Ezra 2:1-2

Context

The Names of the Returning Exiles

2:1 ¹These are the people² of the province who were going up,³ from the captives of the exile whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile in Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem⁴ and Judah, each to his own city. 2:2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.

The number of Israelites⁵ was as follows:⁶

Ezra 3:1

Context

The Altar is Rebuilt

3:1 When the seventh month arrived and the Israelites⁷ were living⁸ in their⁹ towns, the people assembled¹⁰ in¹¹ Jerusalem.¹²

[2:1] ¹sn The list of names and numbers in this chapter of Ezra has a parallel account in Neh 7:6-73. The fact that the two lists do not always agree in specific details suggests that various textual errors have crept into the accounts during the transmission process.

[2:1] ²tn Heb “the sons of.”

[2:1] ³tn The Hebrew term הָעֹלִים (ha’olim, “those who were going up” [Qal active participle]) refers to continual action in the past. Most translations render this as a simple past: “went up” (KJV), “came up” (RSV, ASV, NASV, NIV), “came” (NRSV). CEV paraphrases: “were on their way back.”

[2:1] ⁴map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[2:2] ⁵tn Heb “men of the people of Israel.”

[2:2] ⁶tn The words “was as follows” are not in the Hebrew text but are used in the translation for clarity.

[3:1] ⁹tn Heb “the sons of Israel.”

[3:1] ¹⁰tn The word “living” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied. Some translations supply “settled” (cf. NAB, NIV, NLT).

[3:1] ¹¹tc The translation reads with some medieval Hebrew MSS and ancient versions בְּעָרֵיהֶם (be’arehem, “in their towns”), rather than the reading בֶּעָרִים (be’arim, “in the towns”) found in the MT. Cf. Neh 7:72 HT [7:73 ET].

[3:1] ¹²tn The Hebrew text adds the phrase “like one man.” This has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[3:1] ¹³tn Heb “to.”

[3:1] ¹⁴map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.