Ezra 2 16

Ezra 2:16 kjv

The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

Ezra 2:16 nkjv

the people of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety-eight;

Ezra 2:16 niv

of Ater (through Hezekiah) ? 98

Ezra 2:16 esv

The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98.

Ezra 2:16 nlt

The family of Ater (descendants of Hezekiah) ? 98

Ezra 2 verses

Ezra 2 16 Meaning

Ezra chapter 2 verse 16 records the return of a specific family group, "the children of Immer," comprising nine hundred fifty-two individuals, as part of the initial wave of exiles who returned from Babylonian captivity to Judah and Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua. This entry serves as a crucial component of the detailed register verifying the identity and numbers of the restored community.

Ezra 2 16 Context

Ezra chapter 2 provides a comprehensive list of the exiles who returned to Judah from Babylonia under the decree of King Cyrus, marking the first major wave of repatriates after seventy years of captivity. This specific chapter functions as a historical and communal register, establishing the numerical strength and identity of those returning. Each entry, including verse 16 about "the children of Immer," meticulously records a family or clan name along with the total number of individuals in that group.

The immediate context for verse 16 is a lengthy roll call, starting from verse 3 and continuing through verse 35, listing the "children of" various prominent lay families and clans. Following this, the chapter enumerates priests, Levites, temple servants, and other groups, culminating in a total count of all returnees. Historically, this return fulfills prophetic promises (like those in Jeremiah 29) regarding Israel's restoration after the Babylonian exile. Culturally, such detailed genealogical lists were vital in ancient Israel to prove lineage, inherit land rights, identify priestly eligibility, and maintain tribal and clan distinctions, all crucial for re-establishing society in Jerusalem. The inclusion of groups like "the children of Immer" underlines that the restoration encompassed not just leaders, but a broad representation of the exiled community, signifying a holistic divine purpose for the rebuilding of God's people and the temple.

Ezra 2 16 Word analysis

• the children of Immer (בְּנֵי אִמֵּר, Bᵉnê ’Immêr):

  • Bᵉnê (בְּנֵי): Hebrew for "sons of" or "children of." This signifies direct descent, lineage, and a shared familial identity. It highlights the patriarchal nature of ancient Israelite society where families and clans were fundamental social and organizational units. The term underscores the continuity of the covenant people through generations, even during exile.
  • ’Immêr (אִמֵּר): The name of a clan or family. While there was a well-known priestly family named Immer (1 Chr 9:12, Jer 20:1, Ezra 2:37), the placement of this specific "children of Immer" entry within the general list of lay families (Ezra 2:3-35), separate from the later listing of priestly families (Ezra 2:36ff), indicates this refers to a non-priestly branch or another lay clan bearing the same name. This demonstrates the breadth of the returning community beyond just the religious elite.
  • Significance: The preservation of specific family names despite generations of exile demonstrates a powerful resilience and commitment to ancestral identity, crucial for reconstituting a coherent community upon their return to their homeland. It implicitly opposes the Babylonian policy of assimilation, asserting Israel's distinctiveness.

• nine hundred fifty and two (תְּשַׁע מֵאוֹת חֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁנַיִם, tish'a mê'ôt ḥamishshîm ûshnêyim):

  • Nine hundred fifty and two: This precise number signifies a large, tangible group returning under one family banner. The meticulous enumeration throughout Ezra 2 underscores the orderly nature of God's restoration and the careful efforts to account for every individual.
  • Significance: The exact numbers, repeated for various families throughout the chapter, emphasize the tangible reality of the return, not just a symbolic handful. This attention to detail reflects accountability and perhaps served as an internal census for logistical planning—assigning land, organizing labor for rebuilding, and contributing to the census records essential for establishing the restored community's size and resources. The inclusion of large numbers like this signifies a substantial fulfillment of God's promise to regather His people, reinforcing trust in divine faithfulness against the backdrop of a diminished, exiled nation. It speaks of God's ability to preserve and restore even when hope seemed lost.

Ezra 2 16 Bonus section

The consistent listing of specific family names and their exact numbers throughout Ezra 2 (and its parallel in Neh 7) highlights a unique characteristic of Israelite restoration in contrast to many other ancient displaced populations. Often, exiled peoples assimilated and lost their distinct identity. However, Israel's divine covenant, marked by its genealogical emphasis, ensured that their lineage was paramount. The preservation of these family names, sometimes with relatively small or very large numbers, shows the varying degrees of family survival and willingness to return. The minor discrepancies sometimes observed between the total numbers reported in Ezra 2:64 and the sum of the individual entries can be attributed to several factors such as rounded numbers in the aggregate, clerical copying variations over time, or inclusion of unregistered servants or unverified families in the total that are not detailed by specific clan names. Nevertheless, these minor differences do not detract from the overwhelming impression of divine faithfulness and the profound commitment of these returning families to rebuild the covenant community in their ancestral homeland. The very existence of this register stands as a powerful testimony to God's precise and detailed plan for His people.

Ezra 2 16 Commentary

Ezra 2:16, within the comprehensive register of returned exiles, underscores the methodical and tangible nature of Israel's restoration after the Babylonian captivity. The mention of "the children of Immer" and their specific number, nine hundred fifty-two, highlights several key truths. First, it attests to the meticulous record-keeping of the ancient Israelite community, vital for maintaining tribal identities, validating land claims, and re-establishing the social and religious order disrupted by exile. This wasn't a haphazard return, but a divinely orchestrated, organized movement. Second, the sheer numbers recorded for various family groups, like Immer's, speak to the substantial fulfillment of God's promises to bring His people back to their land (Jer 29:10-14). It showcases God's faithfulness in preserving a remnant and demonstrating His power to gather them from dispersion. Finally, the inclusion of a significant non-priestly family like this "children of Immer" clan amongst the initial returnees stresses that the rebuilding project, both physical and spiritual, involved all sectors of the community, not merely a select few. Every individual and family counted in this census contributed to the tapestry of the reborn Judah, reflecting God's comprehensive care for His covenant people.