Aa
The Exiles Return
1When the wall had been rebuilt and I had the doors installed, Neh 6:1 the gatekeepers, Ezr 2:40-42; Neh 7:43-45 singers, and Levites were appointed.
2Then I put my brother Hanani Neh 1:2 in charge of Jerusalem, Neh 3:9,12 along with Hananiah, Neh 10:23 commander of the fortress, Neh 2:8 because he was a faithful man who feared God 1Kg 18:3; Neh 5:9,15 more than most.
3I said to them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot, and let the doors be shut and securely fastened while the guards are on duty. Station the citizens of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their homes.” Neh 4:13,16,22-23
4The city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and no houses had been built yet. Neh 11:1
5Then my God put it into my mind Pr 2:6 to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be registered by genealogy. I found the genealogical record of those who came back first, and I found the following written in it: Ezr 2:1-70
6These are the people of the province who went up among the captive exiles deported by King Nebuchadnezzar 2Ch 36:20 of Babylon. Each of them returned to Jerusalem and Judah, to his own town. Ezr 2:1
7They came with Zerubbabel, Hg 1:1 Jeshua, Ezr 2:2; 5:2; Zch 3:3,8 Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.
The number of the Israelite men included:
8Parosh’s descendants Ezr 2:3; 8:3; 10:25; Neh 3:25
2,172
9Shephatiah’s descendants
372
10Arah’s descendants
652
11Pahath-moab’s descendants:
Jeshua’s and Joab’s descendants2,818
12Elam’s descendants
1,254
13Zattu’s descendants
845
14Zaccai’s descendants
760
15Binnui’s descendants
648
16Bebai’s descendants
628
17Azgad’s descendants
2,322
18Adonikam’s descendants Ezr 2:13; 8:13
667
19Bigvai’s descendants
2,067
20Adin’s descendants Ezr 2:15; 8:6
655
21Ater’s descendants: of Hezekiah
98
22Hashum’s descendants
328
23Bezai’s descendants
324
24Hariph’s descendants
112
25Gibeon’s = Gibbar’s in Ezr 2:20 descendants
95
26Bethlehem’s Ezr 2:21; Mc 5:2 and Netophah’s 2Sm 23:28; 2Kg 25:23; Ezr 2:22 men
188
27Anathoth’s Ezr 2:23; Neh 11:32; Jr 1:1 men
128
28Beth-azmaveth’s men
42
29Kiriath-jearim’s, Chephirah’s, and Beeroth’s men
743
30Ramah’s and Geba’s men
621
31Michmas’s men
122
32Bethel’s and Ai’s men Gn 12:8; Jos 7:2; Ezr 2:28
123
33the other Nebo’s men
52
34the other Elam’s people
1,254
35Harim’s people
320
36Jericho’s people Jos 6:1; Ezr 2:34; Neh 3:2
345
37Lod’s, 1Ch 8:12; Ezr 2:33; Ac 9:32 Hadid’s, and Ono’s people
721
38Senaah’s people
3,930.
39The priests included:
Jedaiah’s 1Ch 24:7; Ezr 2:36 descendants of the house of Jeshua973
40Immer’s descendants
1,052
41Pashhur’s descendants
1,247
42Harim’s descendants
1,017.
43The Levites Ezr 2:40; 7:7; 8:15; Neh 13:30 included:
Jeshua’s descendants: of Kadmiel
Hodevah’s descendants74.
44The singers 1Ch 15:16; Ezr 2:41-43 included:
Asaph’s descendants148.
45The gatekeepers 1Ch 9:17-27 included:
Shallum’s descendants, Ater’s descendants,
Talmon’s descendants, Akkub’s descendants,
Hatita’s descendants, Shobai’s descendants138.
46The temple servants Neh 11:21 included:
Ziha’s descendants, Hasupha’s descendants,
Tabbaoth’s descendants,
47Keros’s descendants,
Sia’s descendants, Padon’s descendants,
48Lebanah’s descendants, Hagabah’s descendants,
Shalmai’s descendants,
49Hanan’s descendants,
Giddel’s descendants, Gahar’s descendants,
50Reaiah’s descendants, Rezin’s descendants,
Nekoda’s descendants,
51Gazzam’s descendants,
Uzza’s descendants, Paseah’s descendants,
52Besai’s descendants, Meunim’s descendants,
Nephishesim’s Alt Hb tradition reads Nephushesim’s descendants,
53Bakbuk’s descendants,
Hakupha’s descendants, Harhur’s descendants,
54Bazlith’s descendants, Mehida’s descendants,
Harsha’s descendants,
55Barkos’s descendants,
Sisera’s descendants, Temah’s descendants,
56Neziah’s descendants, Hatipha’s descendants.
57The descendants of Solomon’s servants 1Kg 9:21; Ezr 2:55 included:
Sotai’s descendants, Sophereth’s descendants,
Perida’s descendants,
58Jaala’s descendants,
Darkon’s descendants, Giddel’s descendants,
59Shephatiah’s descendants, Hattil’s descendants,
Pochereth-hazzebaim’s descendants, Amon’s descendants.
60All the temple servants
and the descendants of Solomon’s servants Ezr 2:58392.
61The following Ezr 2:59-60 are those who came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but were unable to prove that their families and ancestors were Israelite:
62Delaiah’s descendants,
Tobiah’s descendants,
and Nekoda’s descendants642
63and from the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai — who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name.
64These searched for their entries in the genealogical records, but they could not be found, so they were disqualified from the priesthood.
65The governor Ezr 2:63; 5:14 ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest who could consult the Urim and Thummim. Ex 28:30; Lv 8:8; Ezr 2:63
66The whole combined assembly numbered
42,360
67not including their 7,337 male and female slaves,
as well as their 245 male and female singers.
68They had 736 horses, 245 mules, Some Hb mss, LXX; Ezr 2:66; other Hb mss omit v. 68
69435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. Ezr 2:64-70
70Some of the family leaders gave to the project. The governor gave 1,000 gold coins, Or drachmas, or darics ; also in vv. 71-72 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments to the treasury.
71Some of the family leaders gave 20,000 gold coins and 2,200 silver minas A Babylonian coin worth 50 shekels to the treasury for the project.
72The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold coins, 2,000 silver minas, and 67 priestly garments.
73So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, temple singers, some of the people, temple servants, and all Israel settled in their towns. The second half of v. 73 is better understood when placed with 8:1. 1Ch 9:2; Ezr 2:70; Neh 7:6
Public Reading of the Law
When the seventh month Lv 23:23-43; Ezr 3:1 came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,

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