Ezra 2:1-4:5, Ezra 4:1 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 2:1-35

We may observe here, 1. That an account was kept in writing of the families that came up out of captivity, and the numbers of each family. This was done for their honour, as part of their recompence for their faith and courage, their confidence in God and their affection to their own land, and to stir up others to follow their good example. Those that honour God he will thus honour. The names of all those Israelites indeed that accept the offer of deliverance by Christ shall be found, to their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 2:1

Now these are the children of the province ,.... Either of the province of Babylon, as Aben Ezra, where they were either born, or had dwelt for many years; or else rather, according to Jarchi, of the province of Judea, as it is called, Ezra 5:8 once a flourishing kingdom, but reduced to a province of the Babylonian monarchy, now in the hands of the Medes and Persians, of which province they and their fathers originally were: that went out of the captivity, of those which had been... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 2:1

These are the children of the province - That is, of Judea; once a kingdom, and a flourishing nation; now a province, subdued, tributary, and ruined! Behold the goodness and severity of God! Some think Babylon is meant by the province; and that the children of the province means those Jews who were born in Babylon. But the first is most likely to be the meaning, for thus we find Judea styled, Ezra 5:8 . Besides, the province is contradistinguished from Babylon even in this first verse, The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 2:1

These are the children of the province. i.e. of Judaea, which was a province of Persia, distinguished here from Babylon, which was one of the capitals—a mode of speech indicating the foreign standpoint of Ezra. Unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city. Jerusalem was not the only site occupied by the people on their return. Many took up their abodes in the neighbouring towns and villages, such as Jericho, Tekoah, Gibeon, Mizpah, Zanoah, etc. (see Nehemiah 3:2-19 , and ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 2:1-2

The restoration of Israel. This is an important subject. Great portion of Scripture occupied with it. Events of the utmost moment connected with it. I. AS THE SCATTERING OF ISRAEL WAS GRADUAL , SO MAY HIS GATHERING BE . 1. His tribes became distributed into two kingdoms. 2 . The ten tribes were first carried captive by the Assyrians. This was in two detachments. 3. The Jews were afterwards carried away to Babylon. This was 130 years later,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 2:1-67

The list may be divided into ten parts:— 1. Enumeration of the leaders (verse 2). 2. Numbers of those who returned, arranged according to families (verses 3-19). 3. Numbers of those who returned, arranged according to localities (verses 20-35). 4. Numbers of the priests, arranged according to families (verses 36-39). 5. Numbers of the Levites, arranged similarly (verses 40-42). 6. Families of the Nethinim (verses 43-54). 7. Families of "Solomon's servants"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 2:1-67

The muster-roll. The last chapter gave us a catalogue of the sacred vessels returned. In that portion of the present chapter which concludes with the above verses we have a similar catalogue of the sacred people returned (see Lamentations 4:2 ). The first verse seems to show us where this catalogue was made out, viz; in the land of their exile, where Judaea was constantly spoken of as "the province" (comp. Ezra 5:8 ; Nehemiah 1:3 ; Nehemiah 11:3 ). If the nearly identical... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 2:1-67

Spiritual significances. What signifies to us, it may be asked, the exact number of the children of Parosh and Shephatiah ( Ezra 2:3 , Ezra 2:4 )? What does it signify to us that the heads of the returning families bore such and such a name? Why record this? What is— I. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS RECORD OF NAMES AND NUMBERS ? The pains which the children of Israel took to keep a strict record of their families in Persia may have been (a) an act of faith : it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 2:1-70

Men forsaking the worldly life. We regard the people returning from Babylon as typical of men going out of the worldly life into the life and work of the kingdom of God. Observe— I. THAT MEN FORSAKE THE WORLDLY LIFE FROM CHOICE . Cyrus compelled no man to leave the land of captivity. The Jews left Babylon in the exercise of their own free will. Israel as a nation went out of Egypt; but as individuals they come out of Babylon. Heaven compels no man to forsake sin. 1. ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezra 2:1

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 2:1-35

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 2:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 2:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 2:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 2:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 2:1-67

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 2:1-67

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 2:1-67

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 2:1-70

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezra 2:1

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