Keraia
Ezra 2

Ezra 2:57

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

Modern
…the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the descendants of Ami.
Traditional
The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.
Literal
…the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami.
Latin
…filii Saphatia, filii Hatil, filii Phochereth, qui erant de Asebaim, filii Ami:

Original

Hebrew
English
…the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the descendants of Ami.

Notes

Ezra 2:55–58

  • The descendants of King Solomon's servants are linked to the temple servants (Ezra 2:43–54). Their names might show their duties. For example:

    • Hassophereth, meaning "the scribe," probably kept inventories

    • Pokereth-hazzebaim, meaning "gazelle-hunter," likely hunted game

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

Ami: Family of Solomon's servants Hattil: Ancestor of Solomon's servants who returned from exile Pochereth-hazzebaim: Family of Solomon's servants Shephatiah: Ancestor of Solomon's servants who returned from exile

Glossary

Ami Amon (Person) Barodis Book of Ezra Census First Book of Esdras Genealogy Hattil Nethinim Pochereth-hazzebaim, Pochereth of Zebaim Shephatiah Singer Zebaim

Topics

Amon: Ancestor of One of the Families of the Nethinim: Called Ami Hattil: A Returned Exile Levites: The List of Those Who Returned from Captivity Pochereth: The Ancestor of a Family Which Returned to Jerusalem from the Captivity in Babylon Shephatiah: The Name of Two Men Zebaim: A Place Whose Exact Location is Unknown