EZRA LESSON 2
We will begin this lesson in Ezra 2:1 "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;"
The Babylonian captivity lasted 70 years. This does not mean that
every person was in captivity for the entire 70 years. Just as the
captivity took place in stages, the release took place in stages, too.
It appears, that God did not want them to lose contact with their
heritage. Each person went back to his city. The Hebrews put much
importance on the genealogy of their families.
Ezra 2:2 "Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah,
Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number
of the men of the people of Israel:"
This is a listing of the leaders of the families. Even though we
see the names Nehemiah and Mordecai, this does not mean that they are
the same as the prominent men with that name. The names given above
are just a listing of the chief, or prince, of each family.
Ezra 2:3 "The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy
and two." Ezra 2:4 "The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy
and two." Ezra 2:5 "The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and
five." Ezra 2:6 "The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of
Jeshua [and] Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve." Ezra 2:7
"The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four."
Ezra 2:8 "The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five."
Ezra 2:9 "The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore."
Ezra 2:10 "The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two." Ezra 2:11
"The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three." Ezra 2:12 "The
children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two." Ezra 2:13
"The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six."
The number of descendents of Adonikam that go back into the land
were 666. My eye immediately caught on this number, which is, also,
the number of the mark of the beast. There are only two other
Scriptures in the Bible on Adonikam. Ezra 8:13 "And of the last sons
of Adonikam, whose names [are] these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah,
and with them threescore males." Putting these two Scriptures
together, there is a message in it for the believers in the Lord. The
latter sons, in a spiritual sense, are speaking of the believers in
Christ. The two Scriptures combined seem to be a message for the
believers about the mark of the beast. "Adonikam" means my Lord has
arisen. "Eliphelet" means God is deliverance. "Jeiel" means carried
away of God. "Shemaiah" means Jehovah hath heard. It appears from the
combination of these names, that those who believe in the resurrection
of the Lord will be carried away, because God has heard and He is our
Deliverance. To me, this is saying believers will be saved from the
mark of the beast by their catching away to God.
Ezra 2:14 "The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six."
Ezra 2:15 "The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four."
Ezra 2:16 "The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight."
Ezra 2:17 "The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three."
Ezra 2:18 "The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve." Ezra 2:19
"The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three."
Verses 3 through 19, above, are listing the families, and how
many of each of them came back into the land.
Ezra 2:20 "The children of Gibbar, ninety and five." Ezra 2:21
"The children of Beth-lehem, an hundred twenty and three." Ezra 2:22
"The men of Netophah, fifty and six." Ezra 2:23 "The men of Anathoth,
an hundred twenty and eight." Ezra 2:24 "The children of Azmaveth,
forty and two." Ezra 2:25 "The children of Kirjath-arim, Chephirah,
and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three." Ezra 2:26 "The
children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one." Ezra 2:27 "
The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two." Ezra 2:28 "The men of
Beth-el and Ai, two hundred twenty and three." Ezra 2:29 "The
children of Nebo, fifty and two." Ezra 2:30 "The children of Magbish,
an hundred fifty and six." Ezra 2:31 "The children of the other Elam,
a thousand two hundred fifty and four." Ezra 2:32 "The children of
Harim, three hundred and twenty." Ezra 2:33 "The children of Lod,
Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five." Ezra 2:34 "The
children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five." Ezra 2:35 "The
children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty."
This was a listing of the number of people who settled in each
town. Gibbar, in verse 20 above, was speaking of Gibeon. Beth-lehem is
a city that is just 4 or 5 miles out of Jerusalem. Anathoth was the
birthplace of Jeremiah. It had been a city of refuge. Azmaveth was on
the northern outskirts of Jerusalem. Kirjath-arim was in a very wooded
area. At one time or the other, it had belonged to Judah and Benjamin.
It appears, that the fathers, or grand-fathers, had told the younger
generation where they were to return to after the captivity.
Chephirah was about 8 miles from the outskirts of Jerusalem and was
occupied by Benjamin's tribe. Beeroth was a city of Benjamin, as well.
Ramah and Gaba were, also, Benjamite cities. Michmas was a town
between Bethel and Jerusalem. It was of the Benjamites. Ai and Beth-el
are joining cities about 12 miles from Jerusalem. All of these towns
are near Jerusalem and seem to be surrounding her. We will not go into
anymore of them, as we have received the picture.
Ezra 2:36 "The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of
Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three." Ezra 2:37 "The children of
Immer, a thousand fifty and two." Ezra 2:38 "The children of Pashur, a
thousand two hundred forty and seven." Ezra 2:39 "The children of
Harim, a thousand and seventeen."
This, above, is a listing of the priests according to their
families. The high priest was from the house of Jeshua. These are all
in the service of the LORD in the temple worship.
Ezra 2:40 "The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of
the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four." Ezra 2:41 "The singers:
the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight." Ezra 2:42 "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."
These were Levites in the service of the LORD, who functioned in
other areas than the priests. We see a distinction of Asaph's family
as singers. The porters were keepers of the gates and doors.
Ezra 2:43 "The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of
Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,"
"Nethinims" were those who were set aside to do menial work in
the sanctuary.
Ezra 2:44 "The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the
children of Padon," Ezra 2:45 "The children of Lebanah, the children
of Hagabah, the children of Akkub," Ezra 2:46 "The children of Hagab,
the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan," Ezra 2:47 "The
children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,"
Ezra 2:48 "The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children
of Gazzam," Ezra 2:49 "The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah,
the children of Besai," Ezra 2:50 "The children of Asnah, the children
of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim," Ezra 2:51 "The children of
Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur," Ezra 2:52
"The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of
Harsha," Ezra 2:53 "The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera,
the children of Thamah," Ezra 2:54 "The children of Neziah, the
children of Hatipha."
All of these served in the menial work connected with the temple
service. This was an extremely important task.
Ezra 2:55 "The children of Solomon's servants: the children of
Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda," Ezra 2:56
"The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of
Giddel," Ezra 2:57 "The children of Shephatiah, the children of
Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami."
This is so strange that this group of people would have remained
in a class of servants even during their captivity in Babylon. They
had been the forced laborers in the time of Solomon.
Ezra 2:58 "All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's
servants, [were] three hundred ninety and two."
The Nethinims and the servants were, probably, grouped together,
because in a sense, they were all servants. The Hebrews were very
class conscious.
Ezra 2:59 "And these [were] they which went up from Tel-melah,
Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addan, [and] Immer: but they could not shew their
father's house, and their seed, whether they [were] of Israel:"
Ezra 2:60 "The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the
children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two." Ezra 2:61 "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:" Ezra 2:62
"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." Ezra 2:63 "And the Tirshatha said unto
them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there
stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim."
These were people who could not trace their ancestry back to the
Hebrews. They were, possibly, of mixed blood. We see in one instance
where some children of the priests were grouped along with these
because of mixed marriages that keep them from having distinct
genealogies. This 70 year captivity had caused some of them to lose
track of their family heritage. The priest who wore the Urim and the
Thummim spoke as an oracle of God. God spoke to the people through the
Urim and Thummim worn by the high priest.
Ezra 2:64 The whole congregation together [was] forty and two
thousand three hundred [and] threescore,
This number is more than the numbers added together here, but
this is just a listing of specific people, and there were many more
who went.
Ezra 2:65 "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."
These singers were not of the Levites. They were servants. Just
because a person is a servant, does not mean that he cannot sing.
Ezra 2:66 "Their horses [were] seven hundred thirty and six;
their mules, two hundred forty and five;" Ezra 2:67 "Their camels,
four hundred thirty and five; [their] asses, six thousand seven
hundred and twenty."
This was the number of animals they took with them. This would be
a tremendous help on this journey of approximately 1,000 miles. This
trip would take several months at the very best. The animals would
have helped in carrying their belongings. In case someone could not
walk for some reason, they would ride. They were mostly used as
beasts of burden, however.
Ezra 2:68 "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:"
This was like a thank offering to God for their safe return to
their homeland. Each family had a leader, or a chief. He represented
his entire family, when he gave.
Ezra 2:69 "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."
Being in captivity for so many years, they would not have great
wealth to give. They gave as they were able. The dram was, possibly, a
Persian gold coin. A dram was, probably, about 1/3 the weight of a
shekel. That would be 1/6 of an ounce. This meant that altogether they
brought approximately 160 ounces of gold. At $400.00 per ounce, that
would be approximately $64,000.00 worth of gold. The silver would be
60,000 ounces. At $5.00 per ounce, there was $300,000.00 worth. This
seems like a large amount to an individual, but we must take into
consideration that there were thousands of people who offered this.
The priests garments were made of linen.
Ezra 2:70 "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."
They were back to re-establish their homeland, and to build the
temple in Jerusalem.
Ezra 2 Questions
1. How long did the Babylonian captivity last?
2. The release was done in _________.
3. Who had carried them into Babylon?
4. How did they know where to return?
5. Verse 2 is a listing of what?
6. How many were the descendents of Adonikam that went back into the
land?
7. What is unusual about that number?
8. What were the names of Adonikam's sons?
9. Who are the latter sons speaking of, spiritually?
10. What does "Adonikam" mean?
11. What does "Eliphelet" mean?
12. What does "Jeiel" mean?
13. What does "Shemaiah" mean?
14. What does the author believe is the message in their names
collectively?
15. What are the lists of verses 3 through 19 showing?
16. What are verses 20 through 35 showing about those who return?
17. What do these towns have in common?
18. Verses 36 through 39 list whom?
19. What is different about the Levites in verses 40 through 42, from
those in the previous verses?
20. "Nethinims" are who?
21. Verses 44 through 54 list who?
22. What is strange about those listed in verses 55 through 57?
23. Why were the Nethinims and Solomon's servants counted together?
24. What was different about those listed in verse 59 through 63?
25. Who were the singers in verse 65?
26. How many animals did they take with them?
27. How long would the journey be?
28. Who were the chief of the fathers?
29. How much gold did they give in thanks?
30. How much silver did they give?
31. How many priestly garments did they give?
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