Ezra 2 35

Ezra 2:35 kjv

The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.

Ezra 2:35 nkjv

the people of Senaah, three thousand six hundred and thirty.

Ezra 2:35 niv

of Senaah ? 3,630

Ezra 2:35 esv

The sons of Senaah, 3,630.

Ezra 2:35 nlt

The citizens of Senaah ? 3,630

Ezra 2 verses

Ezra 2 35 Meaning

Ezra 2:35 specifies the number of male descendants from the ancestral city of Jericho who returned from Babylonian exile to Judah with Zerubbabel. This precise count, three hundred forty-five, signifies the meticulous record-keeping of the returning community, crucial for re-establishing tribal identities, land inheritance, and the general reordering of the Judean society according to God's covenant promises.

Ezra 2 35 Context

Ezra chapter 2, closely paralleled by Nehemiah 7, serves as a crucial register of the Jewish community that returned from Babylonian exile under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, immediately following Cyrus's decree in 538 BC. The chapter lists the families by their ancestral cities, specific clans, or professions, along with the precise number of males from each group. This comprehensive list was vital for the returned community for several reasons: it authenticated their Israelite identity and right to dwell in the land, provided a basis for tribal and familial land distribution, helped organize the rebuilding efforts of the temple and city walls, and underscored the fulfillment of prophecies regarding the return. Verse 35, detailing "the sons of Jericho," is one such entry within this detailed accounting, emphasizing the restoration of habitation even in historically significant locations.

Ezra 2 35 Word analysis

• the sons of (Hebrew: benê - בְּנֵי): This term indicates "descendants of" or "members of the family/clan of," rather than strictly biological "sons." It denotes a collective group identified by a common ancestral connection to a specific locality or person. Its use emphasizes lineage and the continuity of the people's identity across generations, a critical aspect for the Jewish people post-exile as they reclaimed their heritage.

• Jericho (Hebrew: Yĕrîchô - יְרִיחוֹ): An ancient city, historically significant as the first city conquered by Joshua and the Israelites upon entering the Promised Land (Josh 6). It was later famously cursed by Joshua (Josh 6:26) to never be rebuilt without severe cost, yet it was eventually rebuilt by Hiel during the time of King Ahab (1 Ki 16:34). Its mention here signifies that even after destruction and prophetic curses, and despite the Babylonian desolation, the city was intended for resettlement, indicating God's persistent plan for His people to inhabit the entire promised land. The identification of a group by "Jericho" means they were the inheritors or former inhabitants of that area.

• 345: This precise numerical value highlights the meticulous nature of the record-keeping by Zerubbabel and the post-exilic leadership. Such exact figures were crucial for communal organization, allocation of resources (like land parcels and temple offerings), and confirming genealogical purity for roles such as the priesthood. The specificity conveys an impression of order, accountability, and divine superintendence over the repatriation process, suggesting that not a single returnee was uncounted by God's providence. It signifies a concrete manifestation of God's covenant faithfulness in gathering His scattered people.

• "the sons of Jericho, 345": This phrase functions as a census entry. It defines a specific returning group not just by their familial lineage, but by their ancestral geographical connection to the city of Jericho. This connection solidified their claims to the land and emphasized the re-establishment of historical presence in a land long-desired. The exact number validates their claim and signifies a segment of the covenant people returning to their heritage. The numerical precision counters any vagueness about who belonged to the returned community.

Ezra 2 35 Bonus section

The inclusion of detailed lists like the one in Ezra 2 served not just historical but also legal and theological purposes for the returning exiles. They provided legal proof of heritage for land claims and communal standing in the absence of original title deeds. Theologically, these lists demonstrated the preservation of the twelve tribes' identities, even after centuries of dispersion, confirming God's unbreakable covenant with Israel. The precise numbers counter despair, indicating that God did indeed preserve a remnant, fulfilling His word despite their unfaithfulness leading to exile. This precise accounting points to God's sovereignty over history, ensuring that His plan for a specific people, a specific land, and ultimately, a specific lineage (which would eventually lead to the Messiah, as shown in later genealogies like Matthew 1) was maintained with divine accuracy.

Ezra 2 35 Commentary

Ezra 2:35 is a single line within a long, seemingly dry, numerical list. However, its brevity belies its profound theological and historical significance. It speaks directly to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to gather His scattered people (Deut 30; Jer 29) and restore them to the land given to their forefathers (Gen 12). The re-identification with Jericho, a city deeply embedded in Israel's early history (Josh 6), symbolizes the reclaiming of ancestral inheritance and the renewal of the covenant bond with God over the entire promised territory. The meticulous counting of 345 individuals underscores the orderliness of God's work, showing that even in large-scale movements, individual identities and their heritage are divinely cared for and preserved. This restoration was not a mere trickle but a significant ingathering, laying the groundwork for the rebuilding of the Temple and the re-establishment of the community centered on the Mosaic Law. It illustrates that every returning group, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, contributed to the larger tapestry of God's restorative work for Israel.