Ezra Chapter 1
Ezra 1:1
1Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,(KJV)
2Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.(KJV)
3Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.(KJV)
4And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.(KJV)
In the 1st year of Cyrus/Koresh, king of Persia, decrees that the captive Hebrews can go build a temple in Jerusalem/Yerushalayim. This fulfills a prophechy made in Isaiah 44:28.
Ezra Chapter 2
Ezra Chapter 2
The people who returned.
This chapter lists the Hebrews that left Babylon to go build a temple in Jerusalem/Yerushalayim.
Ezra 2:3-42
| A running count of the number that returned | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Verse # | Tribe | Count | Total |
| 3 | Parosh | 2,172 | 2,172 |
| 4 | Shephatiah | 372 | 2,544 |
| 5 | Arah | 775 | 3,319 |
| 6 | Pahathmoab | 2,182 | 6,131 |
| 7 | Elam | 1,254 | 7,385 |
| 8 | Zattu | 945 | 8.330 |
| 9 | Zaccai | 760 | 9,090 |
| 10 | Bani | 642 | 9,732 |
| 11 | Bebai | 623 | 10,355 |
| 12 | Azgad | 1,222 | 11,577 |
| 13 | Adonikam | 626 | 12,203 |
| 14 | Bigvai | 2,056 | 14,259 |
| 15 | Adin | 454 | 14,713 |
| 16 | Ater of Hezekiah | 98 | 14,811 |
| 17 | Bezai | 323 | 15,134 |
| 18 | Jorah | 112 | 15,246 |
| 19 | Hashum | 223 | 14,469 |
| 20 | Gibbar | 95 | 15,564 |
| 21 | Bethlehem | 123 | 15,687 |
| 22 | Netophah | 56 | 15,743 |
| 23 | Anathoth | 128 | 15,871 |
| 24 | Azmaveth | 42 | 15,913 |
| 25 | Kirjatharim | 743 | 16,656 |
| 26 | Ramah & Gaba | 621 | 17,277 |
| 27 | Michmas | 122 | 17,399 |
| 28 | Bethel & Ai | 123 | 17,522 |
| 29 | Nebo | 52 | 17,574 |
| 30 | Magbish | 156 | 17,730 |
| 31 | Elam | 1,254 | 18,984 |
| 32 | Harim | 320 | 19,304 |
| 33 | Lod, Hadd, & Ono | 725 | 20,029 |
| 34 | Jericho | 345 | 20,374 |
| 35 | Senaah | 3,630 | 24,004 |
| 36 | Priests of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua | 973 | 24,977 |
| 37 | Immer | 1,052 | 26,029 |
| 38 | Pashur | 1,247 | 27,276 |
| 39 | Harim | 1,017 | 28,293 |
| 40 | The Levites, Jeshua & Kadmiel & Hodaviah | 74 | 28,367 |
| 41 | The singers, the children of Asaph | 128 | 28,495 |
| 42 | The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai | 139 | 28,634 |
| 58 | Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants | 392 | 29,026 |
Ezra 2:36-39
The returning Levitical priesthood is detailed and counted.
Ezra 2:42
42The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine. (KJV)
Adding from the start of the count in verse three (3) the total count at this point in the chapter is 28,634.
Ezra 2:43-58
The Nethinims are named in these verses.
Adding from the start of the count in verse three (3) the total count at this point in the chapter is 29,026.
Ezra 2:59-60
59And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel: (KJV)
There were people who could not prove their lineage.
Adding from the start of the count in verse three (3) the total count at this point in the chapter is 29,678.
Ezra 2:64
64The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, (KJV)
The book of Ezra lists the total at this point as 42,360 which would seem to indicate that the number of people who could not prove their lineage was 12,682. This would mean that almost thirty percent (30% (29.9%)) could not prove their lineage.
Ezra 2:65
65Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women. (KJV)
This is very interesting in that this verse lists 7,337 servants and maids along with 200 singers for a total of 7,537 people. This would seem to indicate that almost eighteen percent (18% (17.79%)) of the Hebrews had servants. That would be almost one (1) servant for every five (5) Hebrews! Interesting culture contrast here. Though the Hebrews like to claim they were oppressed, they still had servants and singers within their population. I imagine this would be possible given the concept of Suzerainty.
Ezra Chapter 3
Ezra 3:1
1And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. (KJV)
This chapter was set in the 7th moon.
This would be for the feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur and Sakkut.
Ezra 3:2
2Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. (KJV)
They built an alter.
Jeshua is the Aramaic spelling for Joshua or YAHUSHUA.
Why is Jeshua's name spelled different in the book of Zechariah?
Ezra 3:3
3And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening. (KJV)
What does this verse mean?
Ezra 3:4
They kept the feast of Tabernacles.
Ezra 3:8
8Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD. (KJV)
In the 2nd year in the 2nd month, they began work on the temple.
Jeshua is the Aramaic spelling for Joshua or YAHUSHUA.
Why is Jeshua's name spelled different in the book of Zechariah?
2nd year, 2nd month.
Levites 20 years old and older.
Ezra 3:9
9Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites. (KJV)
Jeshua is the Aramaic spelling for Joshua or YAHUSHUA.
Why is Jeshua's name spelled different in the book of Zechariah?
Ezra Chapter 4
Ezra 4
The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin come against them building the temple.
"...He then opened his Bible to the 4th chapter of Ezra where he read about a letter sent by the enemies of Israel to the king of Persia. In the letter they demanded that the king stop the Jews from building the Jerusalem Temple, the place where God caused his name to dwell forever (1 Kings 9:3; 2 Kings 21:7). What's unusual about this letter is that it's one of only a handful of passages in the Tanakh written in Aramaic. At the time Aramaic was the international language (like English today) and the Book of Ezra quotes the Aramaic Letter word for word in its original language...."
NOTE: From a letter written by Nehemiah Gordon
Ezra 4:1
"1Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;" (KJV)
Who were these people, "the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin?
Ezra Chapter 5
Ezra 5
They began to rebuild the temple again.
Ezra Chapter 6
Ezra 6:1-14
King Darius/Dareyawesh finds the scroll that King Cyrus/Koresh had written authorizing the building of the temple.
King Darius/Dareyawesh orders the adversaries of the Jews to allow them to build the temple.
Ezra 6:12
"And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed." (KJV)
YHWH has placed HIS name in the temple at Jerusalem.
Ezra 6:14-22
The Jews complete the temple construction on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king and begin to practice the temple worship services again.
Ezra Chapter 7
Ezra 7:1-5
The lineage of Ezra is detailed.
Ezra 7:11
"Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel." (KJV)
King Artaxerxes gives Ezra a letter freeing him to return to Jerusalem/Yerushalayim.
Ezra 7:15
"And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem," (KJV)
YHWH's habitation is in Jerusalem/Yerushalayim.
Ezra 7:24
"Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them." (KJV)
No tolls or tributes impossed on the temple support staff.
Ezra 7:27
"Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:" (KJV)
YHWH's house is in Jerusalem/Yerushalayim.
Ezra Chapter 8
Ezra Chapter 8
People returning with Ezra
The return to Jerusalem
| Verse | Count |
|---|---|
| Ezra 8:3 | 150 |
| Ezra 8:4 | 200 |
| Ezra 8:5 | 300 |
| Ezra 8:6 | 50 |
| Ezra 8:7 | 70 |
| Ezra 8:8 | 80 |
| Ezra 8:9 | 218 |
| Ezra 8:10 | 160 |
| Ezra 8:11 | 28 |
| Ezra 8:12 | 110 |
| Ezra 8:13 | 60 |
| Ezra 8:14 | 70 |
Ezra 8:15
15And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.(KJV)
Three (3) days.
Ezra Chapter 9
Ezra 9:1
"1Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites." (KJV)
The people did not separate themselves from the pagans and their customs.
Ezra 9:2
"2For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass." (KJV)
The holy seed.
The princes and chiefs (i.e. Leaders) were the biggest offenders.
Ezra 9:8
"8And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage." (KJV)
What does the phrase 'and to give us a nail in his holy place,' mean?
Ezra Chapter 10
Ezra 10:8
'8And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.' (KJV)
Why three (3) days? Was everything in Israel considered to be within three (3) days travel.
Ezra 10:9
'9Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.' (KJV)
09/20/xx
Ezra 10:16
'16And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.' (KJV)
10/01/xx
Ezra 10:17
'17And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.' (KJV)
01/01/xx
General Notes On The Book Of Ezra:
The book of Ezra/Ezrah is rumored to have been written in Aramaic.
Ezra 2:65 seems to indicate that the Hebrews were in a suzerain relationship with the Babylonians. (See Covenants)
Comments on the Book of Ezra
Reference Links On The Book Of Ezra:
Nethinim:
- Nethinim (HTTPS://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG) (2015/0314)
- Nethinim (WWW.JEWISHENCYCLOPEDIA.COM) (2015/0314)
- Nethinim (HTTP://BIBLEHUB.COM) (2015/0314)
- Nethinim (WWW.CHRISTNOTES.ORG) (2015/0314)
- Nethinim (HTTP://CLASSIC.NET.BIBLE.ORG) (2015/0314)
- Nethinim (WWW.BIBLICALTRAINING.ORG) (2015/0314)
- Nethinim (WWW.CHRISTIANANSWERS.NET) (2015/0314)
- Nethinim (WWW.THEMYSTICA.ORG) (2015/0314)
- Nethinims in the Bible (WWW.KINGJAMESBIBLEONLINE.ORG) (2015/0314)
- Nethinim (WWW.STUDYLIGHT.ORG) (2015/0314)