Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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:
61. Habaiah ] This name appears in Neh 7:63 as ‘Hobaiah’. R.V.
Koz ] R.V. ‘Hakkoz’. This name appears as that of the seventh priestly course in 1Ch 24:10.
of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite ] Barzillai, the rich and noble Gileadite who assisted David during his flight from his son Absalom. Barzillai’s son Chimham accompanied David to Jerusalem on his return ( 2Sa 17:27 ; 2Sa 19:32 ff.; 1Ki 2:7). Chimham probably founded a family called after his own name, which resided at Bethlehem (Jer 41:17). Barzillai’s position and estates in Gilead were inherited by his daughters, through whom their father’s name was preserved. One of them was married to a priest, who thereupon received the family name. His descendants however were unable to make out their claim to belong to the priesthood; possibly on account of the confusion resulting from the altered name.
The R.V. places a full stop at the close of this verse.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
To wit, Barzillai; which name he preferred before that of his own family, accounting it, as it seems, a greater honour to be allied to so noble a family, than to be a priest of the Lord. But by this ambition he deprived himself of the honour and advantage of the priesthood, as it is here noted, Ezr 2:62.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
61, 62. the children of BarzillaiHepreferred that name to that of his own family, deeming it a greaterdistinction to be connected with so noble a family, than to be of thehouse of Levi. But by this worldly ambition he forfeited the dignityand advantages of the priesthood.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And of the children of the priests,…. Who could not make out their pedigree, for those that could are mentioned before:
the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; how the latter came by this name follows:
which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name; this man married a woman that descended from the famous Barzillai the Gileadite, in the times of David; and the priesthood being in disuse, and mean and despicable, in Babylon, he chose to take the name of his wife’s family, and pass for a descendant from that, and perhaps destroyed, or at least neglected, to take care of the genealogy of his own family.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Priests who could not prove themselves members of the priesthood. Comp. Neh 7:63-65. – Three such families are named: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai. These could not discover their family registers, and were excluded from the exercise of priestly functions. Of these three names, that of Hakkoz occurs as the seventh order of priests; but the names alone did not suffice to prove their priesthood, this being also borne by other persons. Comp. Neh 3:4. The sons of Barzillai were the descendants of a priest who had married a daughter, probably an heiress (Num), of Barzillai the Gileadite, so well known in the history of David (2Sa 17:27; 2Sa 19:32-39; 1Ki 2:7), and had taken her name for the sake of taking possession of her inheritance (the suffix refers to ; see on Num 27:1-11). That by contracting this marriage he had not renounced for himself and his descendants his priestly privileges, is evident from the fact, that when his posterity returned from captivity, they laid claim to these privileges. The assumption, however, of the name of Barzillai might have cast such a doubt upon their priestly origin as to make it necessary that this should be proved from the genealogical registers, and a search in these did not lead to the desired discovery. is their , Neh 7:5, the book or record in which their genealogy was registered. The title of this record was , the Enregistered: the word is in apposition to , and the plural agrees with it, while in Neh 7:64 the singular agrees with . They were declared to be polluted from the priesthood, i.e., they were excluded from the priesthood as polluted or unclean. The construction of the Pual with is significant.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(61) Barzillai the Gileadite.See the well-known history in 2Sa. 17:27.
After their name.Rather, after her name, she having been probably an heiress.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
61. The children of Barzillai So called, as is immediately explained, because their ancestor, a priest, had married a daughter of the distinguished Gileadite, who showed great kindness to David. 2Sa 17:27 ; 2Sa 19:32-39; 1Ki 2:7.
Their name The name of the daughters. Hence the confusion in their genealogy.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
It is delightful to observe even in these times of deep poverty, how tenacious the Israelites were of their true origin and descent both from Israel and among the order of Aaron. And this is to be referred into an higher cause than merely human considerations or human wisdom. The hand of the Lord was in it that every tribe, and especially the tribe of Judah, might have a clear unquestionable descent from father to son.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Ezr 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:
Ver. 61. And was called after their name ] After the name of his wife’s father, that noble Gileadite; as holding it a greater honour to be allied to Barzillai than to be looked upon as a priest. It was therefore just upon such proud and insolent people, that as they had once scorned the priesthood, so the priesthood should now scorn them.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the Building of the Altar
Ezr 2:61-70; Ezr 3:1-7
Throughout their history the true Israelites were eager to maintain their genealogy; wherever they were scattered, they carefully guarded their national registers. Each of us should be able to establish his descent and to vindicate his claim to be considered a child of God, a joint-heir with Christ, a partaker in the inheritance which God has promised to them that love Him. If you cannot establish your sonship, you may doubt your right to the spiritual blessings which are a part of the family estates. This is clearly illustrated by the prohibition issued against the eating of the most holy things by the priests whose names were not found in the register. They must wait till the Urim and Thummin attested that they were Israelites indeed. What that witness was in these olden days, the testimony of the Holy Spirit is within us. He witnesses with our spirit that we are born of God.
The first act of the restored Jews was to set up the House of God. For this they gave willingly, and after their ability. The altar was the center of their religion. So the Cross of Jesus is the center of our life and worship, reminding us of His work for us in justification, or His claims in sanctification.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
the children: Neh 7:63, Neh 7:64
Barzillai: 2Sa 17:27, 2Sa 19:31-39, 1Ki 2:7
Reciprocal: Neh 3:21 – Koz
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ezr 2:61-62. And was called after their name Namely, Barzillai; a name which he preferred before that of his own family, accounting it, as appears, a greater honour to be allied to so noble a family than to be a priest of the Lord. But by this vain ambition he deprived himself of the honour and advantage of the priesthood, as is here noted. They sought their register The Jews were generally very exact in their genealogies, from their own choice and interest, that they might preserve the distinctions of the several tribes and families, which was necessary both to make out their titles to offices or inheritances, and to govern themselves thereby in the matter of marriages, and from the special providence of God, that so it might be certainly known of what tribe and family the Messiah was born.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2:61 And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of {k} Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:
(k) He is mentioned in 2Sa 17:27; 2Sa 19:31 and because the priest’s office was held in contempt these would have changed their estate by their name, and so by God’s just judgment lost both the estimation of the world and the dignity of their office.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Priests of doubtful origin 2:61-63
These men returned but could not serve as priests until the high priest could determine that they were indeed descendants of Aaron (cf. Num 16:40; Num 18:9-10). Perhaps the high priest did this using the Urim and Thummim, if these were still in existence (Exo 28:15-30; cf. 1Sa 23:9-12). Perhaps other records were available to him.