Bible Commentaries
Ezra 2

Verse 1

these are. This chapter is parallel with Nehemiah 7:69 . See the Structure, p. 617, and App-58 .

children = sons.

the Province: i.e. the Persian province of Judah. Compare Nehemiah 1:3 .

and Judah. Some codices read "and unto Judsea". Compare Nehemiah 7:6 .

one. Hebrew ' Ish . App-14 .

Verse 2

came with Zerubbabel. But not till after Nehemiah 1:1 Nehemiah 7:4 . See note on Nehemiah 1:2 , Nehemiah 1:3 . In Nehemiah 7:4 no houses built, but in Haggai 1:4 , houses built and yet Temple lying waste.

Jeshua. The great helper of Zerubbabel. Nehemiah. Compare Nehemiah 1:1 ; Nehemiah 10:1 . See note on "Shesh-bazzar", Ezra 1:8 .

Seraiah = Azariah (Nehemiah 7:7 ). Not Seraiah the high priest, put to death with Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:18-21 ).

Mordecai. He had been taken in Jehoiachin's deportation (Esther 2:5 , Esther 2:6 ).

the People of Israel. See note on Ezra 1:5 . Son 2:59 , Son 2:70 ; Song of Solomon 3:1 ; Song of Solomon 7:13 ; Son 9:1 ; Son 10:5 . Compare 1 Kings 12:17 .

Verse 25

Kirjath-arim. Now Khan 'Er'ma. Some codices, with Septuagint and Vulgate, read "Kirjath-jearim".

Verse 36

Jedaiah. The head of the ninth course (1 Chronicles 24:11 ).

Verse 37

Immer. The head of the sixteenth course (1 Chronicles 24:14 ).

Verse 38

Pashur. Compare Jeremiah 20:1 ; Jer 20:21 .Jeremiah 20:1; Jeremiah 20:1 and 1 Chronicles 9:12 . Probably belonging to the fifth course, as son of Malchijah. Compare 1 Chronicles 24:9 with Nehemiah 11:12 .

Verse 39

Harim. The third course. These four were subdivided into six each, making the twenty-four.

Verse 43

Nethinims = men given to God or His service. Temple servants. Compare Ezra 2:58 ; Ezra 7:7 , Ezra 7:24 ; Ezra 8:17 , Ezra 8:20 . Nehemiah 3:26 ; Nehemiah 10:28 ; Nehemiah 11:21 . 1 Chronicles 9:2 .

Verse 46

Shalmai. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint and Syriac, read "Selami".

Verse 59

of Israel. See note on Ezra 2:2 , and compare 1 Kings 12:17 .

Verse 62

as polluted, put. Revised Version = deemed polluted and put. Hebrew. gaal, to pollute; not ga'al, to redeem. Supply Ellipsis thus: "therefore were they [rejected] from the priesthood as polluted", So in Nehemiah 7:64 ; Nehemiah 13:29 . Isaiah 59:3 ; Isaiah 63:3 .Lamentations 4:14 .Zephaniah 3:1 . Mai. Ezra 1:7 .

Verse 63

Tirshatha = governor (Persian title). Here refers to Nehemiah, as in Nehemiah 8:9 ; Nehemiah 10:1 ; Nehemiah 12:26 . The Hebrew title is Pechah (Nehemiah 5:14 , Nehemiah 5:18 ; Nehemiah 12:26 ). Whence the Turkish Pashah. See note on Ezra 5:3 .

not eat of the most holy things: i.e. the remains of the meal offering, sin offering, and right shoulder of the peace offerings. Compare Leviticus 2:3 ; Leviticus 10:12-14 , Leviticus 10:16 , Leviticus 10:17 . Numbers 18:9 , Numbers 18:10 .

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

with = for. Urim and with Thummim. See note on Exodus 28:30 . Numbers 26:55 .

Verse 64

congregation = assembly, or muster.

forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore. This number (42,360) agrees with Nehemiah 7:66 . The two lists of names are not alike; but there is no "discrepancy". The two lists, while they agree in the numbers, and vary in names, yet have the totals identical. This shows the independence of the two accounts.

Numbered in Ezra 2:0 42,360

Named in Ezra 29,818

Named in Neh, not in Ezra 1,765 31,583

---------- ----------

Difference between names and numbers 10,777

Numbered in Nehemiah 7:0 42,360

Named in Nehemiah 31,089

Named in Neh, not in Ezra 494 31,583

---------- ----------

Difference between names and numbers 10,777

Verse 65

maids = handmaids.

Verse 68

some = a portion. Ezra mentions what one portion gave. Nehemiah ( Ezr 7:70 ) mentions what he and two other portions gave. Hence the numbers "perforce" cannot be the same, and there is no "discrepancy".

chief = heads.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God. App-4 .

Verse 69

treasure = treasury.

Verse 70

all Israel. See note on Ezra 2:2 , and 1 Kings 12:17 .