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Texts -- Ezra 2:5-70 (NET)

Context
2:5 the descendants of Arah : 775 ; 2:6 the descendants of Pahath-Moab (from the line of Jeshua and Joab ): 2,812 ; 2:7 the descendants of Elam : 1,254 ; 2:8 the descendants of Zattu : 945 ; 2:9 the descendants of Zaccai : 760 ; 2:10 the descendants of Bani : 642 ; 2:11 the descendants of Bebai : 623 ; 2:12 the descendants of Azgad : 1,222 ; 2:13 the descendants of Adonikam : 666 ; 2:14 the descendants of Bigvai : 2,056 ; 2:15 the descendants of Adin : 454 ; 2:16 the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah ): 98 ; 2:17 the descendants of Bezai : 323 ; 2:18 the descendants of Jorah : 112 ; 2:19 the descendants of Hashum : 223 ; 2:20 the descendants of Gibbar : 95 . 2:21 The men of Bethlehem : 123 ; 2:22 the men of Netophah : 56 ; 2:23 the men of Anathoth : 128 ; 2:24 the men of the family of Azmaveth : 42 ; 2:25 the men of Kiriath Jearim , Kephirah and Beeroth : 743 ; 2:26 the men of Ramah and Geba : 621 ; 2:27 the men of Micmash : 122 ; 2:28 the men of Bethel and Ai : 223 ; 2:29 the descendants of Nebo : 52 ; 2:30 the descendants of Magbish : 156 ; 2:31 the descendants of the other Elam : 1,254 ; 2:32 the descendants of Harim : 320 ; 2:33 the men of Lod , Hadid , and Ono : 725 ; 2:34 the men of Jericho : 345 ; 2:35 the descendants of Senaah : 3,630 . 2:36 The priests : the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua ): 973 ; 2:37 the descendants of Immer : 1,052 ; 2:38 the descendants of Pashhur : 1,247 ; 2:39 the descendants of Harim : 1,017 . 2:40 The Levites : the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through the line of Hodaviah ): 74 . 2:41 The singers : the descendants of Asaph : 128 . 2:42 The gatekeepers : the descendants of Shallum , the descendants of Ater , the descendants of Talmon , the descendants of Akkub , the descendants of Hatita , and the descendants of Shobai : 139 . 2:43 The temple servants : the descendants of Ziha , the descendants of Hasupha , the descendants of Tabbaoth , 2:44 the descendants of Keros , the descendants of Siaha , the descendants of Padon , 2:45 the descendants of Lebanah , the descendants of Hagabah , the descendants of Akkub , 2:46 the descendants of Hagab , the descendants of Shalmai , the descendants of Hanan , 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...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • 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 ...

  • Priest

    [ebd] The Heb. kohen, Gr. hierus, Lat. sacerdos, always denote one who offers sacrifices. At first every man was his own priest, and presented his own sacrifices before God. Afterwards that office devolved on the head of the famil...
    [nave] PRIEST. Before Moses Melchizedek, Gen. 14:18; Heb. 5:6, 10, 11; 6:20; 7:1-21. Jethro, Ex. 2:16. Priests in Israel before the giving of the law, Ex. 19:22, 24. Called angel, Eccl. 5:6. Mosaic Ex. 28:1-4; 29:9, 44; Num....

  • 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.

  • Ater

    [ebd] shut; lame. (1.) Ezra 2:16. (2.) Neh. 10:17. (3.) Ezra 2:42.
    [isbe] ATER - a'-ter ('aTer, "bound" (?)): (1) The ancestor of a family of 98 persons who returned from Babylonian captivity with Zerubbabel (Ezr 2:16; Neh 7:21). the King James Version has "Ater of Hezekiah"; the Revised Version (...
    [smith] (shut up). The children of Ater were among the porters or gate-keepers of the temple who returned with Zerubbabel. (Ezra 2:42; Nehemiah 7:45) The children of ATER OF HEZEKIAH to the number of 98 returned with Zerubbabel, (Ez...
    [nave] ATER 1. A descendant of Hezekiah, who returned from Babylon, Ezra 2:16; Neh. 7:21. 2. A porter, Ezra 2:42; Neh. 7:45. 3. An Israelite, who subscribed to Nehemiah's covenant, Neh. 10:17.

  • Harim

    [ebd] flat-nosed. (1.) The head of the second course of priests (1 Chr. 24:8). (2.) Ezra 2:32, 39; Neh. 7:35, 42. (3.) Neh. 3:11. (4.) 12:3. (5.) 10:5
    [isbe] HARIM - ha'-rim (charim): A family name. (1) A non-priestly family that returned from captivity with Zerubbabel (Ezr 2:32; Neh 7:35); mentioned among those who married foreign wives (Ezr 10:31); also mentioned among those wh...
    [smith] (flat-nosed). A priest who had charge of the third division in the house of God. (1 Chronicles 24:8) (B.C. 1014.) Bene-Harim, probably descendants of the above, to the number of 1017, came from Babylon with Zerubbabel. (E...
    [nave] HARIM 1. A priest, 1 Chr. 24:8. 2. An Israelite whose descendants returned from Babylon, Ezra 2:32, 39; 10:31; Neh. 7:35, 42. 3. The men who sealed the covenant, Neh. 10:5, 27; 12:15.

  • Immer

    [ebd] talkative. (1.) The head of the sixteenth priestly order (1 Chr. 24:14). (2.) Jer. 20:1. (3.) Ezra 2:37; Neh. 7:40. (4.) Ezra 2:59; Neh. 7:61. (5.) The father of Zadok (Neh. 3:29).
    [isbe] IMMER - im'-er ('immer): (1) A priest of David's time (1 Ch 24:14), whose descendants are mentioned in Ezr 2:37; 10:20; Neh 3:29; 7:40; 11:13. (2) A priest of Jeremiah's time (Jer 20:1). (3) A place in Babylonia (Ezr 2:59; N...
    [smith] (talkative). The founder of an important family of priests. (1 Chronicles 9:12; Nehemiah 11:13) This family had charge of, and gave its name to, the sixteenth course of the service. (1 Chronicles 24:14) (B.C. 1014.) Ap...
    [nave] IMMER 1. A family of priests, 1 Chr. 9:12; Ezra 2:37; 10:20; Neh. 7:40; 11:13. 2. Head of a division of priests, 1 Chr. 24:14. 3. Name of a man or town, Ezra 2:59; Neh. 7:61. 4. Father of Zadok, Neh. 3:29. 5. Father of P...

  • Jeshua

    [ebd] (1.) Head of the ninth priestly order (Ezra 2:36); called also Jeshuah (1 Chr. 24:11). (2.) A Levite appointed by Hezekiah to distribute offerings in the priestly cities (2 Chr. 31:15). (3.) Ezra 2:6; Neh. 7:11. (4.) Ezra 2:...
    [smith] (a saviour), another form of the name of Joshua of Jesus. Joshua the son of Nun. (Nehemiah 8:17) [JOSHUA] A priest in the reign of David, to whom the nine course fell by David, to whom the ninth course fell by lot. (1 Chr...
    [nave] JESHUA 1. Called also Jeshuah. A priest, head of the ninth course, 1 Chr. 24:11. Nine hundred and seventy-three of his descendants returned from Babylon, Ezra 2:36; Neh. 7:39. 2. A Levite, had charge of the tithes, 2 Chr. ...

  • LAW IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

    [isbe] LAW IN THE OLD TESTAMENT - || I. TERMS USED 1. Torah ("Law") 2. Synonyms of Torah (1) Mitswah ("Command") (2) `Edhah ("Witness," "Testimony") (3) MishpaTim ("Judgments") (4) Chuqqim ("Statutes") (5) Piqqudhim ("Precepts") II...

  • 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...

  • Elam

    [isbe] ELAM - e'-lam (`elam): (1) A son of Shem (Gen 10:22; 1 Ch 1:17; see ELAMITES). (2) A Benjamite (1 Ch 8:24). (3) A Korahite (1 Ch 26:3). (4) Heads of families in the return (Ezr 2:7 parallel Neh 7:12; Ezr 2:31 parallel Neh 7:...
    [smith] (eternity). This seems to have been originally the name of a man, the son of Shem. (Genesis 10:22; 1 Chronicles 1:17) Commonly, however, it is used as the appellation of a country. (Genesis 14:1,9; Isaiah 11:11; 21:2) The...
    [nave] ELAM 1. A district southeast of Babylon, on Persian Gulf, Gen. 14:1, 9; Dan. 8:2. Prophecies concerning, Isa. 11:11; 21:2; 22:6; Jer. 25:25; 49:34-39; Ezek. 32:24. Jews from, Acts 2:9. See: Elamites. 2. A Korhite Levite,...

  • 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.
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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...
  • This decree appears in Aramaic, the official language of the Persian Empire, in the Hebrew Bible.The king appointed Ezra as the person responsible to him for the affairs conducted in the Jewish community in Judah. He held a p...
  • The descendants of the priestly and royal families in Israel appear first in this list (vv. 2-3). Then the rest of the Jews follow. A comparison of verses 3-14 with 2:3-15 shows that Ezra's companions were mainly the relative...
  • The priests presented the evening offering (v. 5) between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. in Jesus' day.130Ezra's prayer contains four primary characteristics: solidarity, confession, readiness to change, and faith in God's mercy.131In hi...
  • 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...
  • The priests and Levites were the most important people who returned from exile because they reestablished worship in the land. Verses 1-7 give the names of 22 leaders among them who had returned in 537 B.C. with Zerubbabel an...
  • 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 ...
  • 7:1 Another prophetic message came to Zechariah from the Lord in 518 B.C. The fourth day of the ninth month would have been in early December. Chislev is the Babylonian name of the month. This message, which comprises the fol...
  • 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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