Reflections on Ezra 2

Ezra 02 (Contemporary English Version)

1. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia had captured many of the people of Judah and had taken them as prisoners to Babylonia. Now they were on their way back to Jerusalem and to their own towns everywhere in Judah.
   
2. Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah were in charge of the ones who were coming back. And here is a list of how many returned from each family group: 2,172 from the family of Parosh; 372 from the family of Shephatiah; 775 from the family of Arah; 2,812 descendants of Jeshua and Joab from the family of Pahath Moab; 1,254 from the family of Elam; 945 from the family of Zattu; 760 from the family of Zaccai; 642 from the family of Bani; 623 from the family of Bebai; 1,222 from the family of Azgad; 666 from the family of Adonikam; 2,056 from the family of Bigvai; 454 from the family of Adin; 98 from the family of Ater, also known as Hezekiah; 323 from the family of Bezai; 112 from the family of Jorah; 223 from the family of Hashum; and 95 from the family of Gibbar.
   
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21. Here is how many people returned whose ancestors had come from the following towns: 123 from Bethlehem; 56 from Netophah; 128 from Anathoth; 42 from Azmaveth; 743 from Kiriatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth; 621 from Ramah and Geba; 122 from Michmas; 223 from Bethel and Ai; 52 from Nebo; 156 from Magbish; 1,254 from the other Elam; 320 from Harim; 725 from Lod, Hadid, and Ono; 345 from Jericho; and 3,630 from Senaah.
    
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36. Here is a list of how many returned from each family of priests: 973 descendants of Jeshua from the family of Jedaiah; 1,052 from the family of Immer; 1,247 from the family of Pashhur; and 1,017 from the family of Harim.
    
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40. And here is a list of how many returned from the families of Levites: 74 descendants of Hodaviah from the families of Jeshua and Kadmiel; 128 descendants of Asaph from the temple musicians; and 139 descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai from the temple guards.
    
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43. Here is a list of the families of temple workers whose descendants returned: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, Keros, Siaha, Padon, Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub, Hagab, Shamlai, Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, Besai, Asnah, Meunim, Nephisim, Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, Barkos, Sisera, Temah, Neziah, and Hatipha.
    
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55. Here is a list of Solomon's servants whose descendants returned: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel, Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth Hazzebaim, and Ami.
    
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58. A total of 392 descendants of temple workers and of Solomon's servants returned.
    
59. There were 652 who returned from the families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, though they could not prove that they were Israelites. They had lived in the Babylonian towns of Tel-Melah, Tel-Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer.
    
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61. The families of Habaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai could not prove that they were priests. The ancestor of the family of Barzillai had married the daughter of Barzillai from Gilead and had taken his wife's family name. But the records of these three families could not be found, and none of them were allowed to serve as priests.
    
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63. In fact, the governor told them, "You cannot eat the food offered to God until we find out if you really are priests."
    
64. There were 42,360 who returned, in addition to 7,337 servants and 200 musicians, both women and men. They brought with them 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.
    
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68. When the people came to where the LORD's temple had been in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders gave gifts so it could be rebuilt in the same place.
    
69. They gave all they could, and it came to a total of 1,030 pounds of gold, 5,740 pounds of silver, and 100 robes for the priests.
    
70. Everyone returned to the towns from which their families had come, including the priests, the Levites, the musicians, the temple guards, and the workers.
    

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    Ezra recorded in chapter two a listing of those who returned to Judah. They are listed in various groupings which include: families, towns, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon's servants. A Nehemiah is listed among those returning, but this was not the Nehemiah who returned 90 years later to rebuild the city walls of Jerusalem.  Some of those returning were unable to prove themselves to be Israelites and others who claimed to be priests could not be found in the geneology of priests.
    
    It appears that upon arrival in Judah the returnees first went to Jerusalem to "the Lord's house," and there family leaders gave freewill offerings for rebuilding the temple. At this gathering in Jerusalem they no doubt discussed their plans for the rebuilding project. Then they all went to settle into their hometowns.
    
    These were a people without a home even though they were returning to "hometowns." Those who were old enough to have actually lived in these towns had not lived in them for 70 years, and so didn't likely have the feeling of home. Plus, the land was still occupied territory under the rule of the Persians. It wasn't truly theirs. If place or location is our bases for belonging, such circumstances can leave one feeling very lost. But if our bases of belonging is in the Lord, such circumstances can be unsettling, but we are not lost. We belong to the One who created it all. We have a sense of belonging wherever we are.