Esdras 2
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Esdras 2:1-2
2:1 "Now these are the people of the province" The same list in Neh. 7:7 has twelve names listed (possibly symbolic of the twelve tribes returning). It was very important for the Jews who returned from the Exile to be able to prove their lineage. Their Jewish lineage involved inheritance rights in Judah ("each to his city") as well as covenant renewal promises from YHWH. 2:2 "Zerubbabel" This name (BDB 279) means "begotten in Babel" or "offspring of Babel" from the root, "sowing" (BDB 283), or NIDOTTE, "shoot of Babylon," Ezra 2:4, p. 1312. Apparently this man was a grandson of Jehoachin, the exiled king of Judah (cf. 1 Chr. 3:19). He led the second wave of returnees to Judah. ▣ "Jeshua" This name (BDB 221) means "YHWH is salvation," "YHWH brings salvation" or "salvation is of YHWH." The names Jeshua (Aramaic; same as Jesus, cf. Matt. 1:21), Joshua (Hebrew, cf. Hag. 1:21). He is also a relative of Ezra (i.e., the tribe of Levi, family of priests, cf. Ezra 7:1-5). ▣ "Nehemiah" This is not the cup bearer of Artaxerxes who later built the wall of Jerusalem. This man was a leader who returned with Zerubbabel in the second wave of returnees. The name (BDB 637) means "YHWH(iah) is comfort." ▣ "Seraiah" This was the name of the High Priest in Jerusalem who was killed when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple (cf. 2 Kgs. 25:18; Jer. 52:24). The person listed here is a Levite or priest who returned with Zerubbabel. The name (BDB 976) means "YHWH(iah) persisteth." Robert Young's Concordance, p. 861, and The Expositor's Bible Commentary, p. 606, has the meaning as "YHWH is Prince." The parallel in Neh. 7:7 has Azariah. ▣ "Reelaiah" This leader appears only here, as is true of the vast majority of these names. He was born in exile. His name means "YHWH(iah) causes trembling or reeling" (BDB 947). The parallel in Neh. 7:7 has Raamiah. ▣ "Mordecai" This is not Esther's relative during Xerxes I's reign. This was another leader who returned with Zerubbabel from Babylon. His name's meaning is uncertain, but seems to be from the god Marduk (BDB 598). ▣ "Bilshan" This returning leader's name may be from the root "to search" (Young's Concordance) or "to inquire" (BDB 119). Nothing else is known of him. ▣ "Mispar" This returning leader is called Mispereth in Neh. 7:7. The name is related to the Hebrew term "to write" and may mean "scribe" (BDB 709, Young's Concordance, p. 664). ▣ "Bigvai" This returning leader is also mentioned in Ezra 2:14; 8:14 and Neh. 7:7,19; 10:16. His family was active in post-exilic Jerusalem. The rabbis think he was governor of the province of Judah from 410-407 B.C., but this would make him far too old to have returned from Babylon in 538 B.C. His name comes from the Sanskrit root "to be happy" (BDB 94). ▣ "Rehum" The returning leader is called Nehum in Neh. 7:7. The same name is (1) that of a Levite who helped organize the repair of Jerusalem's walls in Neh. 3:17 and (2) listed as a priest in Neh. 12:3. The name seems to be related to the Hebrew term for "soft," "gentle," or "compassionate" (BDB 933). ▣ "Baanah" This returning leader forms the conclusion of a list of twelve in Nehemiah 7, but only eleven in Ezra 2. His name may mean "son of grief" or "son of distress" (BDB 128). A similar name is found in Neh. 3:4 of a man who helped repair the Fish Gate of Jerusalem. It also appears later in Neh. 10:27.
Esdras 2:2-35
▣ "the number of the men of the people of Israel" This listing is similar to Nehemiah 7. in Ezra 2:3-20 we deal with the genealogy of the returnees in Ezra 2:21-35 we deal with the genealogy of the people in relation to their geographical place of family origin before the Exile in Ezra 2:36-58 we deal with the personnel of the temple in Ezra 2:59-63 we deal with those who cannot serve as priests because they cannot document their genealogy There are several differences between this list and the list in Neh. 7, but also overwhelming similarity. Ezra and Nehemiah seem to have both worked from official lists, whether composed by Persian officials or Jewish scribes is uncertain, but apparently two distinct forms of the same list existed. Possibly later scribes updated either Ezra's or Nehemiah's copy. It is also possible that the differences reflect scribal errors in copying the lists over time (NET Bible, p. 712). 2:6 "Pahath-moab" This name can mean governor of Moab (Young's Concordance) pit-Moab (BDB 809, "pit" can refer to calamity, cf. Jer. 48:43-44; Isa. 24:17), referring to exile Both the Anchor Bible (vol. 14, pp. 12-13) and The Expositor's Bible Commentary (vol. 4, p. 608) state that it refers to transjordan Jews exiled by Tiglath-pilser III. The Anchor Bible cites 1 Chr. 5:26, while The Expositor's Bible Commentary cites 1 Chr. 5:3-8. 2:20 "Gibar" In Nehemiah 7:25 we have the word "Gibeon," which seems to begin a list of cities (cf. Ezra 2:21-35). Gibeon was a Levitical city in the tribal allocation of Benjamin (cf. Jos. 18:25). 2:22 "Netophah" This is a city south of Jerusalem near Bethlehem, apparently settled by Levites (cf. 1 Chr. 9:14,16). Men from this village are mentioned several times in the OT (cf. 2 Sam. 23:28,29; 2 Kgs. 25:23; 1 Chr. 2:54; 9:16; 11:30; 27:13,15; Jer. 40:8; Neh. 7:26). 2:23 Other Benjaminite cities in this list are Anathoth (a Levitical city, also Jeremiah's home town), Ezra 2:23 Ramah (cf. Neh. 7:30), Ezra 2:26 Geba (a Levitical city also spelled Gabe, cf. Jos. 21:17), Ezra 2:26 Michmas (the name means "place of Chemosh"), Ezra 2:27 Bethel, Ezra 2:28 Ai (close to Bethel), Ezra 2:28 Jericho, Ezra 2:34 2:25 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, NJB, TEV, JPSOA, REB "Kiriath-arim" "Kiriathirim" "Koriath-narin" "Kirjatharim" In Neh. 7:29 it is listed as "Kiriath Jearim," which is a city northwest of Jerusalem.
Esdras 2:36-39
2:36 "The priest" Ezra 2:36-58 lists a series of temple workers mentioned in order of their importance: priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, the temple servants, and special servants. ▣ Three of the families of priests listed go back to the names of priests in David's day (cf. 1 Chronicles 24). Jedaiah (family of Joshua, the first post-exilic High Priest, cf. 1 Chr. 9:10; Neh. 7:39) Immer (cf. Jer. 20:1) Harim (cf. Ezra 10:21; Neh. 3:11) David had twenty-four groups of priests (cf. 1 Chr. 24:7-19), but only four of them returned. Pashhur is mentioned in 1 Chr. 9:12; Ezek. 2:38; 10:22; Neh. 7:41; 11:12. 2:38 "Pashhur" He is of the line of Zadok from Jedaiah (cf. 1 Chr. 9:10-12).
Esdras 2:40-42
2:40 "The Levites" It needs to be remembered that all priests are Levites, but not all Levites are priests. Only the descendants of the family of Aaron performed the sacrificial chores. The other Levites were to be helpers of the priests and teachers of the Law. Notice how few Levites (74) returned in comparison to priests (973). Possibly fewer of them were exiled or temple service for them was too physical and strenuous. 2:41 "The singers: the sons of Asaph" From the time of David, we know that there were three groups of Levitical singers: Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun (cf. 1 Chr. 25:1-8). We do not know what happened to the other two groups. 2:42 "the gatekeepers" These specialized temple workers are mentioned in 1 Chr. 9:17-27; 26:1-19. Their duties are delineated in 1 Chr. 9:26-27. Sometimes they are called Levites (cf. 1 Chr. 9:26; 2 Chr. 23:4; Neh. 12:25), but other times they seem to be listed as a separate, yet related, group (cf. 2 Chr. 8:14; 35:15; Neh. 12:25). ▣ "Shallum" This chief of the gatekeepers (cf. 1 Chr. 9:17) is also called Meshelemiah, i Chr. 9:21 Shelemiah, 1 Chr. 26:14 Meshullam, Neh. 12:25 This variety shows they had several names or nicknames the list is so easily corrupted in copying often titles or occupations become names
Esdras 2:43-54
2:43,58,70 "the temple servants" Nethinim means, "the given ones" (BDB 682). This term was used for the Levites being given by God to serve the temple to help the priests in Num. 3:9; 8:16; 16:9, but here this group apparently were descendants of Canaanite slaves who were used for service in the temple. This is because of the unusual non-Jewish names. This use of captured people was not uncommon in David's day (cf. 2 Sam. 15:18-22). The Gibeonites, who tricked Joshua during the conquest, fall into the same kind of category (cf. Jos. 9:27). It also appears that Ezekiel speaks to this group in Ezek. 44:6-31. 2:46 NASB, NKJV, Peshitta "Shalmai" NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB "Shamlai" "Salmai" "Selami" The MT is followed by the NRSV. The same name (BDB 969) occurs in Neh. 7:48. The Masoretic scholars suggested it be read as "Salmai" (Qere, JPSOA).
Esdras 2:55-57
2:55 "The sons of Solomon's servants" As David used captured Canaanaites as temple slaves (cf. 2 Sam. 15:18-22), so too, Solomon used Canaanites as forced labor (cf. 1 Kgs. 9:20-21). ▣ "Hassophereth" This may be a proper name based on the root, "to write" (BDB 708) or a guild of scribes (cf. 1 Chr. 2:55, "the family of scribes"). The form is FEMININE, but used with MASCULINE words (cf. Pochereth-hazzebaim of Ezra 2:57); therefore, it is like Qoheleth of Ecclesiastes, which is a title or office and not a proper name.
Esdras 2:58
2:58 Solomon's servants are also mentioned in Neh. 7:60; 11:3, but nowhere else in the OT.
Esdras 2:59-63
2:59 "Tel-melah" The term "tel" meant a hill of ruins on which another city was built. The name means "hill of salt" (BDB 1068), which could denote a cultural way of cursing a defeated city ("sowed it with salt" so that nothing would grow, cf. Jdg. 9:45) or a geographical place where salt is located (e.g., "Salt Sea"). This may refer to Thelma of Ptolemy (cf. The Pulpit Commentary, vol. 7, p. 18) located in lower Babylon near the Persian Gulf. ▣ "Tel-harsha" This is another city in Babylon. 2:61 "the sons of Hakkoz" It is possible when one compares Ezra 8:33 ("Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest") with Neh. 3:4 ("Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz," also Ezra 2:21) that this man's claims to priestly lineage may have been substantiated. ▣ "Barzillai the Gileadite" This clan leader helped King David as he fled from Absalom (cf. 2 Sam. 17:27-29). David later tried to reward him for his service and friendship (cf. 2 Sam. 19:31-39). 2:63 "governor" This Persian term, Tirshatha (BDB 1077) may mean "the feared," an idiom for government office. It is used of Nehemiah in Neh. 8:9 and 10:1. Sheshbazzar is called "governor" by a different name, Peha, which is an Assyrian term (BDB 1108) used in Ezra 5:3,6,14; 6:6,7,13; Dan. 3:2,3,27; 6:8; and Haggai 1:1,14; 2:2,21. Both refer to the same office unless Sheshbazzar was subject to the satrap of Samaria. NASB, NKJV, JPSOA, Peshitta "most holy things" "most holy food" "the food offered to God" "the consecrated food" "most sacred food" "the holy of holies" This refers to the priests' part of sacrifices (cf. Leviticus 7). ▣ "Urim and Thummim" This refers to the special, but unknown, means of knowing God's will. It was kept in the breastpiece of the High Priest (cf. Exod. 28:30; Lev. 8:8; Num. 27:21; Deut. 33:8; 1 Sam. 28:6). They apparently had been lost or were unused for some reason (cf. Exod. 28:30; Num. 27:21). For a good brief discussion of the current theories as to what they were and how they worked, see The New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis (NIDOTTE), vol. 1, pp. 329-330. Special Topic: Urim and Thummim
Esdras 2:64-67
2:64 "The whole assembly numbered 42,360" This total is the same in Ezra 2, Neh. 7, and the apocryphal book of I Esdras. However, when you add the number of individuals in the different lists, they are different: Ezra, 29,818; Nehemiah, 31,089 and I Esdras, 33,950. 2:65 "200 singing men and women" This refers to secular musical entertainment (cf. 2 Sam. 19:35; Eccl. 2:8; Ezek. 26:13). 2:66-67 This list of domestic animals may relate to Ezra 1:6 (cf. Ezra 2:68-69).
Esdras 2:68-69
2:68 "offered willingly" See note at Ezra 1:6. 2:69 "According to their ability they gave" This becomes a Pauline principle (cf. Acts 11:29; 1 Cor. 16:12; 2 Cor. 8:3,11). The heart, not a percentage, is the key in giving. ▣ "drachmas" This is a weight of valuable metal serving as a set unit. Here it is spelled daric (alternative form is in 1 Chr. 29:7), later it will become drachma (Greek word). It is a loan word from a Semitic root earlier than Hebrew. Special Topic: Ancient Near East Weights and Volumes ▣ "minas" The term (BDB 584) means "a part" or "to count." This weight of valuable metal took 50 (cf. Ezek. 45:12) or 60 to make a shekel.
Esdras 2:70
2:70 This three-fold division of the people (priests, Levites, the people [other tribes]) is consistent throughout the book. The other three groups (singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants) designate both Jews and foreign servants who serve the cultus.