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Ezra 2-3
New English Translation

The Names of the Returning Exiles

2 [a] These are the people[b] of the province who were going up,[c] from the captives of the exile whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile in Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city. 2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.

The number of Israelites[d] was as follows:[e]

3 the descendants[f] of Parosh: 2,172;

4 the descendants of Shephatiah: 372;

5 the descendants of Arah: 775;

6 the descendants of Pahath Moab (from the line[g] of Jeshua and[h] Joab): 2,812;

7 the descendants of Elam: 1,254;

8 the descendants of Zattu: 945;

9 the descendants of Zaccai: 760;

10 the descendants of Bani: 642;

11 the descendants of Bebai: 623;

12 the descendants of Azgad: 1,222;

13 the descendants of Adonikam: 666;

14 the descendants of Bigvai: 2,056;

15 the descendants of Adin: 454;

16 the descendants of Ater (through[i] Hezekiah): 98;

17 the descendants of Bezai: 323;

18 the descendants of Jorah: 112;

19 the descendants of Hashum: 223;

20 the descendants of Gibbar: 95.

21 The men[j] of Bethlehem: 123;

22 the men of Netophah: 56;

23 the men of Anathoth: 128;

24 the men of the family[k] of Azmaveth: 42;

25 the men of Kiriath Jearim,[l] Kephirah and Beeroth: 743;

26 the men of Ramah and Geba: 621;

27 the men of Micmash: 122;

28 the men of Bethel and Ai: 223;

29 the descendants of Nebo: 52;

30 the descendants of Magbish: 156;

31 the descendants of the other Elam: 1,254;

32 the descendants of Harim: 320;

33 the men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: 725;

34 the men of Jericho: 345;

35 the descendants of Senaah: 3,630.

36 The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family[m] of Jeshua): 973;

37 the descendants of Immer: 1,052;

38 the descendants of Pashhur: 1,247;

39 the descendants of Harim: 1,017.

40 The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through the line of Hodaviah): 74.

41 The singers: the descendants of Asaph: 128.

42 The gatekeepers:[n] the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, and the descendants of Shobai: 139.

43 The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth, 44 the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Siaha, the descendants of Padon, 45 the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Akkub, 46 the descendants of Hagab, the descendants of Shalmai,[o] the descendants of Hanan, 47 the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar, the descendants of Reaiah, 48 the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda, the descendants of Gazzam, 49 the descendants of Uzzah, the descendants of Paseah, the descendants of Besai, 50 the descendants of Asnah, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephussim, 51 the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur, 52 the descendants of Bazluth, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha, 53 the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah, 54 the descendants of Neziah, and the descendants of Hatipha.

55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Hassophereth, the descendants of Peruda, 56 the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel, 57 the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pokereth Hazzebaim, and the descendants of Ami.

58 All the temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon: 392.

59 These are the ones that came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer (although they were unable to certify[p] their family connection[q] or their ancestry,[r] as to whether they really were from Israel):

60 the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda: 652.

61 And from among[s] the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that[t] name). 62 They[u] searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but did not find them.[v] They were therefore excluded[w] from the priesthood. 63 The governor[x] instructed them not to eat any of the sacred food until there was a priest who could consult[y] the Urim and Thummim.[z]

64 The entire group numbered 42,360,[aa] 65 not counting[ab] their male and female servants, who numbered 7,337. They also had 200 male and female singers 66 and 736 horses, 245 mules, 67 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. 68 When they came to the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders[ac] offered voluntary offerings for the temple of God in order to rebuild[ad] it on its site. 69 As they were able,[ae] they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas[af] of gold, 5,000 minas[ag] of silver, and 100 priestly robes.[ah]

70 The priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel lived in their towns.

The Altar is Rebuilt

3 When the seventh month arrived and the Israelites[ai] were living[aj] in their[ak] towns, the people assembled[al] in[am] Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak[an] and his priestly colleagues[ao] and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his colleagues[ap] started to build[aq] the altar of the God of Israel so they could offer burnt offerings on it as required by[ar] the law of Moses the man of God. 3 They established the altar on its foundations, even though they were in terror of the local peoples,[as] and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and the evening offerings. 4 They observed the Feast of Shelters[at] as required[au] and offered the proper number of[av] daily burnt offerings according to the requirement for each day. 5 Afterward they offered the continual burnt offerings and those for the new moons and those for all the holy assemblies of the Lord and all those that were being voluntarily offered to the Lord. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. However, the Lord’s temple was not at that time established.[aw]

Preparations for Rebuilding the Temple

7 So they provided money[ax] for the masons and carpenters, and food, beverages, and olive oil for the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar timber from Lebanon to the seaport[ay] at Joppa, in accord with the edict of King Cyrus of Persia. 8 In the second year after they had come to the temple of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak initiated the work,[az] along with the rest of their associates,[ba] the priests and the Levites, and all those who were coming to Jerusalem from the exile. They appointed[bb] the Levites who were at least twenty years old[bc] to take charge of the work on the Lord’s temple. 9 So Jeshua appointed both his sons and his relatives,[bd] Kadmiel and his sons (the sons of Yehudah[be]), to take charge of the workers in the temple of God, along with the sons of Henadad, their sons, and their relatives[bf] the Levites. 10 When the builders established the Lord’s temple, the priests, ceremonially attired and with their clarions,[bg] and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with their cymbals, stood to praise the Lord according to the instructions left by[bh] King David of Israel.[bi] 11 With antiphonal response they sang,[bj] praising and glorifying the Lord:

“For he is good;
his loyal love toward Israel is forever.”

All the people gave a loud[bk] shout as they praised the Lord when the temple of the Lord was established. 12 Many of the priests, the Levites, and the leaders[bl]—older people who had seen with their own eyes the former temple while it was still established[bm]—were weeping loudly,[bn] and many others raised their voice in a joyous shout. 13 People were unable to tell the difference between the sound of joyous shouting and the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people were shouting so loudly[bo] that the sound was heard a long way off.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 2:1 sn The list of names and numbers in this chapter of Ezra has a parallel account in Neh 7:6-73. The fact that the two lists do not always agree in specific details suggests that various textual errors have crept into the accounts during the transmission process.
  2. Ezra 2:1 tn Heb “the sons of.”
  3. Ezra 2:1 tn The Hebrew term הָעֹלִים (haʿolim, “those who were going up” [Qal active participle]) refers to continual action in the past. Most translations render this as a simple past: “went up” (KJV), “came up” (RSV, ASV, NASB, NIV), “came” (NRSV). CEV paraphrases: “were on their way back.”
  4. Ezra 2:2 tn Heb “men of the people of Israel.”
  5. Ezra 2:2 tn The words “was as follows” are not in the Hebrew text but are used in the translation for clarity.
  6. Ezra 2:3 tn Heb “the sons of.”
  7. Ezra 2:6 tn Heb “to the sons of.” Cf. v. 40.
  8. Ezra 2:6 tc The MT reads יוֹאָב (yoʾav, “Joab”). However, syntax demands the reading וְיוֹאָב (veyoʾav, “and Joab”) which is reflected in the LXX and Syriac.
  9. Ezra 2:16 tn Heb “to.” So also in vv. 36, 40.
  10. Ezra 2:21 tc The translation follows the suggestion in BHS and reads אַנְשֵׁי (ʾanshe, “the men of”) here rather than the reading בְּנֵי (bene, “the sons of”) found in the MT. So also in vv. 25, 26, 33, 34.
  11. Ezra 2:24 tc The translation follows the suggestion in BHS and reads אַנְשֵׁי בֵּית (ʾanshe bet, “men of the house of”) here rather than the reading בְּנֵי (bene, “the sons of”) found in the MT. And see H. G. M. Williamson, Ezra, Nehemiah (WBC), 25.tn Heb “the men of the house of Azmaveth”; some regard בֵּית (bet, “house of”) as a part of the place name: NAB, NLT “Beth Azmaveth.”
  12. Ezra 2:25 tc The translation, with the support of many manuscripts, reads יְעָרִים (yeʿarim) here rather than the reading עָרִים (ʿarim) of the MT.
  13. Ezra 2:36 tn Heb “the house of.”
  14. Ezra 2:42 tc Here it is preferable to delete the reading בְּנֵי (bene, “the sons of”) found in the MT.
  15. Ezra 2:46 tc The translation follows the Qere reading “Shalmai” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NLT) rather than the MT Kethib “Shamlai” (so ASV, NAB, NRSV).
  16. Ezra 2:59 tn Heb “relate.”
  17. Ezra 2:59 tn Heb “the house of their fathers.”
  18. Ezra 2:59 tn Heb “their seed.”
  19. Ezra 2:61 tc The translation reads וּמִן (umin, “and from”) rather than the reading וּמִבְּנֵי (umibbeney, “and from the sons of”) found in the MT.
  20. Ezra 2:61 tn Heb “their.”
  21. Ezra 2:62 tn Heb “these.”
  22. Ezra 2:62 tn Heb “their records were searched for in the genealogical materials, but were not found.” This passive construction has been translated as active for stylistic reasons.
  23. Ezra 2:62 tn Heb “they were desecrated.”
  24. Ezra 2:63 tn The Hebrew word תִּרְשָׁתָא (tirshataʾ) is an official title of the Persian governor in Judea, perhaps similar in meaning to “excellency” (BDB 1077 s.v.; HALOT 1798 s.v.; W. L. Holladay, Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon, 395).
  25. Ezra 2:63 tn Heb “to stand.”
  26. Ezra 2:63 sn The Urim and Thummim were two objects used to determine God’s will; there is no clear evidence of their size or shape, or the material from which they were made.
  27. Ezra 2:64 sn The same total is given in Neh 7:66, but the numbers of people listed do not add up to this total; the list in vv. 3-60 is apparently selective, but it is not clear what the basis of the selectivity is.
  28. Ezra 2:65 tn Heb “besides” or “in addition to.”
  29. Ezra 2:68 tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.”
  30. Ezra 2:68 tn Heb “cause it to stand.”
  31. Ezra 2:69 tn Heb “according to their strength.”
  32. Ezra 2:69 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word דַּרְכְּמוֹנִים (darkemonim, cf. Neh 7:69, 70, 71) is uncertain. It may be a Greek loanword meaning “drachmas” (the view adopted here and followed also by NAB, NASB, NIV) or a Persian loanword “daric,” referring to a Persian gold coin (BDB 204 s.v. דַּרְכְּמוֹן; HALOT 232 s.v. נִים(וֹ)דַּרְכְּמֹ; cf. ASV, NRSV). For further study, see R. de Vaux, Ancient Israel, 206-9.
  33. Ezra 2:69 sn The מָנִים (manim, cf. Neh 7:71, 72) is a measuring weight for valuable metals, equal to 1/60 of a talent or 60 shekels (BDB 584 s.v. מָנֶה; HALOT 599 s.v. מָנֶה). For further study, see R. de Vaux, Ancient Israel, 203-6.
  34. Ezra 2:69 tn Or “garments.”
  35. Ezra 3:1 tn Heb “the sons of Israel.”
  36. Ezra 3:1 tn The word “living” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied. Some translations supply “settled” (cf. NAB, NIV, NLT).
  37. Ezra 3:1 tc The translation reads with some medieval Hebrew mss and ancient versions בְּעָרֵיהֶם (beʿarehem, “in their towns”), rather than the reading בֶּעָרִים (beʿarim, “in the towns”) found in the MT. Cf. Neh 7:72 HT [7:73 ET].
  38. Ezra 3:1 tn The Hebrew text adds the phrase “like one man.” This has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  39. Ezra 3:1 tn Heb “to.”
  40. Ezra 3:2 sn Jozadak (also in 3:8) is a variant spelling of Jehozadak.
  41. Ezra 3:2 tn Heb “his brothers the priests.”
  42. Ezra 3:2 tn Heb “his brothers.”
  43. Ezra 3:2 tn Heb “arose and built.”
  44. Ezra 3:2 tn Heb “written in.” Cf. v. 4.
  45. Ezra 3:3 tn Heb “the peoples of the lands.”
  46. Ezra 3:4 tn The Hebrew phrase אֶת חַג־הַסֻּכּוֹת (ʾet khag hassukot, “Feast of Shelters” [or “Huts”]) is traditionally known as the Feast of Tabernacles. The rendering “booths” (cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV) is probably better than the traditional “tabernacles” in light of the meaning of the term סֻכָּה (sukkah, “hut; booth”), but “booths” are frequently associated with trade shows and craft fairs in contemporary American English. The nature of the celebration during this feast as a commemoration of the wanderings of the Israelites after they left Egypt suggests that a translation like “shelters” is more appropriate.
  47. Ezra 3:4 tn Heb “according to what is written.”
  48. Ezra 3:4 tn Heb “by number.”
  49. Ezra 3:6 tn Or “the foundation of the Lord’s temple was not yet laid.”
  50. Ezra 3:7 tn Heb “silver.”
  51. Ezra 3:7 tn Heb “to the sea”
  52. Ezra 3:8 tn Heb “began”; the phrase “the work” is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
  53. Ezra 3:8 tn Heb “their brothers.”
  54. Ezra 3:8 tn Heb “stood.”
  55. Ezra 3:8 tn Heb “from twenty years and upward.”
  56. Ezra 3:9 tn Heb “brothers.”
  57. Ezra 3:9 sn The name יְהוּדָה (Yehudah; cf. KJV, ASV, NASB “Judah”) is probably a variant of Hodaviah (see Ezra 2:40; cf. NIV, NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT).
  58. Ezra 3:9 tn Heb “brothers.”
  59. Ezra 3:10 sn This was a long, straight, metallic instrument used for signal calls, rather than the traditional ram’s horn (both instruments are typically translated “trumpet” by English versions).
  60. Ezra 3:10 tn Heb “according to the hands of.”
  61. Ezra 3:10 sn See Pss 107:1; 118:1, 29; 136:1. Cf. 2 Chr 5:13; 7:3; 20:21.
  62. Ezra 3:11 tn Heb “they answered.”
  63. Ezra 3:11 tn Heb “great.”
  64. Ezra 3:12 tn Heb “the heads of the fathers.”
  65. Ezra 3:12 sn The temple had been destroyed some fifty years earlier by the Babylonians in 586 b.c.
  66. Ezra 3:12 tn Heb “with a great voice.”
  67. Ezra 3:13 tn Heb “a great shout.”
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