Of Israel. The kingdom of the ten tribes was successively invaded by several Assyrian kings. Pul (q.v.) imposed a tribute on Menahem of a thousand talents of silver (2 Kings 15:19, 20; 1 Chr. 5:26) (B.C. 762), and Tigla...

  • Levites

    [nave] LEVITES The descendants of Levi. Set apart as ministers of religion, Num. 1:47-54; 3:6-16; 16:9; 26:57-62; Deut. 10:8; 1 Chr. 15:2. Substituted in the place of the firstborn, Num. 3:12, 41-45; 8:14, 16-18; 18:6. Religious ...

  • GENEALOGY, 8 part 2

    [isbe] GENEALOGY, 8 part 2 - I. Primeval Genealogies (1 Chronicals 1:1-54). To show Israel's place among the nations; follows Genesis closely, omitting only the Cainites; boldly, skillfully compressed, as if the omitted facts were ...

  • CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

    [isbe] CHILDREN OF ISRAEL - iz'-ra-el (bene yisra'el): A very common term in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, and it refers to the Israelites as the descendants of a common ancestor, Jacob, whose name was changed to Is...

  • GENEALOGY, 8 part 1

    [isbe] GENEALOGY, 8 part 1 - 8. Principal Genealogies and Lists: In the early genealogies the particular strata to which each has been assigned by reconstructive critics is here indicated by J, the Priestly Code (P), etc. The signs...

  • Nethinim

    [ebd] the name given to the hereditary temple servants in all the post-Exilian books of Scripture. The word means given, i.e., "those set apart", viz., to the menial work of the sanctuary for the Levites. The name occurs seventeen...
    [isbe] NETHINIM - neth'-i-nim (nethinim, "given"; Natheineim; the King James Version Nethinims): 1. Meaning: A group of temple-servants (1 Ch 9:2 and 16 times in Ezra and Nehemiah). The word has always the article, and does not occ...
    [nave] NETHINIM Servants of the Levites, Ezra 8:20. Return from the captivity, 1 Chr. 9:2; Ezra 2:43, 58, 70; 7:7, 24; 8:17; Neh. 3:26, 31; 7:46, 60, 73; 10:28; 11:3, 21.

  • Nekoda

    [isbe] NEKODA - ne-ko'-da (neqodha'): (1) Head of a family of Nethinim (Ezr 2:48; Neh 7:50; compare 1 Esdras 5:31). (2) Head of a family which failed to prove its Israelite descent (Ezr 2:60; Neh 7:62; compare 1 Esdras 5:31,37). In...
    [smith] (distinguished). The descendants of Nekoda returned among the Nethinim after the captivity. (Ezra 2:48; Nehemiah 7:50) The sons of Nekoda were among those who went up after the captivity from Tel-melah, Tel-harsa, and other ...
    [nave] NEKODA, name of two Jewish exiles, Ezra 2:48, 60; Neh. 7:50, 62.

  • Giddel

    [isbe] GIDDEL - gid'-el (giddel, "very great," "stout"): (1) The name of the head of a family of Nethinim (Ezr 2:47 = Neh 7:49 = 1 Esdras 5:30 (here as Cathua)). (2) The name of the head of a family of Solomon's servants (Ezr 2:56 ...
    [smith] (very great). Children of Giddel were among the Nethinim who returned from the captivity with Zerubbabel. (Ezra 2:47; Nehemiah 7:49) Bene-Giddel were also among the "servants of Solomon" who returned to Judea in the name car...
    [nave] GIDDEL 1. One of the Nethinim, Ezra 2:47; Neh. 7:49. 2. One of Solomon's servants, Ezra 2:56; Neh. 7:58.

  • Minister

    [ebd] one who serves, as distinguished from the master. (1.) Heb. meshereth, applied to an attendant on one of superior rank, as to Joshua, the servant of Moses (Ex. 33:11), and to the servant of Elisha (2 Kings 4:43). This name i...
    [nave] MINISTER, a sacred teacher. Index of Sub-topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-topics; Call of; Character and Qualifications of; Charge Delivered to; Courage of; Duties of; Duties of the Church to; Emoluments of; Faithful, Instanc...

  • Barzillai

    [ebd] of iron. (1.) A Meholathite, the father of Adriel (2 Sam. 21:8). (2.) A Gileadite of Rogelim who was distinguished for his loyalty to David. He liberally provided for the king's followers (2 Sam. 17:27). David on his death-b...
    [isbe] BARZILLAI - bar-zil'-a-i, bar-zil'-i (barzillay; Berzelli, "man of iron" (BDB, but compare Cheyne, Encyclopedia Biblica)): (1) A Gileadite of Rogelim who brought provisions to David and his army to Mahanaim, in their flight ...
    [smith] (iron, i.e., strong). A wealthy Gileadite who showed hospitality to David when he fled form Absalom. (2 Samuel 17:27) (B.C. 1023.) He declined the king?s offer of ending his days at court. (2 Samuel 19:32-39) A Meholat...
    [nave] BARZILLAI 1. A friend of David, 2 Sam. 17:27-29; 19:31-39; 1 Kin. 2:7; Ezra 2:61; Neh. 7:63. 2. Father of Adriel, 2 Sam. 21:8. 3. A priest, Ezra 2:61; Neh. 7:63.

  • Tirshatha

    [ebd] a word probably of Persian origin, meaning "severity," denoting a high civil dignity. The Persian governor of Judea is so called (Ezra 2:63; Neh. 7:65, 70). Nehemiah is called by this name in Neh. 8:9; 10:1, and the "governo...
    [isbe] TIRSHATHA - ter-sha'-tha, tur'-sha-tha (tirshatha'; Hathersatha): A title which occurs 5 times in Ezra and Nehemiah (Ezr 2:63; Neh 7:65, the American Standard Revised Version and the English Revised Version margin "governor"...
    [smith] (always written with the article), the title of the governor of Judea under the Persians, perhaps derived from a Persian root signifying stern, severe, is added as a title after the name of Nehemiah, (Nehemiah 8:9; 10:1) and ...
    [nave] TIRSHATHA, a title of Persian governors, Ezra 2:63; Neh. 7:65, 70; 8:9.

  • Sisera

    [ebd] (Egypt. Ses-Ra, "servant of Ra"). (1.) The captain of Jabin's army (Judg. 4:2), which was routed and destroyed by the army of Barak on the plain of Esdraelon. After all was lost he fled to the settlement of Heber the Kenite ...
    [isbe] SISERA - sis'-er-a (cicera', of doubtful meaning; S(e)isara): (1) Given in Judges 4 as the captain of the army of Jabin, king of Hazor. The accounts given of the battle of Sisera with Barak, as found in Judges 4 and 5, have ...
    [smith] (battle array). Captain of the army of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. He himself resided in Harosheth of the Gentiles. The particulars of the rout of Megiddo and of Sisera?s flight and death are drawn out under ...
    [nave] SISERA 1. Captain of a Canaanite army, defeated by Barak; slain by Jael, Judg. 4; 5:20-31; 1 Sam. 12:9; Psa. 83:9. 2. One of the Nethinim, Ezra 2:53; Neh. 7:55.

  • Neziah

    [ebd] victory; pure, Ezra 2:54; Neh. 7:56.
    [isbe] NEZIAH - ne-zi'-a (netsiach): The head of a family of Nethinim (Ezr 2:54; Neh 7:56), called in 1 Esdras 5:32, "Nasi" (the King James Version and the Revised Version margin "Nasith").
    [smith] (pre-eminent). The descendants of Neziah were among the Nethinim who returned with Zerubbabel, (Ezra 2:54; Nehemiah 7:56) (B.C.536.)
    [nave] NEZIAH, one of the Nethinim, Ezra 2:54; Neh. 7:56.

  • Barkos

    [ebd] painter, (Ezra 2:53; Neh. 7:55). The father of some of the Nethinim.
    [isbe] BARKOS - bar'-kos (barqoc, "party-colored'' (?): compare Gray, Studies in Hebrew Proper Names, 68, note 2): The descendants of Barkos returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem (Ezr 2:53; Neh 7:55). Compare Barchus (1 Esdras 5:32...
    [smith] (painted). "Children of Barkos" were among the Nethinim who returned from the captivity with Zerubbabel. (Ezra 2:53; Nehemiah 7:55) (B.C. 536.)
    [nave] BARKOS, a Jew whose descendants returned from exile, Ezra 2:53; Neh. 7:55.

  • Gahar

    [ebd] lurking-place, one of the chief of the Nethinim, whose descendants returned to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:47).
    [isbe] GAHAR - ga'-har (gachar): A family name of the Nethinim who came up with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem (Ezr 2:47; Neh 7:49); in 1 Esdras 5:30 called Geddur.
    [smith] (hiding-place) The Bene-Gahar were among the families of Nethinim who returned from the captivity with Zerubbabel. (Ezra 2:47; Nehemiah 7:49) (B.C. before 536.)
    [nave] GAHAR, one of the Nethinim, Ezra 2:47; Neh. 7:49.

  • Delaiah

    [ebd] freed by Jehovah. (1.) The head of the twenty-third division of the priestly order (1 Chr. 24:18). (2.) A son of Shemaiah, and one of the courtiers to whom Jeremiah's first roll of prophecy was read (Jer. 36:12). (3.) The he...
    [isbe] DELAIAH - de-la'-ya (delayah, "God has raised"): (1) A descendant of David (1 Ch 3:24; the King James Version "Dalaiah"). (2) One of David's priests and leader of the 23rd course (1 Ch 24:18). (3) One of the princes who plea...
    [smith] (freed by Jehovah). A priest in the time of David, leader of the twenty-third course of priests. (1 Chronicles 24:18) (B.C. 1014.) "Children of Delaiah" were among the people of uncertain pedigree who returned from Babylo...
    [nave] DELAIAH 1. Head of the twenty-third division of the priestly order, 1 Chr. 24:18. 2. A prince of Judah, Jer. 36:12, 25. 3. A progenitor of certain Babylonish captives, Ezra 2:60; Neh. 7:62. 4. Father of a false prophet, N...
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Arts

Questions

  • Here's probably the best word on the Urim and Thummim. It's a couple of paragraphs from Dr. Bruce Waltke's excellent book (which I highly recommend), entitled, "Finding the Will of God" (pp. 62-64): "The priest could use t...

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • The title in the English text comes from the main character in the second part of the book (chapters 7-10). In the Septuagint translation this book also bore the name of Ezra or Esdras, the Greek transliteration of "Ezra.""Ez...
  • Due to the ancient tradition that the same writer composed both parts of the book (chapters 1-6 and 7-10), many scholars believe Ezra produced all of it.5A passage in the Talmud credits Ezra with the authorship of Ezra-Nehemi...
  • The earliest historical reference in Ezra is to the decree of Cyrus that he issued in his first year on the throne (1:1), 538 B.C.12The latest historical reference was just prior to Nehemiah's first trip to Jerusalem (4:21-23...
  • Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther have much in common. Among other things, they all deal with God's dealings with Israel following the captivity. Jeremiah had spoken of these years before the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem (Jer. 25...
  • I. The first return under Sheshbazzar chs. 1-6A. The return from Babylon chs. 1-21. The edict of Cyrus and its consequences ch. 12. The exiles who returned ch. 2B. The rebuilding of the temple chs. 3-61. The beginning of cons...
  • "This whole section (Ezra 1-6) emphasizes God's sovereignty and his providence; God works in history to fulfill his will."15
  • "It is not strange according to the Semitic style to start a book with a waw["And"or "Now"], especially when the author intended to write a continuation of the history of his people. He connects the history which he wants to ...
  • This chapter contains a record of the people who responded to Cyrus' decree and returned to the Promised Land. It is a list of families rather than individuals and the towns in Babylon from which they came. Almost all of thes...
  • Only four of the 24 priestly families that David organized (1 Chron. 24:7-18) had representatives among the returning exiles. Nevertheless these would have been sufficient to serve the worship needs of the other Israelites wh...
  • These people seem to have been those who descended from the servants Solomon had appointed to serve in his temple during his administration. Other views are that they were the descendants of the Canaanites whom Solomon enslav...
  • There is a discrepancy between the total number of exiles the writer gave here (49,897) and the sum of the various groups he just mentioned (29,818). Perhaps the women and children made up the difference, though if this was t...
  • The Israelites contributed to the rebuilding of the temple as they had to the construction of the Mosaic tabernacle (Exod. 25:4-7; 35:2-9). Probably the Greek gold drachma is in view and the Babylonian silver mina (v. 69).55I...
  • Compared with the dedication of the first temple this one was very modest. Solomon had offered more than 200 times as many animals.96The Jews offered one sin offering, which involved slaying a goat, for each of the 12 tribes ...
  • "These things"(v. 1) refers to the events of the first return that the writer described in chapters 1-6.Ezra's genealogy (vv. 1-5) shows that he was a man of importance whom his fellow Jews would have respected. He was a desc...
  • The Book of Ezra records two major Jewish returns to the Promised Land from Babylon.The first of these took place in 537 B.C. under the leadership of Sheshbazzar and then Zerubbabel. About 50,000 Jews returned, rebuilt the te...
  • Ackroyd, Peter R. I and II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah. London: SCM Press, 1973._____. "The Temple Vessels--A Continuity Theme."Vetus Testamentum Supplement23 (1972):166-81.Aharoni, Yohanan, and Michael Avi-Yonah. The Macmilla...
  • This is not a list of the people who accompanied Nehemiah to Jerusalem in 444 B.C. but a record of those who returned with Sheshbazzar, Zerubbabel, and Jeshua in 537 B.C. (v. 7). It is almost identical to the list in Ezra 2.W...
  • Ackroyd, Peter R. I and II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah. London: SCM Press, 1973.Aharoni, Yohanan, and Michael Avi-Yonah. The Macmillan Bible Atlas. Revised ed., New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1977.Albright, William F. The...
  • The events of the Book of Esther took place during the Persian period of ancient history (539-331 B.C.) and during the reign of King Ahasuerus in particular (486-464 B.C.).Chronology of the Book of Esther483Ahasuerus' militar...
  • This section consists of a small collection of messianic prophecies.33:14 Future days would come, the Lord promised, when He would fulfill His promises concerning the restoration of all Israel."The predicted restoration (the ...
  • 13:8-9 The Lord told these false prophets that He opposed them for what they had done. He would act against them by removing them from positions of influence among His people, depriving them of the rights of citizenship in Is...
  • The Babylonians, led by King Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed the city of Jerusalem, including Solomon's temple, in 586 B.C. and took most of the Jews captive to Babylon. There the Israelites could not practice their formal worship ...
  • Zechariah began ministering among the Jews who had returned from captivity in Babylon (i.e., the restoration community) two months after Haggai began preaching (1:1; 7:1; cf. Neh. 12:10-16; Hag. 1:1). In a sense, Zechariah's ...
  • Malachi was one of the three post-exilic writing prophets along with Haggai and Zechariah, and he was quite certainly the last one chronologically, even though we cannot be dogmatic about a date for his writing.The first grou...
  • 7:1-2 The writer referred to Melchizedek (lit. righteous king, probably a title rather than a proper name) as the head of a priestly order. It was not uncommon for one individual to combine the roles of priest and king in ant...
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