Ezra 2

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;

Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:

The children of Parosh, two thousand an 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 forty and five.

The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.

The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.

The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.

The children of Azgad, 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 of 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, an hundred and twelve.

The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.

The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.

The children of Beth–lehem, an hundred twenty and three.

The men of Netophah, fifty and six.

The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.

The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.

The children of Kirjath–arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.

The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.

The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.

The men of Beth–el and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.

The children of Nebo, fifty and two.

The children of Magbish, an 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 twenty and five.

The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.

The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.

The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.

The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.

The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.

The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.

The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.

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.

The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,

The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,

The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,

The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,

The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,

The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,

The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim,

The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,

The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,

The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,

The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.

The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,

The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,

The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.

All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two.

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:

The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.

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:

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.

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.

The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,

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.

Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;

Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

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:

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.

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.

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Ezra 2:22

“The men of Netophah, fifty and six.”

Study Summary

The men of Netophah numbering "56" represents the inhabitants of another Judean city returning from exile, continuing the pattern of geographic as well as genealogical identification within the returning community. The smaller size of Netophah's contingent compared to some other cities suggests that this population experienced significant attrition during the Babylonian period or that many of its inhabitants chose not to return. The enumeration of Netophah's returning residents establishes their claim to restoration in their ancestral city and their participation in the larger project of reconstituting Judean territorial organization and governance. The systematic listing of city-based populations alongside family groups demonstrates that restoration involved both genealogical and territorial dimensions, as returnees sought to reclaim not only family identity but also their places within the geographic and political structure of Judean society.

Community Reflections

James Thornton (test user)7h ago

Wisdom for daily life — Ezra 2

God is faithful in every circumstance.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the hope.. Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on God.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. It implies covenant loyalty, steadfast love that never wavers.. My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. God is faithful in every circumstance.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. It implies covenant loyalty, steadfast love that never wavers.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Following God is costly, but the reward is eternal.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid in this…

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Anna Westbrook (test user)7h ago

The light of the world — Ezra 2

This is one of those passages that reads differently in every season of life. I love how this passage doesn't shy away from the difficulty of obedience. God is faithful in every circumstance.. It implies covenant loyalty, steadfast love that never wavers.. His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. I think this is a call to trust beyond what we can see. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. The early church would have heard this very differently than we do today. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the hope.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. The Hebrew word used here…

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Ezra 2:22

“The men of Netophah, fifty and six.”

Study Summary

Community Reflections

James Thornton (test user)7h ago

Wisdom for daily life — Ezra 2

Read the note →

Anna Westbrook (test user)7h ago

The light of the world — Ezra 2

Read the note →