Ezra 2

A register of the captive Jews, that went up to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel the Prince, and other heads, vers.1, etc. The free gifts of the Jewish Princes (when they were come to Jerusalem) toward the building of the Temple, 68.

1. These are the children of that country [That is, that had dwelt a long time in Babylon, or Chaldea, whereas the other Israelites were scattered into divers lands. Others, children of the Province, or, of the country, that is, born in the land of Jury, or that were descended thence; as this phrase may signify both, inhabitation, or, birth. Compare Nehem.7.6.] that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, [Hebr. of the carrying away, or, banishment, removing] whom Nebuchadnezar king of Babel had carried away to Babel, who returned to Jerusalem and Juda, every one to his city:

2. Who came with Zerubbabel, [See above chap.1.on vers.8. he is called Sorobabel, Matth.1 13.] Jesua [called otherwise Josua, was Priest. See below chap.3.2,9. Hag.1.1.] Nehemia, Seraja, Reelaja, Mordechai, Balsan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, (and) Baena. [These were the heads and leaders of the people. Compare this Register (which some conceive to have been made in Babylon) with that other, Nehem.7.6,7, etc. Which seemeth to have been made, (or at least to have been reviewed) in Juda, within a while after their coming thither: there is some difference both in regard of names and of number, because some of those that were set down peradventure tarried behind, or died by the way, and others afterward came on, and were added to the number, as in such expeditions is wont to be done. Also some names are diversly recorded in both places, as the Reader may perceive by comparing both] (this is) the number of the men of the people of Israel: [that is, of the common people of Israel, that went up under the conduct of the forenamed heads.]

3. The children [That is, the posterity: and so in the following verses] of Paros, two hundred, and seventy and two.

4. The children of Sephatja, three hundred, seventy and two.

5. The children of Aruch, seven hundred, seventy and five.

6. The children of Pahat Moab, of the children of Jesua-Joab, [Others, Jesua (and) Joab] two thousand, eight hundred, and twelve.

7. The children of Elam, a thousand, two hundred, fifty and four.

8. The children of Zatthu, nine hundred, and fourty and five.

9. The children of Zacchai, seven hundred, and three score.

10. The children of Bani, six hundred, fourty and two.

11. The children of Bebai, six hudred, twenty and three.

12. The children of Azgad, a thousand, two hundred, twenty and two.

13. The children of Adonikam, six hundred, sixty and six.

14. The children of Bigvai, two thousand, fifty and six.

15. The children of Adin, four hundred, fifty and four.

16. The children of Ater, of Hizkia, ninety and eight.

17. The children of Bezai, three hundred, twenty and three.

18. The children of Jora, an hundred and twelve.

19. The children of Hasum, two hundred, twenty and three.

20. The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.

21. The children of Beth-lehem, [That is, inhabitants, or natives of Beth-lehem. So in some following verses, men, or people of this, or that place. Item, vers.25, etc. Children of this, and that place. Compare above vers.1.] an hundred, twenty and three.

22. The men of Netopha, fifty, and six.

23. The men of Anathoth, an hundred, twenty and eight.

24. The children of Azmaveth, fourty and two.

25. The children of Kariath-Arim, Cephira, and Beeroth; seven hundred, and fourty and three.

26. The children of Rama, and Gaba, six hundred, twenty and one.

27. The men of Michmas, an hundred, twenty and two.

28. The men of Bethel, and Ai, two hundred, twenty and three.

29. The children of Nebo, [Otherwise called in Scripture Nob, a city of the Priests, lying in Benjamin. See 1 Sam.21.11. Nehem.11.32. Therewas another city of the same in the Tribe of Reuben, Numb.32.37, 38. Wherefore this is called the other Nebo, Nehem.7.33.] fifty and two.

30. The children of Magbis, an hundred, fifty and six.

31. The children of the other Elam, [That is, of another than that which is mentioned above vers.7.] a thousand, two hundred, fifty and four.

32. The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

33. The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred, twenty and five.

34. The children of Jericho, three hundred, fourty and five.

35. The children of Senaa, three thousand, and six hundred, and thirty.

36. The Priests: the children of Jedaja, [See 1 Chron.24.7.] of the house of Jesua, nine hundred, seventy and three.

37. The children of Jimner, [See 1 Chron.24.14.] a thousand, fifty and two.

38. The children of Pashur, [Who was the chiefest among the posterity of Malkia. See 1 Chron.24.9. and 2 Chron.9.12.] a thousand, two hundred, fourty and seven.

39. The children of Harim, [See 1 Chron.24.8. It is observable, that of the four and twenty orders or courses made and ordained in Davids time, there are no more than four mentioned here, whereunto some do add the fifth, to wit, the house of Jesua, the son of Josadak. Of some restuaration of the courses, see Nehem.12.]

40. The Levites: the children of Jesua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hadavja, seventy and four.

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

42. The children of the Porters: the children of Sallum the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Sobia: all these were an hundred, thirty and nine.

43. The Nethinims: [That is, given, or, given up. Meaning, the Gibeonites, who having preserved their lives by craft, were appointed for servile works to Israel, and to the house of God. See Jos.9.21,23.] the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabkoath.

44. The children of Siuha, the children of Padon,

45. The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Akkub,

46. The children of Hagub, the children of Samlai, the children of Hanan,

47. The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaja,

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

49. The children of Uza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,

50. The children of Asna, the children of Mehumim, the children of Nephusim,

51. The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Parhur,

52. The children of Bauluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsa,

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

54. The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.

55. The children of Salomon’s servants: [Who being the remnant that were left of the heathenish nations, were made servants and bond-men by King Salomon. See 1 Kings 9:20,21.] the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,

56. The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,

57. The children of Sephatja, the children of Hattil, the children of Pocheret-Hazebaim, the children of Anai.

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

59. Also these went up from Thel-melah, and Thel-harsa, [These two, Thel-melah, and Thel-harsa, are held to be names of places, where they had dwelt, in Babylon and Mesopotamia] Cherub, Addan, (and) Immer: [meaning, with their families. Some conceive that these three were names of persons, that went up with their families: others hold that they were likewise names of places, and that the persons are related in the following verse] but they could not shew their fathers house, and their seed, [that is, their family, race, pedigree] whether they were of Israel.

60. The children of Delaja, the children of Tobia, the children of Nekoda, six hundred, fifty and two.

61. And the children of the Priests, the children of Habaia, the children of Koz: the children of Barzillai, who had taken a wise of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.

62. They sought their register [Hebr. writing: meaning the genealogies, which God at that time would have to be kept, to the end that it might be known of what family the Messiah should come, and that the Priesthood until the coming of Christ, might continue in Aaron’s line] among those that were put in the genealogy, [or, desiring to shew their pedigree] but they were not found: [to wit, their names, or persons, or ancestors were not found] therefore were they as polluted, removed from the Priesthood. [Hebr. they were polluted from the Priesthood: that is, they were pronounced to be unfit, and not qualified for the Priestshood, and were consequently removed from it.]

63. And Hattirsatha [Some hold this to be a Persian name of some certain office or place, as Ambassador, Commissioner, Deputy, or, Governor of the king, to wit, Sesbazar. See above chap.1. on vers.8. Nehemia is likewise so called, Nehemia 8.9. and 10.2.] said unto them, they should not eat of the most holy things, [Hebr. holiness of holinesses: meaning, that which fell to be the Priests part or portion of the offerings] till there stood (up) a Priest with Urim, and with Thummim. [Meaning, the high Priest, arrayed with Urim and Thummim, to ask counsel of the Lord in obscure and difficult matters. See Numb.27.21.]

64. This whole congregation together, [Hebr. as one] was fourty and two thousand, three hundred (and) threescore. [Counting among them also those were not able to shew their pedigree, or were not Israel. Hebr. four millions, two thousand, etc.]

65. Besides their servants, and their maids, which were seven thousand, seven hundred, and thirty seven: and they had two hundred singing-men and singing-women. [Whom they had taken along with them to praise God for mercy, and to exercise them in holy music, which was intermitted during the captivity.]

66. Their horses were seven hundred, thirty and six: their mules, two hundred, fourty and five.

67. Their camels, four hundred, thirty and five: the asses, six thousand, seven hundred, and twenty.

68. And (some) of the heads of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD, who (dwelleth) at Jerusalem, [That is, when they came to the place, where the house of the LORD had been, and was to be built again] gave freely to the house of God, to set it (up) in its sure place.

69. They gave according to their ability unto the treasure of the work, [To be kept in the treasury of the Sanctuary for the building of the Temple. See 1 Chron.26.vers.20,26.] into gold, threescore and one thousand drams, [one dram was (according to the opinion of the learned) the weight of the fourth part of a shekel, or of a French Crowns. Heb. six millions and a thousand] and in silver, five thousand pounds, [Hebr. manim, that is, mina’s. See of this weight 1 Ki.10.17. 2 Chr.9.16. Neh.7.71,72. Of Ezekiel’s mina, see Ezech.45.12.] and in hundred Priests garments.

70. And the Priests, and the Levites, and (some) of the people, [Of the Levites, to wit, the singers, etc. As followeth in the next words: together with others of the congregation, as Salomon’s servants, etc. See Neh.10.28. and 11.3. 2 Chron.23.on vers.5.] both the singers and the porters, and the Nethinims [see of these above on vers.43.] dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.