The Exiles Who Returned

These(A) now are the people of the province who came from those captive exiles King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon[a] had deported to Babylon.(B) They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. They came with Zerubbabel,(C) Jeshua,(D) Nehemiah, Seraiah,(E) Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.

The number of the Israelite men included[b]

Parosh’s descendants(F)2,172
Shephatiah’s descendants372
Arah’s descendants775
Pahath-moab’s descendants:
Jeshua’s and Joab’s descendants2,812
Elam’s descendants1,254
Zattu’s descendants945
Zaccai’s descendants760
10 Bani’s descendants642
11 Bebai’s descendants623
12 Azgad’s descendants1,222
13 Adonikam’s descendants(G)666
14 Bigvai’s descendants2,056
15 Adin’s descendants454
16 Ater’s descendants: of Hezekiah98
17 Bezai’s descendants323
18 Jorah’s descendants112
19 Hashum’s descendants223
20 Gibbar’s descendants95
21 Bethlehem’s(H) people123
22 Netophah’s men56
23 Anathoth’s men128
24 Azmaveth’s people42
25 Kiriatharim’s, Chephirah’s, and Beeroth’s people743
26 Ramah’s(I) and Geba’s people621
27 Michmas’s men122
28 Bethel’s and Ai’s(J) men223
29 Nebo’s people52
30 Magbish’s people156
31 the other Elam’s people1,254
32 Harim’s people320
33 Lod’s, Hadid’s, and Ono’s people725
34 Jericho’s(K) people345
35 Senaah’s people3,630

36 The priests included

Jedaiah’s descendants of the house of Jeshua973
37 Immer’s descendants1,052
38 Pashhur’s descendants1,247
39 and Harim’s descendants1,017

40 The Levites included

Jeshua’s and Kadmiel’s descendants
from Hodaviah’s descendants74

41 The singers included

Asaph’s(L) descendants128

42 The gatekeepers’(M) descendants included

Shallum’s descendants, Ater’s descendants,
Talmon’s descendants, Akkub’s descendants,
Hatita’s descendants, Shobai’s descendants, in all139

43 The temple servants(N) included

Ziha’s descendants, Hasupha’s descendants,

Tabbaoth’s descendants, 44 Keros’s descendants,

Siaha’s descendants, Padon’s descendants,

45 Lebanah’s descendants, Hagabah’s descendants,

Akkub’s descendants, 46 Hagab’s descendants,

Shalmai’s[c] descendants, Hanan’s descendants,

47 Giddel’s descendants, Gahar’s descendants,

Reaiah’s descendants, 48 Rezin’s descendants,

Nekoda’s descendants, Gazzam’s descendants,

49 Uzza’s descendants, Paseah’s descendants,

Besai’s descendants, 50 Asnah’s descendants,

Meunim’s[d] descendants, Nephusim’s[e] descendants,

51 Bakbuk’s descendants, Hakupha’s descendants,

Harhur’s descendants, 52 Bazluth’s descendants,

Mehida’s descendants, Harsha’s descendants,

53 Barkos’s descendants, Sisera’s descendants,

Temah’s descendants, 54 Neziah’s descendants,

and Hatipha’s descendants.

55 The descendants of Solomon’s servants(O) included

Sotai’s descendants, Hassophereth’s descendants,
Peruda’s descendants, 56 Jaalah’s descendants,
Darkon’s descendants, Giddel’s descendants,
57 Shephatiah’s descendants, Hattil’s descendants,
Pochereth-hazzebaim’s descendants, and Ami’s descendants.
58 All the temple servants
and the descendants of Solomon’s servants392.

59 The following are those who came from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer but were unable to prove that their ancestral families[f] and their lineage were Israelite:

60 Delaiah’s descendants,
Tobiah’s descendants,
Nekoda’s descendants652

61 and from the descendants of the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, the descendants of Barzillai—who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and who bore their name. 62 These searched for their entries in the genealogical records, but they could not be found, so they were disqualified from the priesthood. 63 The governor(P) ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest who could consult the Urim and Thummim.(Q)

64 The whole combined assembly numbered42,360
65 not including their 7,337 male and female servants,
and their 200 male and female singers.(R)
66 They had 736 horses, 245 mules,
67 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.
Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2:1 Nebuchadnezzar reigned 605–562 BC
  2. 2:2 Lit the men of the people of Israel
  3. 2:46 Alt Hb tradition reads Shamlai’s
  4. 2:50 Alt Hb tradition reads Meinim’s
  5. 2:50 Alt Hb tradition reads Nephisim’s
  6. 2:59 Lit that the house of their fathers

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
of Shephatiah372
of Arah775
of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab)2,812
of Elam1,254
of Zattu945
of Zakkai760
10 of Bani642
11 of Bebai623
12 of Azgad1,222
13 of Adonikam(I)666
14 of Bigvai2,056
15 of Adin454
16 of Ater (through Hezekiah)98
17 of Bezai323
18 of Jorah112
19 of Hashum223
20 of Gibbar95
21 the men of Bethlehem(J)123
22 of Netophah56
23 of Anathoth128
24 of Azmaveth42
25 of Kiriath Jearim,[a] Kephirah and Beeroth743
26 of Ramah(K) and Geba621
27 of Mikmash122
28 of Bethel and Ai(L)223
29 of Nebo52
30 of Magbish156
31 of the other Elam1,254
32 of Harim320
33 of Lod, Hadid and Ono725
34 of Jericho(M)345
35 of Senaah3,630

36 The priests:

the descendants of Jedaiah(N) (through the family of Jeshua)973
37 of Immer(O)1,052
38 of Pashhur(P)1,247
39 of Harim(Q)1,017

40 The Levites:(R)

the descendants of Jeshua(S) and Kadmiel (of the line of Hodaviah)74

41 The musicians:(T)

the descendants of Asaph128

42 The gatekeepers(U) of the temple:

the descendants of
Shallum, Ater, Talmon,
Akkub, Hatita and Shobai139

43 The temple servants:(V)

the descendants of
Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
44 Keros, Siaha, Padon,
45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,
46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,
47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,
48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,
49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai,
50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim,
51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
54 Neziah and Hatipha

55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:

the descendants of
Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,
56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,
57 Shephatiah, Hattil,
Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Ami
58 The temple servants(W) and the descendants of the servants of Solomon392

59 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:

60 The descendants of
Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda652

61 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).

62 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood(Z) as unclean. 63 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)

64 The whole company numbered 42,360, 65 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 200 male and female singers.(AC) 66 They had 736 horses,(AD) 245 mules, 67 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 2:25 See Septuagint (see also Neh. 7:29); Hebrew Kiriath Arim.

Returning to the Lord

30 “When all these things happen to you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you come to your senses while you are in all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you,(A) and you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and all your soul(B) by doing[a] everything I am commanding you today, then he will restore your fortunes,[b](C) have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.(D) Even if your exiles are at the farthest horizon, he will gather you and bring you back from there.(E) The Lord your God will bring you into the land your ancestors possessed, and you will take possession of it.(F) He will cause you to prosper and multiply you more than he did your ancestors.(G) The Lord your God will circumcise your heart(H) and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love him with all your heart and all your soul so that you will live.(I) The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. Then you will again obey him and follow all his commands I am commanding you today. The Lord your God will make you prosper abundantly in all the work of your hands,(J) your offspring,[c] the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your land. Indeed, the Lord will again delight in your prosperity, as he delighted in that of your ancestors, 10 when you obey the Lord your God by keeping his commands and statutes that are written in this book of the law and return to him with all your heart and all your soul.

Choose Life

11 “This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach. 12 It is not in heaven so that you have to ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ 13 And it is not across the sea so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ 14 But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it.(K) 15 See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity.(L) 16 For[d] I am commanding you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live[e] and multiply, and the Lord your God may bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you do not listen and you are led astray to bow in worship to other gods and serve them, 18 I tell you today that you will certainly perish and will not prolong your days in the land you are entering to possess across the Jordan. 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life(M) so that you and your descendants may live, 20 love the Lord your God, obey him, and remain faithful[f] to him. For he is your life, and he will prolong your days as you live in the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors(N) Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Footnotes

  1. 30:2 Lit soul according to
  2. 30:3 Or will end your captivity
  3. 30:9 Lit hands in the fruit of your womb
  4. 30:16 LXX reads If you obey the commands of the Lord your God that
  5. 30:16 LXX reads ordinances, then you will live
  6. 30:20 Lit and hold on

Prosperity After Turning to the Lord

30 When all these blessings and curses(A) I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations,(B) and when you and your children return(C) to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart(D) and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes[a](E) and have compassion(F) on you and gather(G) you again from all the nations where he scattered(H) you.(I) Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens,(J) from there the Lord your God will gather(K) you and bring you back.(L) He will bring(M) you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous(N) than your ancestors. The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants,(O) so that you may love(P) him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. The Lord your God will put all these curses(Q) on your enemies who hate and persecute you.(R) You will again obey the Lord and follow all his commands I am giving you today. Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land.(S) The Lord will again delight(T) in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors, 10 if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law(U) and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.(V)

The Offer of Life or Death

11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.(W) 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven(X) to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”(Y) 13 Nor is it beyond the sea,(Z) so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”(AA) 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.(AB)

15 See, I set before you today life(AC) and prosperity,(AD) death(AE) and destruction.(AF) 16 For I command you today to love(AG) the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live(AH) and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed.(AI) You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you(AJ) that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.(AK) Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love(AL) the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life,(AM) and he will give(AN) you many years in the land(AO) he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 30:3 Or will bring you back from captivity

I will whistle(A) and gather them
because I have redeemed(B) them;
they will be as numerous as they once were.
Though I sow(C) them among the nations,
they will remember(D) me in the distant lands;
they and their children will live and return.

Read full chapter

I will signal(A) for them
    and gather them in.
Surely I will redeem them;
    they will be as numerous(B) as before.
Though I scatter them among the peoples,
    yet in distant lands they will remember me.(C)
They and their children will survive,
    and they will return.

Read full chapter