Ezra 2:27 kjv
The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.
Ezra 2:27 nkjv
the men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two;
Ezra 2:27 niv
of Mikmash ? 122
Ezra 2:27 esv
The men of Michmas, 122.
Ezra 2:27 nlt
The people of Micmash ? 122
Ezra 2 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Neh 7:31 | "the men of Michmas, a hundred twenty and two." | Parallel list, identical count. |
| Jer 29:10 | "...I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place." | God's promise of return from exile. |
| Jer 32:37 | "...I will gather them...and bring them back to this place and let them dwell in safety." | Divine gathering and restoration. |
| Isa 11:11 | "In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant..." | Prophecy of God's second restoration. |
| Isa 43:5-6 | "...I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you." | God gathering His scattered people. |
| Eze 36:24 | "I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land." | Return to ancestral land by divine act. |
| Amo 9:14-15 | "I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel...and they shall never again be uprooted..." | God's complete restoration and secure dwelling. |
| Num 1:2 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel..." | Divine command for meticulous census taking. |
| Num 26:51 | "These are the number of the people of Israel, 601,730." | Example of God's organized, precise counts. |
| Ex 6:14-25 | (Details various tribal genealogies) | Emphasis on lineage and identity. |
| 1 Chr 9:1 | "So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies..." | Recording of lineages for communal order. |
| Ezra 2:59 | "...they could not prove their fathers' houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel." | Highlights importance of proven lineage. |
| Ezra 2:62 | "...excluded from the priesthood as unclean." | Exclusion due to unverified ancestry. |
| Neh 7:5 | "My God put it into my heart to assemble...for enrolment by families." | God's divine hand in record keeping. |
| Lk 2:1-3 | "...decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered." | Universal registration reflects the divine use of human systems. |
| Acts 1:15 | "...the company of persons was in all about 120." | Small, foundational number for a new spiritual community. |
| Rev 7:4 | "...the number of the sealed, 144,000..." | Precise numbers in God's divine registry. |
| Isa 10:21 | "A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God." | Prophecy of a returning small group. |
| Rom 9:27 | "...though the number...be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant will be saved." | The remnant theme in salvation history. |
| Zep 3:13 | "Those who are left in Israel shall do no injustice and speak no lies..." | Character of the preserved remnant. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession..." | Spiritual lineage of New Covenant believers. |
| Gal 3:7 | "Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham." | Spiritual rather than physical lineage emphasis in Christ. |
Ezra 2 verses
Ezra 2 27 Meaning
Ezra 2:27 states the precise number of people, specifically "the men of Michmas," who returned from Babylonian exile to Judah during the first wave of repatriation under Zerubbabel and Jeshua, as a hundred twenty and two. This verse is part of a meticulous list documenting the returnees, highlighting the faithful fulfillment of divine promise to restore Israel and re-establish their presence in the promised land, underscoring the importance of community identity and ancestral heritage in God's redemptive plan.
Ezra 2 27 Context
Ezra chapter 2 meticulously lists the heads of families and their numbers who returned from Babylonian exile to Jerusalem and Judah following King Cyrus's decree in 538 BC. This registry is crucial for documenting the fulfillment of prophecies regarding the restoration of Israel, re-establishing land claims, and reordering the community for the rebuilding of the Temple. Each entry, including Michmas, underscores the specificity and intentionality of God's work in gathering His people back. Michmas was a notable Benjaminite town with significant historical importance, notably as a site of battles during the time of King Saul (1 Sam 13-14). Its inclusion here signifies the reoccupation and restoration of historically significant Israelite territories, underscoring the continuity of God's covenant with His people and their land. The census reinforces the legitimacy of those returning to claim their heritage and participate in the sacred tasks of reconstruction and worship.
Ezra 2 27 Word analysis
- The men of: (אֶרֶץ אנשׁי - 'anshēy Mikhmāṣ) – While literally "men," in this census context, it typically refers to the inhabitants or people from that locality, signifying households and families tied to that particular place. It points to the collective identity of a localized community participating in the return.
- Michmas: (מִכְמָס - Mikhmāṣ) – A specific geographical location, an ancient Israelite town within the territory of Benjamin. Its inclusion underscores the precise nature of the census and the return of individuals to their ancestral towns, contributing to the re-establishment of the national and tribal infrastructure in Judah. This detailed geographic notation implies the actual repossession of lands and the re-forming of localized communities.
- a hundred twenty and two: (מֵאָה עֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁנַיִם - mē’āh ‘isriym ushnayim) – The precise numerical figure for the returnees from Michmas. This detail reflects the meticulous record-keeping during the post-exilic period, crucial for administrative, genealogical, and land-allotment purposes. Spiritually, it highlights the divine faithfulness in preserving a remnant and carefully re-gathering each person, showing that every individual was important to God's plan. It also suggests a significant, though limited, group returned, emphasizing divine provision and enablement rather than human might.
Ezra 2 27 Bonus section
The consistent listing of numbers from various towns and family groups across Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7, with minor discrepancies for some groups but direct agreement for Michmas, reflects the careful documentation maintained by the returnees. This record-keeping was not only for religious purity (who could serve in the Temple) but also for economic and administrative organization, ensuring that properties could be claimed and taxes levied appropriately. The list, therefore, serves as a foundation for re-establishing the civic and spiritual life of Judah. The small size of the Michmas contingent, like many other towns listed, underscores the "remnant" aspect of the return, emphasizing that God accomplishes His purposes with a chosen few, highlighting His power over human numbers or might.
Ezra 2 27 Commentary
Ezra 2:27, alongside the entire chapter, provides a factual record of those who returned from Babylonian exile, emphasizing God's meticulous nature in His redemptive plan. The precision of "a hundred twenty and two" for "the men of Michmas" speaks volumes: it wasn't a chaotic return but an orderly, divinely orchestrated homecoming. This precise numbering wasn't merely administrative; it verified lineage for priestly and Levitical service, established rights to ancestral land, and solidified the true remnant of Israel in contrast to surrounding peoples. The return, initiated by God's promise and fulfilled through Cyrus's decree, brought back a group large enough to begin rebuilding the Temple and the community, yet small enough to demonstrate reliance on divine strength rather than human power. It showcases God's covenant faithfulness in remembering His scattered people and actively bringing them back to rebuild the very structures and community life essential for future generations, ultimately preparing for the Messiah.