2:1 Now these [are] the children {a} 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;(a) Meaning Judea, which was a province that is, a country which was in subjection. 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
Ezra 2:0 1. Now these are the children of the province [Judea] 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 [as into a lion's den, see Nah 2:10 ], and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city [the cities and villages are more distinctly enumerated by Nehemiah]; 43. The Nethinims [the lowest order of the ministry (Numbers 31:47 ; Jos 9:23 )]: the children of Ziha, the children... read more
CONTENTS This chapter contains the record of the number which returned of the people from Babylon. Of certain priests, which could not show their pedigree. Ezra 2:1 We are not to suppose that these were individually the very same persons which were carried away and all lived to return. Seventy years must have produced both deaths and births in the several tribes. But I rather conceive, by this register, is meant the exact number of those in each tribe that survived to return. read more
Now. This catalogue is given again, 2 Esdras vii. 6., and 3 Esdras v. 7., immediately (Haydock) after the long interpolated story (Kennicott) of the three guards, concerning the superior strength of wine, the king, women or truth, in which Zorobabel gains the victory, in favour of the latter. (Haydock) --- The rest of the book is taken from other inspired writings; (Sandford) and this story may be borrowed Josephus: so that there is no reason for asserting "that one whole book is now lost out... read more
1-35 An account was kept of the families that came up out of captivity. See how sin lowers a nation, which righteousness would exalt! read more
Ezra 2 CHAPTER TWO, with the exception of the last three verses, is taken up with details as to the number of those who answered to the proclamation, named under the heads of their families. The heads are named and the families counted. God took note of them and put their names into His record, while those, whose hearts did not stir them up to go, are passed over in silence. Let us take note of this. The first name mentioned is Zerubbabel, who became the 'Tirshatha', or civil Governor: the... read more
The Household of the People v. 1. Now, these are the children of the province, for that is what Judah had now become, a mere province of the Persian empire, that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, as distinguished from those who preferred to remain in Babylon or Persia, whom Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city, the city which was rebuilt and allotted to every one... read more
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Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Ezra 2:1-70
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