The Book of Ezra
Study #5
(Ezra 2:1-70)
A Jewish Homecoming!
INTRODUCTION:
• 2 Tim. 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
• ALL scripture includes the genealogies and lists.
• At first, one may be tempted to overlook these passages and move on.
• You will be shocked at the tremendous truths discovered in this list of names!
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
• There are 15,604 people listed under headings of 18 families and clans. (2:3-20)
• Then there is a listing of inhabitants (totaling 8,540) from 21 towns and villages (vv. 21-35)
• Then the priests (4,289 of them) were listed (vv. 36-39), followed by 341 Levites which included singers and gatekeepers (vv. 40-42). The temple servants (vv. 43-54) and descendants of the royal servants (vv. 55-58) totaled 392.
• Then there were the families that could not prove their ancestry.
▸ Three families of common people (59-60)
▸ Three families of priestly descendants (61-62)
• Ezra’s grand total of 49,897, counting servants, women and children.
• Note that the Nehemiah and Mordecai mentioned in the early verses are not the famous men by those names.
I. The Surprises of the List
• There exist surprises in the list.
• Things we would not expect until we look closely.
A. The Two Families Called Elam (7,31)
Ezra 2:7 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
Ezra 2:31 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
• Here are two families that are called the children of Elam (one v. 7, another v. 31), and, which is strange, the number of both is the same, 1254. Matthew Henry
• Rather than making this list questionable, the implication is, that the Bible is so accurate as to record a truth, even if that truth could cause suspicions of inaccuracy.
• This list of families shows again how surely we may cling to the Word of God.
B. The Affluence of the People Coming (65)
Ezra 2:65 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.
• The male and female singers mentioned at the end of the chapter indicate the wealth of the people.
C. The family of Pashur (38)
Ezra 2:38 The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
• The fourth was Pashur, v. 38. If these were of the posterity of that Pashur that abused Jeremiah (Jer. 20:1), it is strange that so bad a man should have so good a seed, and so numerous. Henry, M.
D. The Nethinims (58)
Ezra 2:58 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two.
• Matthew Henry feels that these are the Gibeonites, who deceived Joshua with the moldy bread.
• They were not destroyed, rather were accepted into Israel and made hewers of wood and drawers of water.
• They became the helpers of the Levites, doing the menial tasks.
• Though not all agree that these are the descendents of the Gibionites, if they are, then this is remarkable that they return home while millions of Jews of true pedigree stay in Babylon and will not leave the comforts.
• Nearness to God’s house, and God’s priests, kept them close to the Word!
• Even the basest of duties for God, are great and they help us.
E. The Men of Anathoth (23)
The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight [Ezra 2:23].
That is quite a group from that little town who went back. I have seen this little town, and it is a place of interest because it is the town where Jeremiah purchased a field. You will remember that in Jeremiah’s day the children of Israel were on the verge of being carried away into captivity. I would not call his purchase of some land at that time a good investment in real estate, would you? When Jeremiah bought this land, it did not look as though Israel had a future. But God had him buy the land as a sign that Judah would be restored. Jeremiah’s act was one of faith. God promised that His people would return to the land, and they did. These men of Anathoth had a sealed, lawful claim to the land because Jeremiah had purchased it and given it to them. They were going back to claim their possession. You can read the story in Jeremiah 32. McGee, J. V.
• God will keep His word!
F. The Children of Solomon’s Servants (55-58)
Ezra 2:55-58 The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda, [56] The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, [57] The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami. [58] All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety and two.
• The descendants of Solomon’s war prisoners.
• These were given menial duties like the Gibeonites or Nethinim.
• Yet they return when other full-blooded Jews with Pedigree stayed at home.
• What a beautiful picture of we Gentile dogs!
• We have been grafted in, and become more faithful and fruitful than the natural tree.
• They have rejected the “stone”, but Christ is now become the cornerstone of a new entity ... the church!
G. The Generous Gifts of Those Returning (69)
Ezra 2:69 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.
NOTE: These figures based on the footnotes of the ESV.
61,000 drams of gold = $6,466,000 in 2004 dollars and gold prices.
5,000 pounds of silver = $729,000.
Total = $7,195,000
• Yet all of this, as impressive as it is, was 1/1000 of the amount David collected for Solomon’s temple.
• It is no wonder that the older men, who remembered the previous temple, wept!
• But, this is still a large contribution.
• With $42,360 people returning (not including servants), this is 169.85 per man, woman, boy and girl.
• If we were to reduce it to head of households, it would no doubt be more than $500.00 per household.
II. The Sadness of the List
A. The Jews are Called the Children of the Province (1-2)
Ezra 2:1-2 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; [2] Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
• They are called the children of the province.
• This is a different word than that used to describe a “district” back in Persia (ch. 5)
• Under Solomon, they subjugated kingdoms.
• Now, because of their sin, they have themselves been subjugated.
• Even as they leave, there is one more reminder of the price of sin.
• They will yet be subject to the King of Persia and have to be accountable to him.
QUOTE: See how sin diminishes and debases a nation, which righteousness would exalt. M. Henry
B. The Priests that Remained (36-39)
Ezra 2:36-39 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. [37] The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. [38] The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. [39] The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
Only four of the twenty-four divisions of the priests (given in Chronicles) return home. 20 families of priests have either have left the ministry altogether or have decided to stay in Babylon.
• How tragic to see the children and grandchildren drift away.
C. The Apathy of the Levites (40-42)
Ezra 2:40-42 The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four. [41] The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight. [42] 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.
• Of the Levites. I cannot but wonder at the small number of them, for, taking in both the singers and the porters (v. 40-42), they did not make 350.
• Time was when the Levites were more forward to their duty than the priests (2 Chr. 29:34), but they were not so now.
• If one place, one family, has the reputation for pious zeal now, another may have it another time.
• The wind blows where it listeth, and shifts its points. Henry, M.
QUOTE: Ezr 2:40-42 - The Levites,.... Singers and porters, who are reckoned in this, and the two following verses, whose numbers were no more than three hundred and forty one; whereas, in the times of David, they were 38,000, 1Ch_23:3. Gill
D. Those Who Lost Their Geneology (59-63)
Ezra 2:59-63 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: [60] The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two. [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: [62] 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. [63] 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.
1. The Pedigree
• Genealogies were very important credentials to the Hebrew people.
• If they could not prove they had descended from Abraham, they were not considered true Jews and were excluded from full participation in Jewish community life.
• In addition, some privileges were restricted to members of certain tribes.
• For example, only descendants of Levi (Abraham’s great-grandson) could serve in the temple.
2. The Problem
• In the case of one, a Jewish man had married into the family of a prominent Gentile.
• Now, with Israel and her temple a thing of memory, they decide to profit from the situation.
• They choose to take the name of Barzillai, and renounce the name of God.
• They sold out for the things of this world.
• Back in Babylon, they got away with it for 70 years.
• Suddenly they awakend, and saw the need to establish their pedigree.
• But it was too late!
• And Oh what it cost them!!!
• And it cost every descendent for all the future!!!
3. The Pronouncement
• The laity could not fully partake of Jewish religious life.
• The priests were forbidden from partaking of the table of shewbread, and the meats from the sacrifices.
• Their privileges were gone! Gone FOREVER!
4. The Pity
“Till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim” to inquire of the Lord concerning them (cf. Exod. 28:30). These sacred lots were used to ascertain the divine will. But since the departure of the Shekinah glory in 592 B.C. (Ezek. 10:1-22), this feature of Israels’s ancient worship vanished, never to return. Hence, the quandary in which these six families found themselves was never resolved. (Unger)
• What is so sad is that there was a time when their pedigree could have been established.
• But they have let it go so long, that it can no longer be found.
ILLUS: Many who once had a place at our table, have disappeared, and can no longer prove their pedigree. Their status with the Lord and with men is in doubt. Perhaps a Christian. Perhaps a member. But no proof. Others linger at the threshold, and will not take the steps of Baptism and union with this body so that they might enter into the full blessing of membership in God’s church!
III. The Significance of the List
A. Significant Persons (2)
1. Zerubbabel, an ancestor of the Messiah (Matt 1:12).
2. Jeshua, who was a distinguished type of Jesus Christ (Zech 3., 6:11-13).
B. A significant Place: Bethlehem ( 21)
The children of Bethlehem (v. 21) were but 123, though it was David’s city; for Bethlehem was little among the thousands of Judah, yet there must the Messiah arise, Mic. 5:2. (Matthew Henry)
• That little handful of people that returned to Bethlehem, though small in number, was the most vital part of this journey, for in this little handful of people walked the ancestors of the Messiah!
C. A Significant Privilege (Lk. 10:20; Is. 49:16)
1. It Was an honour to the pious and patriotic ones who returned.
2. It is an illustration of the Divine record of God’s spiritual Israel (Luke 10:20).
Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
3. It suggests that every one of His people is precious in the sight of God (Isa 49:16).
Isaiah 49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
ILLUS: The Sirois on the Vietnam Memorial.
ILLUS: In my minds eye I go up to Heaven where an angel asks, what are all these names in this book. God answers, this is the Book of Life, and these are the names of the redeemed. But why this genealogy, the angel asks? It is just a list of names. What does it matter. God replies, it matters to them!!! Hallelujah!
D. A Significant Promise (70; Jer. 25:11; 29:10)
Ezra 2:70 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.
The fulfillment of the promises of God (Daniel, Jeremiah) (v. 70)
Jeremiah 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
Jeremiah 29:10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
1. They Are Home After Exile.
2. They Are at Rest After a Long and Tedious Journey.
NOTE: The journey from Babylon to Israel was about 900 miles and took about four months (cf. 7:8-9), but Ezra did not state how long the return trip took. His focus was not on the people’s hardships but on their task of rebuilding the temple.
CONCLUSION:
We see tonight ...
• The certainty of God’s word.
• The reality of divine punishment.
• The wonder of God’s renewed grace.
• The importance of staying near the church.
Those who lost genealogy.
The Gibeonites who remained faithful.
• The faithfulness of God’s promises.
The property at Anathoth.
The return after 70 years as promised to Jeremiah.
