Keraia
Ezra 2

Ezra 2:61

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

Translations

Modern
And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).
Traditional
And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:
Literal
And of the sons of the priests: The sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Koz, and the sons of Barzillai (who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and he was called by their name).
Latin
Et de filiis sacerdotum: filii Hobia, filii Accos, filii Berzellai, qui accepit de filiabus Berzellai Galaaditis, uxorem, et vocatus est nomine eorum:

Original

Hebrew
English
And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).

Notes

Ezra 2:61–63

they could not find them: The lack of a genealogy was a problem for three families (Ezra 2:61–62). They were excluded from priestly privileges or responsibilities until the high priest received divine guidance through the Urim and Thummim to know God's will (see Exodus 28:30; Numbers 27:21). Although using the Urim and Thummim was like throwing dice or drawing straws, when done by the priest, the result was a divine decision, not random chance.

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

Barzillai: A Gileadite who provided for David during Absalom's rebellion Barzillai: Ancestor of a priestly family who returned from exile Habaiah: A priest whose descendants were unable to prove their lineage Hakkoz: A post-exilic priest whose descendants were excluded from the priesthood

Places

Gilead: Mountainous region east of Jordan; tribal territory and personal name

Glossary

Agia Barzillai Book of Ezra Census First Book of Esdras Genealogy Hakkoz Hobaiah Koz Singer

Topics

Barzillai: A Friend of David Barzillai: A Priest Christian Minister: Priests and Levites Habaiah: A Priest Whose Descendants Returned from Captivity Hakkoz: Called Koz In Koz: Descendants of, Excluded from Because of Defective Genealogies Levites: The List of Those Who Returned from Captivity Priest: Miscellaneous Facts Concerning: Return from the Captivity