Ezra 2:1–70 (November 2, 2025)

The Exiles Return

(Selected Verses)

2:1 Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. 2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.

2:36 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. 37 The sons of Immer, 1,052. 38 The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. 39 The sons of Harim, 1,017.

40 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah,

2:59 The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers' houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: 60 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652. 61 Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name). 62 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 63 The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim.

2:68 Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests' garments.

70 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.

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Summary

Ezra 2:1–70 records the list of those who returned from Babylon to Judah after King Cyrus’s decree. It begins with the words,

“Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town.” (v. 1).

This passage tells us that the return was not the result of excellent negotiations by the Jewish people. The Bible wants us to know that it was a covenant promise being fulfilled. It signaled the restoration of the remnant of God.

Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Jeshua (Joshua the high priest), Nehemiah, and others (v. 2), about 42,360 Israelites returned (see below). The list includes priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon’s servants, showing that God’s order of worship and priestly service was being reestablished.

Some families could not find their genealogical records (vv. 59–63). As a result, they were excluded from priestly duties. They were careful to reestablish the priestly line. They inquired of the Lord, “until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim.” The holiness before the Lord was being honored, as they sought God’s guidance.

Finally, those who returned gave freewill offerings for the rebuilding of the temple (vv. 68–70). Though poor and few, they gave generously, embodying faith that God’s presence would once again dwell in Jerusalem.

Who is God?

God knows us by name.

God is faithful to remember every name that belongs to Him. He is not a distant deity but the covenant-keeping Father who fulfills His promise to restore His people after seventy years of exile (Jer 29:10).

The long list of names is not trivial. It is a testimony to the fact that God forgets no one who belongs to Him. Every household mattered. Every singer, gatekeeper, and servant had a place in His redemptive plan. God knows us by name.

What is our Guilt?

We often live as if being “known by name” in this world is more important than being “known by God.” The exiles’ ancestors had sought prominence and pleasure rather than holiness and covenantal faithfulness, leading to judgment and exile. Likewise, we forget that our true identity is not in what the world may recognize but in being known by God. Our guilt is wrongly thinking that worldly recognition or reputation can substitute for obedience to God.

How does Grace Shine?

Grace is shown in the fulfilled covenant promise of God in the remnant.

The remnant did not deserve restoration. It was not their right. If anything, they were the children of rebels and rebels themselves. Yet, the Grace of God stirred their hearts and brought them home. And this anticipates Christ, through whom all who trust the Lord are registered in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev 21:27). Our "genealogy" will never be lost. In Him, our names are forever written not by birthright but by redemption.

Prayer

Faithful Father,

You remember every name, even when we forget.

You bring back those who wander far away and restore the ruins we have made.

Please help us to value being known by you more than being recognized by others.

Let our hearts, like the remnant of old, be stirred to give freely for your dwelling among us.

Please write your name on our hearts as you have written ours in the book of life.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Additional Notes:

1. Scholars estimate that between 80,000 and 100,000 Jews were taken into exile during the Babylonian deportations (605, 597, and 586 BC). Ezra 2:64 records that 42,360 returned under Zerubbabel. This would be nearly half of the total exiled population. The significance lies not merely in the number but in who they were. They were a spiritually awakened remnant moved by God’s Spirit to return and rebuild (Ezra 1:5). This homecoming marked a new Exodus, testifying to God’s faithfulness in restoring His covenant people and renewing true worship in Jerusalem.

2. Ezra was a descendant of Aaron. According to the Mosaic Law, the priesthood was to be inherited through the ancestral line. It was reserved for Aaron’s male descendants within the tribe of Levi. Ezra’s genealogy (Ezra 7:1–5) affirms this legitimate lineage. In addition to his priestly heritage, Ezra was a “skilled scribe in the Law of Moses” (Ezra 7:6,10), trained in the interpretation and teaching of the Torah. Living in Babylon under Persian rule, he devoted himself to the study and practice of God’s Word, preparing to lead the exiles in spiritual renewal upon their return to Jerusalem.