Ezra 2 70

Ezra 2:70 kjv

So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

Ezra 2:70 nkjv

So the priests and the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

Ezra 2:70 niv

The priests, the Levites, the musicians, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.

Ezra 2:70 esv

Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel in their towns.

Ezra 2:70 nlt

So the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, the Temple servants, and some of the common people settled in villages near Jerusalem. The rest of the people returned to their own towns throughout Israel.

Ezra 2 verses

Ezra 2 70 Meaning

Ezra 2:70 marks the conclusion of the list of exiles who returned from Babylon to Judah under Zerubbabel and Jeshua. It signifies the successful initial resettlement of the community in their ancestral towns. This verse shows the practical step of establishing residence after their long exile, laying the groundwork for the restoration of temple worship and community life, emphasizing that not only the distinct groups but "all Israel" began to live in their designated towns.

Ezra 2 70 Context

Ezra chapter 2 is primarily a comprehensive census list of those who returned from Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel and Jeshua following Cyrus's decree in 538 BC. This meticulous record serves to legitimize their claim to the land and their positions within the community, especially regarding temple service. The list meticulously details families, individuals, their ancestral towns, and even the number of their livestock, emphasizing a precise and organized return. Verse 70 functions as the concluding summary of this enumeration, affirming that after arriving, these diverse groups of returnees—priests, Levites, common people, and various temple functionaries—successfully settled back into their respective ancestral towns throughout the territory of Judah. It marks the transition from the journey and the census to the re-establishment of daily life, setting the stage for the rebuilding efforts that begin in chapter 3.

Ezra 2 70 Word analysis

• So: This word connects the detailed enumeration of the returning exiles in the preceding verses to the practical outcome of their return. It signifies the consequence of their coming back and being organized by their respective roles.
• the priests: Hebrew: kohanim (כֹּהֲנִים). These were the hereditary descendants of Aaron, responsible for officiating in the temple and making sacrifices. Their return was crucial for the re-establishment of true worship, emphasizing continuity of Israel's spiritual leadership.
• the Levites: Hebrew: Levi'im (לְוִיִּם). Descendants of Levi, they assisted the priests in temple service, teaching, music, and various administrative duties. Their return was vital for the operational aspects of temple life and the maintenance of religious order.
• some of the people: This refers to the general population of Israel (non-priestly, non-Levitical), indicating that the return was not limited to religious personnel but included a broad representation of the exiled community, fulfilling the vision of a reconstituted nation.
• the singers: Hebrew: meshorerim (מְשֹׁרְרִים). A specialized group of Levites, or possibly others, dedicated to leading worship with musical praise in the temple. Their inclusion underscores the importance of restoring the liturgical and expressive aspects of worship.
• the gatekeepers: Hebrew: sho'arim (שֹׁעֲרִים). Also typically Levites, they were responsible for guarding the temple gates, maintaining order, and controlling access. Their presence highlights the restoration of security and order within the holy precinct.
• and the temple servants: Hebrew: netinim (נְתִינִים). Meaning "given ones," these were servants attached to the temple, likely involved in menial tasks like drawing water and cutting wood. They may have been non-Israelite captives dedicated to temple service or those dedicated to temple labor, demonstrating the comprehensive re-establishment of all necessary temple support.
• lived in their towns: Hebrew: 'areihem (עָרֵיהֶם). This phrase signifies the act of permanent settlement in their ancestral lands. It represents a physical and social re-rooting, fulfilling God's promise of bringing His people back to their heritage and marking the end of their stateless exile. This return to specific "towns" also implicitly carries the polemical assertion of Israel's legitimate right to the land as opposed to surrounding peoples who may have occupied it during the exile.
• and all Israel in their towns: This serves as a summarizing statement, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the return. It underscores that beyond the specific roles mentioned, the entire collective body of the returning remnant of "Israel" found a dwelling place in the land. This re-establishes the nation and its territorial integrity, in line with ancient covenants. It contrasts with the brokenness and scattering of the previous exile.

Ezra 2 70 Bonus section

The specific categorization of people—priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants—before the general "all Israel" highlights the highly structured nature of the post-exilic community's initial re-formation. It points to a deep awareness of divinely ordained roles, particularly those connected with the Tabernacle and Temple service from the Mosaic Law. The precise delineation of these roles was crucial for re-establishing a proper covenant relationship with God and organizing a functional society centered around sacred worship. This methodical re-population and re-institution of specific duties underscores the purposeful nature of the return, not just a casual migration, but a return guided by divine decree and human meticulousness, preparatory for the coming restoration of full temple worship and the renewal of the covenant.

Ezra 2 70 Commentary

Ezra 2:70 succinctly captures the immediate aftermath of the initial return of the exiles under Zerubbabel, providing a conclusive summary to the detailed genealogical and population list that precedes it. This verse is profoundly significant as it marks the pivotal transition from a journey of return to a state of re-establishment. It portrays an organized community, divided by essential societal and religious roles—priests, Levites, various temple functionaries, and the general populace—each group finding its specific place. The phrase "lived in their towns" is crucial; it is not merely a statement of residence but a powerful affirmation of restoration, signaling the end of decades of statelessness and displacement. This act of resettlement directly fulfilled prophecies of return (e.g., Jer 29:10-14, Ezek 36:24-28) and reinstated their historical claim to the Promised Land, a direct antithesis to the forced removal that led to their captivity. This immediate focus on re-inhabiting their ancestral towns demonstrated a commitment to re-forming a community rooted in the land, a foundational step before the arduous task of rebuilding the temple and fully restoring their religious life, which begins in earnest in subsequent chapters. It demonstrates God's faithfulness in bringing His people back to the land promised to Abraham, laying the groundwork for a revived covenant community.