Keraia
Ezra 2

Ezra 2:43

The List of Returning Exiles · Ezra 2:1–67
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Translations

Modern
The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth,
Traditional
The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
Literal
The Nethinim: The sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
Latin
Nathinæi: filii Siha, filii Hasupha, filii Tabbaoth,

Original

Hebrew
English
The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth,

Notes

Ezra 2:43–54

The temple servants were likely descendants of the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:23–27). They helped the Levites (Ezra 8:20) by carrying water and wood and sweeping floors.

Ezra 2:1–70

This chapter is Ezra's first major digression from the main story. The returning exiles needed to identify true Jews to maintain their community identity and theological purity. This helped them know whom they could marry and who could worship at the temple. This list is not the initial list of all Jews who returned to Jerusalem (compare Nehemiah 7:6–73). Instead, it is a slightly later list, created after Sheshbazzar died, of people who had settled in their towns.

Theme notes and profiles

Esther Zerubbabel

Parallels

Nehemiah 7:4–69

People

Hasupha: Ancestor of temple servants who returned from exile Tabbaoth: Family of temple servants who returned from exile Ziha: Family of temple servants who returned from exile

Glossary

Book of Ezra Census First Book of Esdras Genealogy Gishpa, Gispa Hasupha Nethinim Singer Tabbaoth Ziha

Topics

Hasupha: A Nethinim Family Levites: The List of Those Who Returned from Captivity Nethinim: A Large Number of, Returned from the Captivity Nethinims: Return from the Captivity Tabbaoth: One of the Nethinim Ziha: One of the Nethinim