Study Desk

Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return^(a)

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah,^(b) the Lord moved the heart^(c) of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:

"This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: "‘The Lord , the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed^(d) me to build^(e) a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.

Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord , the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them.

And in any locality where survivors^(f) may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold,^(g) with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings^(h) for the temple of God⁽ⁱ⁾ in Jerusalem.'"^(j)

Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin,^(k) and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved^(l)—prepared to go up and build the house^(m) of the Lord in Jerusalem.

All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold,⁽ⁿ⁾ with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.

Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord , which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god.^[a](o)

Cyrus king of Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar^(p) the prince of Judah.

This was the inventory:

gold dishes	30
silver dishes	1,000
silver pans[b]	29 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 1:10 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
gold bowls	30
matching silver bowls	410
other articles	1,000 Ezra 1:11 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along with the exiles when they came up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

The List of the Exiles Who Returned^(a)

Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles,^(b) whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon^(c) had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own town,^(d)

in company with Zerubbabel,^(e) Joshua,^(f) Nehemiah, Seraiah,^(g) Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah): The list of the men of the people of Israel:

the descendants of Parosh(h)	2,172 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:4 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Shephatiah	372 Ezra 2:5 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Arah	775 Ezra 2:6 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab)	2,812 Ezra 2:7 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Elam	1,254 Ezra 2:8 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Zattu	945 Ezra 2:9 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Zakkai	760 Ezra 2:10 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Bani	642 Ezra 2:11 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Bebai	623 Ezra 2:12 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Azgad	1,222 Ezra 2:13 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Adonikam(i)	666 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:14 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Bigvai	2,056 Ezra 2:15 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Adin	454 Ezra 2:16 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Ater (through Hezekiah)	98 Ezra 2:17 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Bezai	323 Ezra 2:18 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Jorah	112 Ezra 2:19 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Hashum	223 Ezra 2:20 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Gibbar	95 Ezra 2:21 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

the men of Bethlehem(j)	123 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:22 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Netophah	56 Ezra 2:23 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Anathoth	128 Ezra 2:24 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Azmaveth	42 Ezra 2:25 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Kiriath Jearim,[a] Kephirah and Beeroth	743 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:26 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Ramah(k) and Geba	621 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:27 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Mikmash	122 Ezra 2:28 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Bethel and Ai(l)	223 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:29 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Nebo	52 Ezra 2:30 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Magbish	156 Ezra 2:31 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of the other Elam	1,254 Ezra 2:32 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Harim	320 Ezra 2:33 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Lod, Hadid and Ono	725 Ezra 2:34 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Jericho(m)	345 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:35 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Senaah	3,630 Ezra 2:36 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

The priests:

the descendants of Jedaiah(n) (through the family of Jeshua)	973 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:37 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Immer(o)	1,052 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:38 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Pashhur(p)	1,247 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:39 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]
of Harim(q)	1,017 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:40 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

The Levites:^(r)

the descendants of Jeshua(s) and Kadmiel (of the line of Hodaviah)

74 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:41 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

The musicians:^(t)

the descendants of Asaph

128 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:42 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

The gatekeepers^(u) of the temple:

the descendants of
Shallum, Ater, Talmon,
Akkub, Hatita and Shobai	139 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:43 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

The temple servants:^(v)

the descendants of

Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:44 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

Keros, Siaha, Padon, Ezra 2:45 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub, Ezra 2:46 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan, Ezra 2:47 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, Ezra 2:48 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, Ezra 2:49 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

Uzza, Paseah, Besai, Ezra 2:50 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim, Ezra 2:51 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, Ezra 2:52 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, Ezra 2:53 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

Barkos, Sisera, Temah, Ezra 2:54 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

Neziah and Hatipha Ezra 2:55 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

The descendants of the servants of Solomon:

the descendants of

Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, Ezra 2:56 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, Ezra 2:57 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

Shephatiah, Hattil,

Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Ami Ezra 2:58 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

The temple servants(w) and the descendants of the servants of Solomon

392 Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:59 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended^(x) from Israel:

The descendants of
Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda	652 Ezra 2:61 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

And from among the priests:

The descendants of

Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite(y) and was called by that name). Footnotes:   Cross References:   Ezra 2:62 [ Read Chapter | Listen to Audio | View Context | Multi-Translations | Study Tools ]

These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood^(z) as unclean.

The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food^(aa) until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.^(ab)

The whole company numbered 42,360,

besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 200 male and female singers.^(ac)

They had 736 horses,^(ad) 245 mules,

435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.

When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families^(ae) gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site.

According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics^[b] of gold, 5,000 minas^[c] of silver and 100 priestly garments.

The priests, the Levites, the musicians, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.^(af)