E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ezra 2:59
of Israel. See note on Ezra 2:2 , and compare 1 Kings 12:17 . read more
of Israel. See note on Ezra 2:2 , and compare 1 Kings 12:17 . read more
SOME WERE PUT OUT OF THE PRIESTHOOD"And these were they that went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers' houses, 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 the children of the priests: the children of Ha-baiah, the children of Kakoz, the children of Barzillai the Gileaditc, and was called after their name. These sought their register... read more
Israelites of doubtful origin 2:59-60"We may infer from this pericope as it is clearly stated in 1 Chronicles 5:17 and Nehemiah 7:5 that Jewish families kept genealogies to prove their Jewish descent, and to ascertain that mixture with foreign groups was somehow excluded." [Note: Fensham, The Books . . ., p. 55.] Even though these people could not establish their Jewish ancestry with certainty, the leaders of the restoration permitted them to return with those who could. It is understandable... read more
The Names and Number of those who returned1. The province] i.e. the Persian province of Judæa (Ezra 5:8). Had carried away] in 597 b.c. and 586 b.c. Every one unto his city] i.e. to the provincial towns. This process can only have taken place very gradually.2. Zerubbabel] for his relation to Sheshbazzar see on Ezra 1:8 for his ancestry see on Ezra 3:2. The list of names that follows is repeated, with some variants, in Nehemiah 7:7-73. Jeshua] the high priest, called by Haggai ’Joshua.’ The... read more
(59-63) Finally, those who had lost the records of their lineage are mentioned. Of the people, the children of three families from Tel-melah, Hill of salt, Tel-harsa, Hill of the wood, and a few other places, are mentioned. Of the priests, there are also three families without their genealogy. read more
THE SECOND EXODUSEzra 2:1-67THE journey of the returning exiles from Babylon has some points of resemblance to the exodus of their fathers from Egypt. On both occasions the Israelites had been suffering oppression in a foreign land. Deliverance had come to the ancient Hebrews in so wonderful a way that it could only be described as a miracle of God; no material miracle was recorded of the later movement; and yet it was so marvellously providential that the Jews were constrained to acknowledge... read more
CHAPTER 2 1. The leaders (Ezra 2:1-2 ) 2. The names of the returning exiles (Ezra 2:3-35 ) 3. The priests (Ezra 2:36-39 ) 4. The Levites and singers (Ezra 2:40 ) 5. The porters and Nethinim (Ezra 2:42-54 ) 6. Solomon’s servants (Ezra 2:55-58 ) 7. Those of doubtful descent (Ezra 2:59-63 ) 8. The number of the whole company (Ezra 2:64-67 ) 9. The offering of the house of God (Ezra 2:68-70 ) Ezra 2:1-2 . This chapter contains the names of the returning remnant. It is a specimen... read more
LIST OF RETURNED CAPTIVES (vv. 1-58) This chapter shows the definite interest God had in every individual who returned from the captivity, so that the number from each city is recorded, and the total number. We are reminded in verse 1 that it was Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon who had taken these captive. Babylon means "confusion," so that Judah is pictured as being captives to a state of confusion, as is repeated in the history of the professing church. It is only by the power and grace of... read more
BACK TO THE HOMELAND CYRUS’ PROCLAMATION (Ezra 1:0 ) Babylon has had its days, and with its downfall has come that of the Assyrian Empire. The Medes and Persians, with Cyrus at their head, are now in power, and in the providence of God, Daniel, the Jewish prophet and statesman, has influence at this court, as in that of Nebuchadnezzar. By a study of the earlier prophets, especially Jeremiah, he has become aware that the time is nigh for the captivity of Judah to end and his people to... read more
Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezra 2:1-70
Click image for full-size version1:1-2:70 ZERUBBABEL’S RETURNCyrus had been ruler of Persia for some time before he conquered Babylon in 539 BC. His policy was, when he conquered a nation, to allow any people held captive by that nation to return to their homeland. Therefore, soon after he conquered Babylon (i.e. in his first year as the Jews’ new ruler) he gave permission for the Jews to return to Jerusalem (1:1-4). Jeremiah’s prophecy made seventy years earlier had come true: the Jews were... read more