Ezra 2 39

Ezra 2:39 kjv

The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.

Ezra 2:39 nkjv

the sons of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.

Ezra 2:39 niv

of Harim ? 1,017

Ezra 2:39 esv

The sons of Harim, 1,017.

Ezra 2:39 nlt

The family of Harim ? 1,017

Ezra 2 verses

Ezra 2 39 Meaning

Ezra 2:39 records that one thousand two hundred fifty-four individuals from the lineage of Pashhur returned from the Babylonian exile to Judah with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. This specific entry is part of a larger register of the exiles who repatriated to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. It signifies the meticulous care taken in identifying and accounting for the families that formed the foundation of the post-exilic Jewish community, particularly those with priestly lineage essential for the resumption of temple service.

Ezra 2 39 Context

Ezra chapter 2 is a crucial registry that enumerates the specific families and individuals, along with their numbers, who returned to Judah from the Babylonian exile under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua. This meticulous record emphasizes the divine organization of the return and the re-establishment of the Jewish community in its land. The chapter details categories of returnees: lay Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and the children of Solomon's servants, along with the livestock they brought. Each group's inclusion underscores their designated role in rebuilding the nation, particularly the Temple and its sacrificial system. Verse 39, specifically listing "The sons of Pashhur," falls within the section enumerating priestly families. The accuracy and detail of this list were paramount for validating lineage, ensuring rightful land claims, and, critically, confirming the qualifications of those permitted to serve in the reconstituted Temple. It reflects the post-exilic community's commitment to adhering strictly to Mosaic Law and divine order.

Ezra 2 39 Word analysis

• The sons of Pashhur (בְּנֵ֣י פַשְׁח֔וּר, bə-nê paš-ḥūr):
  • Sons (בְּנֵי - bə-nê): More than direct male offspring; signifies a larger clan, family unit, or guild. This emphasizes the communal nature of the return, not just isolated individuals. It speaks to a continuing familial and tribal identity crucial for the re-establishment of Israel's societal structure post-exile.
  • Pashhur (פַשְׁח֔וּר - Paš-ḥūr): This is the name of a priestly family. Significantly, there were prominent figures named Pashhur in earlier history, particularly one in Jeremiah's time (Jer 20:1-2) who was a chief officer in the Temple and notoriously persecuted the prophet Jeremiah. The inclusion of this family in the list of returning priests signifies God's grace and restorative justice, allowing even lineages with checkered pasts to participate in the restoration, provided they presented themselves for return and service. It implies a continuation of their priestly status despite historical grievances, showing divine faithfulness to the covenant lineage even amidst human failure.
• one thousand two hundred fifty-four (אֶ֖לֶף וּמָאתַ֣יִם חֲמִשִּׁ֑ים וְאַרְבָּעָֽה׃ - ’e-lep u-mā-ṯayim ḥă-miš-šîm wə-’ar-bā-‘āh):
  • Numbers: The precision of this number, and all numbers in Ezra 2, reflects meticulous record-keeping. This level of detail validates the identity of the returnees and provides a demographic foundation for the reconstituted nation. It demonstrates divine orchestration in gathering a specific, countable remnant chosen for this task, underlining the providence of God over seemingly ordinary human logistics. Such specific numbers highlight that God knows each one of His people, and that the return was not chaotic but an ordered fulfillment of prophecy.
• Word-groups analysis:
  • "The sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred fifty-four": This phrase details the quantitative and qualitative aspects of this specific group. The quantitative "one thousand two hundred fifty-four" stresses the significant number within one family unit, indicating a sizable and influential group crucial for the community's numerical strength. The qualitative "sons of Pashhur" specifies their crucial priestly identity and the unique history associated with their name. The emphasis on specific numbers and family names reinforces the legitimacy of the post-exilic community and its spiritual authority, directly linking it to pre-exilic Israel. This counters any potential claims of illegitimacy by neighboring peoples or dissenting groups.

Ezra 2 39 Bonus section

The register in Ezra 2 (and its parallel in Neh 7) highlights the overarching biblical theme of the "remnant" – a small, chosen group preserved by God for the continuation of His covenant purposes, even after severe judgment like the exile. The meticulous nature of these lists also forms a literary bridge to New Testament genealogies, affirming the historical rootedness and specific lineage required for messianic fulfillment. The very act of carefully compiling and preserving such detailed records testifies to the Israelite understanding of their identity, purpose, and future, which were intricately tied to their history and divine election. The subtle historical connection to Pashhur of Jeremiah's time (if indeed related, as implied by scholarly interpretations of the prominent name) provides a powerful lesson: divine grace transcends past transgressions of a lineage when new generations choose to respond to God's call to return and restoration. This speaks to the enduring nature of God's covenant with Israel and His willingness to work with a people, despite their flaws, to fulfill His grand narrative of redemption.

Ezra 2 39 Commentary

Ezra 2:39 is more than a simple numerical entry; it is a foundational stone in the chronicle of Judah's restoration. By listing the descendants of Pashhur as part of the returned priestly cohort, the verse underscores the re-establishment of the divinely ordained sacerdotal structure. The return of 1,254 individuals from this specific lineage speaks volumes: it highlights the size of the remnant and the grace of God extended even to families whose history was entangled with resistance against prophets like Jeremiah. The meticulous census in Ezra 2 served multiple critical purposes: it validated land claims, ensured tribal identity, and, most importantly for priestly families like Pashhur, confirmed their rightful status to serve in the reconstructed Temple. This administrative act reflects deep theological significance, demonstrating God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises of restoration while highlighting human diligence in adhering to divine patterns. It set the stage for a purified community and a renewed, legitimate worship.