Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 2:2
Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
2. which came with Zerubbabel: ] Better punctuate as R.V. ‘ with Zerubbabel,’. Those referred to are the main subject of Ezr 2:1, ‘the children of the province, &c.’, and are here described as coming with Zerubbabel and his companions.
Zerubbabel ] (i.e. ‘begotten in Babylon’, or ‘the seed of Babylon’) is said to be an Assyrian name. The grandson of Jehoiachin, Zerubbabel was the representative of David’s dynasty (see 1Ch 3:16 &c.). He is generally called ‘the son of Shealtiel’ (see note on 1Ch 3:2), but the genealogy in 1 Chron. (1Ch 3:19) represents him as the son of Pedaiah. He is called ‘the son of Shealtiel’ either as Shealtiel’s nephew and heir, or as Shealtiel’s legal son, Pedaiah having contracted a Levirate marriage with Shealtiel’s widow.
On the identity of Zerubbabel and Sheshbazzar see note on Ezr 1:8.
Jeshua ] is a shortened form of Jehoshua or Joshua, used in Neh 8:17 for the name of ‘the son of Nun’. The Jeshua here spoken of (and Ezr 3:2; Ezr 3:8; Ezr 4:3) is the Joshua mentioned in Hag 1:1; Hag 1:12; Hag 1:14; Hag 2:2; Hag 2:4; Zec 3:1; Zec 3:3; Zec 3:6; Zec 6:2. He is the High-priest of the Return from the Captivity, being the son of Jehozadak, and grandson of the Seraiah whom Nebuchadnezzar put to death at Riblah after the destruction of Jerusalem, cf. 2Ki 25:18-21; Jer 52:24-27 (b.c. 586). See the genealogy of ‘the sons of Levi’ in 1Ch 6:1-15.
Nehemiah ] not to be confounded with the better known Nehemiah, who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem 90 years later, 445 b.c.
Seraiah ] = Azariah, Neh 7:7.
Reelaiah ] = Raamiah, Neh 7:7.
Mordecai ] not to be identified with the Mordecai of the book Esther.
Mizpah ] A.V. transliterates incorrectly, making the form of the word to resemble the common Hebrew name of a place. R.V. Mispar correctly; for which compare ‘Mispereth’, Neh 7:7.
Rehum ] = Nehum, Neh 7:7.
The names (including Zerubbabel) here recorded are 11 in number. The parallel passage in Nehemiah gives 12 names, that of Nahamani occurring between Reelaiah and Mordecai, and this is supported by the mention of 12 names in 1Es 5:8, where Euenius corresponds to Nahamani.
Ezra (A.V.)
Neh 7:7 (A.V.)
1Es 5:8 (A.V.)
Zerubbabel
Zerubbabel
Zorobabel
Jeshua
Jeshua
Jesus
Nehemiah
Nehemiah
Nehemias
Seraiah
Azariah
Zacharias
Reelaiah
Raamiah
Reesaias
Nahamani
Euenius
Mordecai
Mordecai
Mardochus
Bilshan
Bilshan
Beelsarus
Mizpah (Mispar, R.V.)
Mispereth
Aspharasus
Bigvai
Bigvai
Reelius
Rehum
Nehum
Roimus
Baanah
Baanah
Baana
It is most probable that the name of Nahamani has dropped out of our text by an early error of transcription. The mention then of 11 names along with that of Zerubbabel suggests the idea that the attempt was made to revive the old subdivision of the people and to group the members of two tribes under twelve representative princes in the same way as four classes of priests were afterwards re-divided into twenty-four. The idea of the twelve tribes conveyed the thought of Israel’s totality and unity ( a) in the days of the divided monarchy, cf. Elijah, 1Ki 18:31; ( b) at the dedication of the second Temple, Ezr 6:17; ( c) at the return of Ezra and his company, cf. Ezr 8:35; ( d) in the later days of Judaism, e.g. Act 26:7; Jas 1:1; Rev 7:4-8.
The number of the men of the people of Israel ] These words form a heading for the register of names to the close of Ezr 2:35. They point forward and not back. It was an awkward mistake of arrangement to include the sentence in Ezr 2:2. It should commence Ezr 2:3; compare the headings in Ezr 2:36; Ezr 2:40-43; Ezr 2:55. Observe the name ‘the people of Israel’ applied here to the laity as a class distinct from ‘priests’ and ‘Levites’, cf. Ezr 6:16.
( a) It will be seen that the most important variations in the figures occur with the children of Arah (Ezr 2:5), Zattu (Ezr 2:8), Azgad (Ezr 2:12), Adin (Ezr 2:15), Hashum (Ezr 2:19), Bethel and Ai (Ezr 2:28), Senaah (Ezr 2:35); while ‘the children of Magbish’ (Ezr 2:30) are not mentioned in Nehemiah. The variations in the figures are probably due to errors of transcription from the original copy of the register.
( b) The text of Ezra seems to be purer than that of Nehemiah, while that of Esdras is inferior to both.
Upon the text of Ezr 2:31-32 see below.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Ezr 2:2-64
The number of the men of the people of Israel.
A suggestive record
Consider–
I. The significance of the fact of the record.
1. It Was an honour to the pious and patriotic ones who returned.
2. It is an illustration of the Divine record of Gods spiritual Israel (Luk 10:20).
3. It suggests that every one of His people is precious in the sight of God (Isa 49:16).
II. The significance of the contents of the record. We have in this list–
1. Significant persons.
(1) Zerubbabel, an ancestor of the Messiah (Mat 1:12).
(2) Jeshua, who was a distinguished type of Jesus Christ (Zec 3:1-10; Zec 6:11-13).
2. A significant place: Bethlehem (Ezr 2:21).
3. Significant numbers. (William Jones.)
Religious service
It is here suggested–
I. That there are various spheres of service in the Church of God (Eph 4:11-12).
II. That the humbelest sphere of service in the Church of God is a place of privilege and honour.
III. The privilege of sevice in the Church of God is not limited to any particular races or classes of men. (William Jones.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 2. Which came with Zerubbabel] There are many difficulties in this table of names; but as we have no less than three copies of it, that contained here from Ezr 2:1-67, a second in Ne 7:6-69, and a third in 1Esdras 5:7-43, on a careful examination they will be found to correct each other. The versions also, and the Variae Lectiones of Kennicott and De Rossi, do much toward harmonizing the names.
Though the sum total at the end of each of these enumerations is equal, namely 42,360, yet the particulars reckoned up make in Ezra only 29,818, and in Nehemiah 31,089. We find that Nehemiah mentions 1765 persons which are not in Ezra, and Ezra has 494 not mentioned by Nehemiah. Mr. Alting thinks that this circumstance, which appears to render all hope of reconciling them impossible, is precisely the very point by which they can be reconciled; for if we add Ezra’s surplus to the sum in Nehemiah, and the surplus of Nehemiah to the number in Ezra, the numbers will be equal.
| | |
| Thus: – The number in Ezra … | 29,818 |
| Surplus in Nehemiah ……. | 1,765 |
| | ——– |
| Sum total ………… | 31,583 |
| | |
| The number in Nehemiah…. | 31,089 |
| The surplus in Ezra ….. | 494 |
| | ——– |
| Sum total ………… | 31,583 |
If we subtract this sum 31,583 from 42,360, we shall have a deficiency of 10,777 from the numbers as summed up in the text; and these are not named here, either because their registers were not found, or they were not of Judah and Benjamin, the tribes particularly concerned, but of the other Israelitish tribes; see Ezr 2:36.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
As for this catalogue, it differs in some names and numbers from that Ne 7, which might be from divers causes, partly because several names were given to one and the same person; and partly because of the many changes which might happen in the same families between the time of the first making of this catalogue by Ezra, and the making of it anew so many years as that catalogue, Ne 7, was made after the former.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. Which came with ZerubbabelHewas the chief or leader of the first band of returning exiles. Thenames of other influential persons who were associated in theconducting of the caravans are also mentioned, being extractedprobably from the Persian archives, in which the register waspreserved: conspicuous in the number are Jeshua, the high priest, andNehemiah.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Which came with Zerubbabel,…. The head of them, the prince of Judah; and the chief that came with him are the ten following; Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah; the first of these, Jeshua, was Joshua the high priest, the son of Josedech, Hag 1:1. Dr. Lightfoot s thinks that Nehemiah is the same, whose name the following book bears; and that Mordecai is he who was uncle to Esther, so Aben Ezra; but, if so, they must both return again; for that Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, Ne 1:1, and that Mordecai brought up his niece in the city of Shushan, in the times of Ahasuerus, is certain; and this, with respect to both, is denied by others t, who take them to be different men of the same name; and the same writer is of opinion that Seraiah, and who is called Azariah, Ne 7:7 is the same with Ezra, who therefore must and did return, since he went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, Ezr 7:1, as for the others, we know nothing more of them than their names:
the number of the men of the people of Israel; either of the principal of them before named, or of the common people, which next follows.
s Works, vol. 1. p. 127. So Broughton, Works, p. 258. t Vid. Rainold. de Libr. Apocryph. Praelect. 111, 117, 148.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2. The list really begins with laymen, simply men of the people of Israel.
TEXT, Ezr. 2:2 b20
2b
The number of the men of the people of Israel:
3
the sons of Parosh, 2,172;
4
the sons of Shephatiah, 372;
5
the sons of Arah, 775;
6
the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812;
7
the sons of Elam, 1,254;
8
the sons of Zattu, 945;
9
the sons of Zaccai, 760;
10
the sons of Bani, 642;
11
the sons of Bebai, 623;
12
the sons of Azgad, 1,222;
13
the sons of Adonikam, 666;
14
the sons of Bigvai, 2,056;
15
the sons of Adin, 454;
16
the sons of Ater of Hezekiah, 98;
17
the sons of Bezai, 323;
18
the sons of Jorah, 112;
19
the sons of Hashum, 223;
20
the sons of Gibbar, 95;
COMMENT
Just one comment on this section: the term, sons of, could also be translated descendants of, Emphasis here, as usual in the O.T., is on the social unit, the family, rather than the individual.
WORD STUDIES
ZERUBBABEL: a seed of Babylon: a reminder that God preserved a seed of His people through the Babylonian Captivity, from which His nation would once again spring to life,
TEMPLE SERVANTS (Ezr. 2:43): literally, the Nethinim: those given. The word is a plural form; it comes from the word Nathan. These were the persons given to the priests to assist with the menial tasks of preparing for sacrifice and worship.
JESHUA, or its variant, JOSHUA: Jehovah is Salvation, or Salvation from Jehovah. This is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek name, Jesus.
MINA: the basic meaning is to divide out, or measure out, or number. Money originally had to be measured, or weighed, at each transaction. This is the word Mene in the handwriting on the wall, in Dan. 5:25 f. Note that the consonants are the same as those in our word money, and in reverse order, the first two consonants in number. Can you find the two letters hidden in the denomination of a bill? In numismatics? Now you are looking at the building blocks of language!
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(2) Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua.The leaders of the people, perhaps the twelve tribes, are represented by twelve names, one of which, Nahamani, is here wanting; three others are given in slightly different forms.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Zerubbabel: Jeshua These were the two chief fathers and guides of the people who returned. Both seem to have been born in Babylon, and the name Zerubbabel has this signification, from , Zerua, sown, that is, begotten, and , Babel, Babylon. Zerubbabel is called by our author the son of Shealtiel, (Ezr 3:2; Ezr 3:8; Ezr 5:2😉 so also in Neh 12:1; Hag 1:1; Hag 1:12; Hag 1:14; Hag 2:2; Mat 1:12; and Luk 3:27; but according to 1Ch 3:19 he was the son of Pedaiah and nephew of Shealtiel, or Salathiel. How to explain this difference is doubtful. There seems to be no corruption or confusion in the text of Chronicles. Perhaps Shealtiel died childless, and Pedaiah married his widow, and, according to levirate custom, his children were reckoned to his brother. Gen 38:8: Deu 25:5-6. At any rate he succeeded Shealtiel in the genealogy as the head of the house of David during the exile, and he was popularly called the son of Shealtiel, and no one disputed his title or authority. Jeshua was the son of Jozadak, the high priest, (Ezr 3:2; Hag 1:1😉 who was carried off among the exiles. 1Ch 6:15. He is associated with Zerubbabel, as if they were the leading spirits and main promoters of the rebuilding of the temple. Ezr 3:2; Ezr 3:8; Ezr 4:3; Ezr 5:2. In two of the symbolical prophecies of Zechariah, (Ezr 3:1-10; Ezr 7:11-15,) Jeshua stands as head and representative of the Jewish people. The regal and priestly offices, as represented by these two men, are called in Zec 4:14 “the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” Though Zerubbabel was a descendant of David, and Jeshua of Aaron, neither the monarchy nor the priesthood was fully restored after the exile. From that time the heart of all Israel began to yearn after Messiah, who should satisfy the noblest ideal of both king and priest.
Nehemiah Not the distinguished individual whose history is given in the Book of Nehemiah. Nearly all the individuals whose names occur in this list are otherwise unknown.
This verse contains the names of the chief leaders and elders of the returning exiles. The differences of form between some of the names in this list and that of Nehemiah vii are shown in the margin. Nehemiah’s list contains one name not found in this, namely, Nahamani. Neh 7:7. This, with the rest, makes twelve persons who appear as the heads of the new community, and in this number there was, perhaps, a reference to the twelve tribes. The returned exiles thus cultivated the feeling that they somehow represented all the people of Israel, the “remnant” of all the ancient tribes. Comp. Ezr 6:17.
The rest of the list proper, which embraces Ezr 2:8-63, may be divided into five parts: 1) The men of the people of Israel, 3-35; 2) The priests, 36-39; 3) The Levites, 40-42; 4) The Nethinim and the children of Solomon’s servants, 43-58; 5) Persons unable to show lawful genealogy, 59-63. The following table will show at a glance the differences, especially of numbers, between Ezra and Nehemiah:
Ezra. Nehemiah Children of Parosh 2,172 2,172 “ Shephatiah 372 372 “ Arah 775 652 “ Pahath-moab of the children of Jeshua and Joab 2,812 2,818 “ Elam 1,254 1,254 “ Zattu 945 845 “ Zaccai 760 760 “ Bani, (Nehemiah, Binnui) 642 648 “ Bebai 623 628 “ Azgad 1,222 2,322 “ Adonikam 666 667 “ Bigvai 2,056 2,067 “ Adin 454 655 “ Ater of Hezekiah 98 98 “ Bezai 323 324 “ Jorah (Nehemiah, Hariph) 112 112 “ Hashum 223 328 “ Gibbar (Nehemiah, Gibeon) 95 95 “ Beth-lehem 123 (Nehemiah men of Beth-lehem and Netophah) 188 Men of Netophah 56 “ Anathoth 128 128 Children of Azmaveth, (Nehemiah, Beth-Azmaveth) 42 42 “ Kirjath-arim, Chephirah and Beeroth 743 743 “ Ramah and Gaba 621 621 Men of Michmas 122 122 “ Beth-el and Ai 223 123 Children of Nebo, (Nehemiah, men of the other Nebo.) 52 52 “ Magbish, (Nehemiah, no corresponding name) 156 “ the other Elam 1,254 1,254 “ Harim 320 320 “ Lod, Hadid, and Ono 725 721 “ Jericho 345 345 “ Senaah 3,630 3,930 “ Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua 973 973 “ Immer 1,052 1,052
“ Pashur 1,247 1,247 “ Harim 1,017 1,017 “ Jeshua and Kadmiel of Hodaviah, (Nehemiah, Hodevah.) 74 74 “ Asaph (singers) 128 148 “ the porters 139 138 Nethinims and children of Solomon’s servants 392 392 Children of unregistered ancestors 652 642 Sum of the numbers in each list 2,9818 3,1089 Whole congregation 42,360 42,360 Man servants and maid servants 7,337 7,387 Singing men and women 200 245 Horses 736 736 Mules 245 245 Camels 435 435 Asses 6,720 6,720 In the above tables we observe that the numbers in Ezra’s list amount to 29,818, and in Nehemiah’s to 31,089, and yet according to both lists the entire congregation numbers 42,360. Ezr 2:64 comp. with Neh 7:66. The probability is, that neither list is meant to be a perfect enumeration of all the families that returned from exile, but only of such families of Judah and Benjamin as could show an authentic genealogy of their father’s house, while the 42,360 includes many persons and families belonging to other tribes who in their exile had lost all certain record of their genealogy, but were, nevertheless, true descendants of some of the ancient tribes. Here is evidence that with the exile the different tribe distinctions, especially in the northern kingdom, became lost, and that multitudes of real Israelites, both among those who returned from exile and those who did not return, thenceforth lost all record of their tribal lineage.
It is also noticeable that Ezra’s list mentions 494 persons not recognised in Nehemiah’s list, and Nehemiah’s list mentions 1,765 not recognised in Ezra’s; but if we add the surplus of Ezra to the sum of Nehemiah, (494+31,089=31,583,) we have the same result as by adding Nehemiah’s surplus to the sum of Ezra’s numbers, (1,765+29,818=31,583.) Hence it may be plausibly supposed that 31,583 was the sum of all that could show their father’s house; that the two lists before us were drawn up independently of each other; and that both are defective, though one supplies the defects of the other. “In some cases,” says Wordsworth, “the author of the list in Ezra seems to have had fuller returns of the families to which the people belonged; in other cases, the returns in Nehemiah are more complete. This was natural, but the coincidences show that the one list confirms the other. It is not surprising that the members of the constituencies of the several families do not always tally in the two lists. By means of levirate marriages, or adoptions, the same persons might indifferently belong to two different father’s houses; and if women are reckoned, they might be ranged under the house of their father on one list, and of their husband on another.”
In several instances we have the names of places instead of men; as children of Gibeon, and Beth-lehem, (Ezr 2:20-21.) and men of Netophah, Anathoth, Beth-el, etc. The reason of this is not apparent, but the meaning is, that the place named was either the ancestral home of the children or men whose numbers are given, or else it was the place to which they were assigned on their return from exile.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
No doubt during the captivity a faithful register was kept of the several families, and therefore their number was the more clearly ascertained. Chiefly with an eye to the promised Messiah, each father of the tribe carefully preserved his record. One feature in this record of the families of Israel I cannot help remarking. I mean the smallness of the children of Bethlehem compared to some; – only 123. This was what the prophet Micah had before noticed. And thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been of old, from everlasting. Mic 5:2 . What a sweet thought this suggests, not to despise the day of small things!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Ezr 2:2 Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
Ver 2. That came with Zerubbabel ] That famous prince of Judah, Ezr 1:8 , governor of Judah, Hag 1:1 , who was born in Babylon, and accordingly had a Babylonian name. His hands laid the foundation of the second temple, his hands also finished, Zec 4:9 , whence some conclude that the Lord gave him a life much longer than ordinary. His children shall not to bed till their work be done.
Jeshua
Nehemiah, Saraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai
Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah
The number of the men of the people of Israel
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Ezr 2:2-35
2bThe number of the men of the people of Israel:
3 the sons of Parosh, 2,172;
4 the sons of Shephatiah, 372;
5 the sons of Arah, 775;
6 the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812;
7 the sons of Elam, 1,254;
8 the sons of Zattu, 945;
9 the sons of Zaccai, 760;
10 the sons of Bani, 642;
11 the sons of Bebai, 623;
12 the sons of Azgad, 1,222;
13 the sons of Adonikam, 666;
14 the sons of Bigvai, 2,056;
15 the sons of Adin, 454;
16 the sons of Ater of Hezekiah, 98;
17 the sons of Bezai, 323;
18 the sons of Jorah, 112;
19 the sons of Hashum, 223;
20 the sons of Gibbar, 95;
21 the men of Bethlehem, 123;
22 the men of Netophah, 56;
23 the men of Anathoth, 128;
24 the sons of Azmaveth, 42;
25 the sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah and Beeroth, 743;
26 the sons of Ramah and Geba, 621;
27 the men of Michmas, 122;
28 the men of Bethel and Ai, 223;
29 the sons of Nebo, 52;
30 the sons of Magbish, 156;
31 the sons of the other Elam, 1,254;
32 the sons of Harim, 320;
33 the sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono, 725;
34 the men of Jericho, 345;
35 the sons of Senaah, 3,630.
Nehemiah This is not the cup bearer of Artaxerxes who later built the wall of Jerusalem. This man was a leader who returned with Zerubbabel in the second wave of returnees. The name (BDB 637) means YHWH(iah) is comfort.
Seraiah This was the name of the High Priest in Jerusalem who was killed when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple (cf. 2Ki 25:18; Jer 52:24).
The person listed here is a Levite or priest who returned with Zerubbabel. The name (BDB 976) means YHWH(iah) persisteth. Robert Young’s Concordance, p. 861, and The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, p. 606, has the meaning as YHWH is Prince. The parallel in Neh 7:7 has Azariah.
Reelaiah This leader appears only here, as is true of the vast majority of these names. He was born in exile. His name means YHWH(iah) causes trembling or reeling (BDB 947). The parallel in Neh 7:7 has Raamiah.
Mordecai This is not Esther’s relative during Xerxes I’s reign. This was another leader who returned with Zerubbabel from Babylon. His name’s meaning is uncertain, but seems to be from the god Marduk (BDB 598).
Bilshan This returning leader’s name may be from the root to search (Young’s Concordance) or to inquire (BDB 119). Nothing else is known of him.
Mispar This returning leader is called Mispereth in Neh 7:7. The name is related to the Hebrew term to write and may mean scribe (BDB 709, Young’s Concordance, p. 664).
Bigvai This returning leader is also mentioned in Ezr 2:14; Ezr 8:14 and Neh 7:7; Neh 7:19; Neh 10:16. His family was active in post-exilic Jerusalem. The rabbis think he was governor of the province of Judah from 410-407 B.C., but this would make him far too old to have returned from Babylon in 538 B.C. His name comes from the Sanskrit root to be happy (BDB 94).
Rehum The returning leader is called Nehum in Neh 7:7. The same name is (1) that of a Levite who helped organize the repair of Jerusalem’s walls in Neh 3:17 and (2) listed as a priest in Neh 12:3. The name seems to be related to the Hebrew term for soft, gentle, or compassionate (BDB 933).
Baanah This returning leader forms the conclusion of a list of twelve in Nehemiah 7, but only eleven in Ezra 2. His name may mean son of grief or son of distress (BDB 128). A similar name is found in Neh 3:4 of a man who helped repair the Fish Gate of Jerusalem. It also appears later in Neh 10:17.
the number of the men of the people of Israel This listing is similar to Nehemiah 7. In Ezr 2:3-20 we deal with the genealogy of the returnees; in Ezr 2:21-35 we deal with the genealogy of the people in relation to their geographical place of family origin before the Exile. In Ezr 2:36-58 we deal with the personnel of the temple, and in Ezr 2:59-63 we deal with those who cannot serve as priests because they cannot document their genealogy.
There are several differences between this list and the list in Nehemiah 7, but also overwhelming similarity. Ezra and Nehemiah seem to have both worked from official lists, whether composed by Persian officials or Jewish scribes is uncertain, but apparently two distinct forms of the same list existed. Possibly later scribes updated either Ezra’s or Nehemiah’s copy. It is also possible that the differences reflect scribal errors in copying the lists over time (NET Bible, p. 712).
Ezr 2:6 Pahath-moab This name can mean
1. governor of Moab (Young’s Concordance)
2. pit-Moab (BDB 809, pit can refer to calamity, cf. Jer 48:43-44; Isa 24:17), referring to exile.
Both the Anchor Bible (vol. 14, pp. 12-13) and The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (vol. 4, p. 608) state that it refers to transjordan Jews exiled by Tiglath-pilser III.
The Anchor Bible cites 1Ch 5:26, while The Expositor’s Bible Commentary cites 1Ch 5:3-8.
Ezr 2:20 Gibar In Neh 7:25 we have the word Gibeon, which seems to begin a list of cities (cf. Ezr 2:21-35). Gibeon was a Levitical city in the tribal allocation of Benjamin (cf. Jos 18:25).
Ezr 2:22 Netophah This is a city south of Jerusalem near Bethlehem, apparently settled by Levites (cf. 1Ch 9:14; 1Ch 9:16). Men from this village are mentioned several times in the OT (cf. 2Sa 23:28-29; 2Ki 25:23; 1Ch 2:54; 1Ch 9:16; 1Ch 11:30; 1Ch 27:13; 1Ch 27:15; Jer 40:8; Neh 7:26).
Ezr 2:23 Other Benjaminite cities in this list are
1. Anathoth (a Levitical city, also Jeremiah’s home town), Ezr 2:23
2. Ramah (cf. Neh 7:30), Ezr 2:26
3. Geba (a Levitical city also spelled Gabe, cf. Jos 21:17), Ezr 2:26
4. Michmas (the name means place of Chemosh), Ezr 2:27
5. Bethel, Ezr 2:28
6. Ai (close to Bethel), Ezr 2:28
7. Jericho, Ezr 2:34
Ezr 2:25 Kiriath-arim In Neh 7:29 it is listed as Kirioth Jearim, which is a city northwest of Jerusalem.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
came with Zerubbabel. But not till after Neh 1:1 Neh 7:4. See note on Neh 1:2, Neh 1:3. In Neh 7:4 no houses built, but in Hag 1:4, houses built and yet Temple lying waste.
Jeshua. The great helper of Zerubbabel. Nehemiah. Compare Neh 1:1; Neh 10:1. See note on “Shesh-bazzar”, Ezr 1:8.
Seraiah = Azariah (Neh 7:7). Not Seraiah the high priest, put to death with Zedekiah (2Ki 25:18-21).
Mordecai. He had been taken in Jehoiachin’s deportation (Est 2:5, Est 2:6).
the People of Israel. See note on Ezr 1:5. Son 2:59, Son 2:70; Son 3:1; Son 7:13; Son 9:1; Son 10:5. Compare 1Ki 12:17.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Ezr 2:2-35
Ezr 2:2-35
A LIST OF WHAT MAY BE CALLED “THE LAITY”
“The number of the men of the people of Israel: the children of Parosh, two thousand a hundred seventy and two. The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five. The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve. The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. The children of Zattu, nine hundred and forty and five. The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore. The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two. The children of Babai, six hundred twenty and three. The children of Azgab, a thousand two hundred twenty and two. The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six. The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six. The children Adin, four hundred fifty and four. The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three. The children of Jorah, one hundred twelve. The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three. The children of Gibbar, ninety and five. The children of Bethlehem, a hundred twenty and three. The men of Netophah, fifty and six. The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty and eight. The children of Azmaveth, forty and two. The children of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty three. The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one. The men of Michmas, a hundred twenty and two. The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred three. The children of Nebo, fifty and two. The children of Magbish, a hundred fifty and six. The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty. The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty and five. The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five. The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.”
“The children of Bethlehem, a hundred twenty and three” (Ezr 2:21). “Thus without any warning or transition, the list ceases to identify families by ancestors and begins to identify them by hometowns.” “Why this was done remains most uncertain.”
E.M. Zerr:
Ezr 2:2. Came with Zerubbabel is so worded because he was the chief man in that group, and the one who took the lead in rebuilding the temple. Nehemiah was not the one in the book of that name. It was common for more than one man to have the same name. Smith’s Bible Dictionary says of this man: “One of the leaders of the first expedition from Babylon to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel.” Mordecai. This is another name that might have referred to more than one man. Some authors make it mean the same as the one in the book of Esther, others say it was a different man. Either view could be correct since the events connected with the history of the two all happened within the possible span of a lifetime. The men named in this verse were leaders in the expedition. The number of the men who came with them will be given in several following verses. The ones named in the beginning of the several verses were family heads, and their descendants through several branches of the family “tree” are enumerated. It will not be necessary in every case to assign a paragraph to MO.
Ezr 2:3-35. This long group of verses is what was meant by the remarks at the close of the preceding paragraph. No information would be given were I to make separate comments on each verse. The ones that will be made will be more or less general. Children. The first impression this word makes on us is that it refers to a man’s bodily offspring. It is proper that it should be so taken. However, let it not be forgotten that it may, and frequently does have a less definite meaning. I believe it will not be amiss to copy the definition of the original word that is in the lexicon. It is from the Hebrew word BEN, and Strong defines it thus: “a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality, or condition, etc.” In the A. V. it has been translated by arrow, bough, branch, breed, calf, children, colt, foal, man, one born, people, son, them of, whelp, youth and others. The way it is used in these verses it means all of the members of the family tree whose head is the man named in the beginning of the verse. The Jews had a rule of being listed in the registers on file in their particular “home town.” See Luk 2:3-4. Following that rule, these various family groups settled in their own proper city upon their return from their captivity.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Zerubbabel
Called Zorobabel, Mat 1:12; Mat 1:13.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Zerubbabel: Ezr 1:11, Sheshbazzar, Neh 7:7, Hag 1:1, Hag 1:12, Hag 1:14, Hag 2:2, Hag 2:4, Hag 2:21, Zec 4:6-10, Mat 1:12, Mat 1:13, Zorobabel
Jeshua: Ezr 3:8, Ezr 3:9, Ezr 4:3, Ezr 5:2, Hag 1:12, Hag 1:14, Hag 2:4, Zec 3:1, Zec 3:3, Zec 3:8, Zec 3:9, Joshua
Seraiah: Neh 7:7, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mispereth, Nehum
Rehum: Ezr 4:8
Reciprocal: 1Ch 3:19 – Zerubbabel Ezr 3:2 – Zerubbabel Ezr 4:2 – Zerubbabel Ezr 10:18 – Jeshua Neh 7:11 – Pahathmoab Neh 7:19 – Bigvai Neh 12:1 – the priests Jer 30:21 – nobles Jer 40:8 – Netophathite
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ezr 2:2. Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, &c. These were their heads, who undertook to conduct them: among whom Zerubbabel was their prince or leader, as Jeshua was high-priest, who is mentioned next to him. Nehemiah, whose name follows, is not the person whose book comes after this: for he did not go to Judea now, but afterward; or, if he did, he returned to Babylon again. The number of the men of the people This is a kind of title to the following verses. This catalogue differs in some names and numbers from that Nehemiah 7., which might be, because several names were given to the same persons; and because of the many changes which might happen in the same families between the time of the first making of this catalogue by Ezra, and the making it anew so many years after.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2:2 Which came with {b} Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, {c} Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number {d} of the men of the people of Israel:
(b) Zerubbabel was chief captain and Joshua the high priest: but Nehemiah a man of great authority did not come now, but came after 64 years.
(c) This was not the Mordecai who was Esther’s kinsman.
(d) Meaning, of the common people.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The general population 2:2-35
The designations "sons of" and "men of" in these verses point out the two ways whereby the exiles demonstrated their Jewish ancestry: by family genealogy or by residence in Palestine. Few of the returning exiles had personally lived in the Promised Land, but many could give evidence that their ancestors had lived in a particular town and or had owned property there.
"It was not considered a compromise of one’s Jewish identity to give a child a name which was not Yahwistic, nor even of Hebrew or Aramaic stock." [Note: Coogan, p. 11.]
Scholars have explained the many differences in numbers in this list compared with the one in Neh 7:7-66 several ways. [Note: See Gleason L. Archer Jr., Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 229-31.] Hebrew writers represented numbers by using certain words that had other meanings. This has resulted in some confusion in interpretation. [Note: See The New Bible Dictionary, 1962 ed., s.v. "Number," by R. A. H. Gunner.] Perhaps the translators misunderstood the numbers the writer intended. [Note: J. Carl Laney, Ezra and Nehemiah, p. 27.] Another explanation is that this list contains rough estimates and the later list in Nehemiah has the true figures. [Note: John J. Davis, Biblical Numerology, p. 33. For a detailed explanation of the differences between these lists, see H. L. Allrik, "The Lists of Zerubbabel (Nehemiah 7 and Ezra 2) and the Hebrew Numerical Notation," Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 136 (December 1954):21-27.]