Of the children of the priests. Some of those who claimed to be descendants of Aaron, and therefore priests, had also lost the evidence of their descent. This loss was held to disqualify them from the exercise of the priestly office ( Ezra 2:62 ). read more
The privileges of the priesthood. We are here forcibly reminded— I. THAT THE PRIESTHOOD HAD ITS PRIVILEGES . These were— 1. They were sanctified to the service of God. 2. They ate of the most holy things. II. THE LAW PRIESTS WERE TYPES OF TRUE CHRISTIANS . 1. In their birth , as sons of Aaron. 2. In their office , as priests of God. 3. In the privileges of their office. III. THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO THESE ... read more
The Tirshatha . As "Shesh-bazzar" was the Babylonian name of Zerub-babel ( Ezra 1:8 ), so "the Tirshatha" seems to have been his Persian title. The word is probably a participial form from tars or tarsa , " to fear," and means literally "the Feared." It is used only by Ezra and Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 7:65 ; Nehemiah 8:9 ). Haggai calls Zerubbabel uniformly pechah , "governor ( Haggai 1:1 , Haggai 1:14 ; Haggai 2:2 , Haggai 2:21 ). They should not eat of the most holy... read more
The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore. Ezra's numbers, as given in detail (verses 3-60), produce when added together a total of only 29,818; Nehemiah's items ( Nehemiah 7:8-62 ) give a total of 31,089; those of the apocryphal Esdras a total of 33,950. The three authorities agree, however, in their summation, all alike declaring that the actual number of those who returned with Zerubbabel was 42,360. Esdras adds that children under twelve... read more
Two hundred singing men and singing women . Nehemiah says two hundred and forty-five , and so the apocryphal Esdras. Perhaps, in the great default of Levites, the services of these persons may have been used to swell the sacred choruses of the time ( Ezra 3:10 ). Hence, it may be, the mention of this otherwise unimportant fact. read more
THE NUMBER OF THE SLAVES , HORSES , MULES , CAMELS , AND ASSES OF THOSE WHO RETURNED ( Ezra 2:65-67 ). It may seem strange that matters of this trivial character should be recorded with such exactness in Holy Writ; but enumerations similar in character are not unfrequent (see Genesis 23:14 , Genesis 23:15 ; 2 Chronicles 17:11 ; Job 42:12 ). They may perhaps be viewed as teaching the lesson that with God nothing is too trivial for exact knowledge, even "all... read more
Their asses . The ass (we see) is still, as in the earlier times, the chief beast of burden employed by the Israelites. Horses are rare, camels and mules still rarer; but most emigrant families had, it would seem, one ass. sted, and into which they will never enter. V. THAT AT SUCH TIDIES SPIRITUAL THINGS ARE RESTORED TO THEIR RIGHTFUL SERVICE (verse 7). The vessels of God were brought from the heathen temple and given to the returning Jews. In times of... read more
The province - Judaea was no longer a kingdom, but a mere “province” of Persia. “The children of the province” are the Israelites who returned to Palestine, as distinct from those who remained in Babylonia and Persia.Every one unto his city - That is, to the city whereto his forefathers had belonged. Of course, in the few cases where this was not known Ezra 2:59-62, the plan could not be carried out.Two other copies of the following list have come down to us - one in Nehemiah 7:7-69, and the... read more
The Nethinims - The hieroduli or sacred slaves, “given” to the Levites to assist them in their work (see 1 Chronicles 9:2 note). read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 2:59
Tel-melah is probably the Thelme of Ptolemy ('Geograph.,' 5.20), a city of Lower Babylonia, situated in the salt tract near the Persian Gulf. Hence the name, which means "Hill of Salt." Cherub is no doubt Ptolemy's Chiripha, which was in the same region. The other places here mentioned are unknown to us, but probably belonged to the same tract of country. Tel-Harsa means "Hill of the Wood." They could not show their father's house. It is more surprising that so many of the returning... read more