Ezra 2 24

Ezra 2:24 kjv

The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.

Ezra 2:24 nkjv

the people of Azmaveth, forty-two;

Ezra 2:24 niv

of Azmaveth ? 42

Ezra 2:24 esv

The sons of Azmaveth, 42.

Ezra 2:24 nlt

The people of Beth-azmaveth ? 42

Ezra 2 verses

Ezra 2 24 Meaning

Ezra chapter 2 verse 24 lists one of the families that returned from Babylonian exile to Jerusalem and Judah under the leadership of Zerubbabel. Specifically, it states that "the children of Hariph" were a family unit comprising "three hundred and twenty-eight" individuals among the returning community. This verse contributes to the detailed registry of those who were part of the initial wave of post-exilic restoration.

Ezra 2 24 Context

Ezra chapter 2 provides a detailed register of the families and individuals who returned from Babylonian exile to Judah and Jerusalem following King Cyrus's decree in 538 BC. This list includes specific numbers for each family, as well as various groups like priests, Levites, temple servants, and the general populace. The chapter functions as a critical record, establishing the identity and legitimacy of those who comprised the returned remnant of Israel. These numbers were vital for various purposes: determining tribal allocations for land, organizing temple service, assessing community strength for rebuilding projects, and ensuring racial and religious purity within the new Judean community. The historical context is the immediate post-exilic period, marking the physical return that began the spiritual and national restoration of Israel in their land after seventy years of captivity, as prophesied.

Ezra 2 24 Word analysis

• The children of Hariph: This phrase designates a specific family or clan. In Hebrew, it would be bene Hariph (בְּנֵי חָרִף). "Children" here signifies descendants, family members, or clan members, not necessarily only minor children.

  • Hariph (חָרִף): A personal and clan name. While names often have meanings (e.g., "autumn" or "sharp"), in this context, its primary significance is as an identifier for a distinct family unit within the returned exiles. It highlights the importance of individual family lineage in establishing identity and claims to inheritance within post-exilic Israel. This meticulously recorded detail emphasizes the concrete reality of God's covenant faithfulness to distinct family lines.

• three hundred and twenty-eight: This is a precise numerical count (שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת עֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁמוֹנָה, shlosh me'ot esrim ushmonah).

  • The exactness of the number indicates a formal census or registry was undertaken. This meticulous accounting underscores the administrative care taken by the Persian authorities and the returning leaders, highlighting the ordered and verifiable nature of the restoration.
  • Each number represents a tangible individual contributing to the collective restoration. The individual figures contribute to the larger total count of the returned community (42,360, Ezra 2:64), demonstrating God's faithfulness to preserve and return a significant remnant. The number itself may not carry symbolic weight beyond its face value but attests to the factual nature of the record.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "The children of Hariph, three hundred and twenty-eight": This entire phrase encapsulates a vital aspect of the Ezra narrative: the careful enumeration of those returning to the land. It emphasizes the foundational importance of family units (bene) in the rebuilding of the nation. The specific number underscores the reality and magnitude of the return, showing God's precise fulfillment of prophecy through concrete individuals. This precision would have been critical for confirming legitimate membership in the restored community, establishing the priestly order, and allotting property according to ancient tribal divisions, reinforcing the identity and purity of the covenant people.

Ezra 2 24 Bonus section

The inclusion of specific numbers for each family and group within Ezra 2 highlights the divine concern for order and structure within His covenant people. These lists serve as an official "who's who" of the post-exilic community, providing legitimate identification for temple service, tribal land claims, and even who could eat of the sacred food (Ezra 2:61-63). The small variations in numbers between Ezra 2 and the parallel list in Nehemiah 7, like the one for Hariph (328 vs. 332 in Neh 7:28), are common in ancient texts and often attributed to different census times, varied classifications, or scribal traditions, rather than indicating error in the overall intent of verifying the returning community. What matters is the consistent effort to count and confirm those participating in God's great work of restoration, ensuring the continued identity of Israel until the coming of the Messiah. These seemingly tedious records affirm God's precise and detailed orchestration of His redemptive history.

Ezra 2 24 Commentary

Ezra 2:24, nestled within a lengthy genealogical list, may seem like a dry record, yet it carries profound theological weight. It affirms the historical reality of God's covenant faithfulness and the fulfillment of His prophetic word concerning Israel's return from exile. Each entry, like "the children of Hariph, three hundred and twenty-eight," represents not merely a count but living individuals whose families were preserved by God's providence and whose hearts were stirred by Him to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:5). This meticulous record keeping ensured a sense of continuity and legitimate lineage after generations in a foreign land. It highlighted who rightfully belonged to the community destined to rebuild the temple, re-establish the covenant nation, and maintain the spiritual heritage, thereby laying the groundwork for the Messianic line. The precision of these numbers underscores the providential oversight of God in every detail of His redemptive plan, ensuring the survival and purity of the remnant. It also reflects the diligent obedience of the returnees in establishing an ordered society in line with divine command, showing how seemingly mundane details of human administration can serve a high divine purpose.