Keraia
Ezra 2

Ezra 2:6

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

Translations

Modern
…the descendants of Pahath-moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,812;
Traditional
The children of Pahath–moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.
Literal
The sons of Pahath-moab (of the sons of Jeshua and Joab), two thousand eight hundred and twelve.
Latin
Filii Phahath Moab, filiorum Josue: Joab, duo millia octingenti duodecim.

Original

Hebrew
English
…the descendants of Pahath-moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,812;

Notes

Ezra 2:3–20

In the ancient Near East, people identified themselves by answering, “Who are your father and your family?” Priests were known as the sons of Aaron. If they could not prove this link, they could not serve (Ezra 2:61–62). Others identified themselves by a well-known elder in their group.

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

Jeshua: Leader of a group that returned from Babylonian exile Joab: Ancestor of a family that returned from Babylonian exile Pahath-moab: Group of returnees from Babylonian exile

Glossary

Bigvai Book of Ezra Census First Book of Esdras Genealogy Jeshua (Person) Joab Pahath-Moab

Topics

Jeshua: Son of Pahath-Moab Joab: An Israelite Whose Descendants Returned from Babylon to Jerusalem Pahath-Moab: The Ancestor of an Influential Family of Judah Which Returned to Jerusalem from the Captivity