Ezra 2:1The MessageThese are the people from the province who now returned from the captivity, exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried off captive. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his hometown. They came in company with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The numbers of the returning Israelites by families of origin were as follows: Parosh, 2,172 Shephatiah, 372 Arah, 775 Pahath-Moab (sons of Jeshua and Joab), 2,812 Elam, 1,254 Zattu, 945 Zaccai, 760 Bani, 642 Bebai, 623 Azgad, 1,222 Adonikam, 666 Bigvai, 2,056 Adin, 454 Ater (sons of Hezekiah), 98 Bezai, 323 Jorah, 112 Hashum, 223 Gibbar, 95. Israelites identified by place of origin were as follows: Bethlehem, 123 Netophah, 56 Anathoth, 128 Azmaveth, 42 Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth, 743 Ramah and Geba, 621 Micmash, 122 Bethel and Ai, 223 Nebo, 52 Magbish, 156 Elam (the other one), 1,254 Harim, 320 Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725 Jericho, 345 Senaah, 3,630. Priestly families: Jedaiah (sons of Jeshua), 973 Immer, 1,052 Pashhur, 1,247 Harim, 1,017. Levitical families: Jeshua and Kadmiel (sons of Hodaviah), 74. Singers: Asaph’s family line, 128. Security guard families: Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai, 139. Families of temple support staff: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, Keros, Siaha, Padon, Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub, Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, Besai, Asnah, Meunim, Nephussim, Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, Barkos, Sisera, Temah, Neziah, and Hatipha. Families of Solomon’s servants: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and Ami. Temple support staff and Solomon’s servants added up to 392. See the chapter |
These are the priests and Levites who came up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah, Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah, Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests during the time of Jeshua.
This is the story of something that happened in the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled from India to Ethiopia—127 provinces in all. King Xerxes ruled from his royal throne in the palace complex of Susa. In the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers. The military brass of Persia and Media were also there, along with the princes and governors of the provinces.
So the king’s secretaries were brought in on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan, and the order regarding the Jews was written word for word as Mordecai dictated and was addressed to the satraps, governors, and officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces in all, to each province in its own script and each people in their own language, including the Jews in their script and language.