This verse subtly highlights the profound shift in their identity: "the province" points to Judah, no longer a mighty kingdom but a subdued territory, reminding them of the humbling consequences of their sin. It's a stark contrast between who they were and their current reality as they begin to return home.
Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: the sons of Parosh, 2,172.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse kicks off a detailed census of those returning to Jerusalem and Judah after being exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. It's the start of a new section in Ezra, marking the beginning of the physical restoration of God's people to their promised land, reminding them of the profound change from a once-great kingdom to a subject province.
The returnees are called 'children of the province,' a term that carries a sting of lost glory. But it's also a reminder of God's faithfulness.
The word 'province' here is a stark reminder of Israel's fallen state. What was once a proud, independent kingdom was now a territory under foreign rule, first Babylon, then Persia. This wasn't just a political downgrade; it was a consequence of their sin. However, calling them 'children of the province' also highlights their identity and their destined return to their ancestral homeland. It’s a label of their past humiliation, but also a pointer to their future restoration and God’s enduring covenant with them.
The desire to return 'each to his own town' wasn't just about finding a place to live. It was about reclaiming identity and inheritance.
The phrase 'each to his own town' speaks volumes. It signifies more than just resettlement; it's about the restoration of family lines, ancestral lands, and a sense of belonging. For generations, they had been scattered and displaced. Now, the possibility of returning to the places their forefathers knew, where their family history was rooted, was a profound aspect of their homecoming. Even though some towns may have been ruined or occupied, the intention to return to their ancestral homes was a powerful symbol of rebuilding their lives and national identity.
Understand the original words
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medinah · Hebrew Noun
A geographical or political territory; in this context, it refers to the former kingdom of Judah, now organized as a province under the Persian Empire.
shebi · Hebrew Noun
The state of being held prisoner or in exile, often used to describe the divine judgment of Israel for their disobedience, resulting in removal from their land.
golah · Hebrew Noun
Those who have been forcibly removed from their homeland and settled in a foreign territory, a central theme of judgment and eventual restoration in the Old Testament.
galah · Hebrew Verb
The practice of taking people captive in war, involving forced relocation; biblically, it highlights the vulnerability of God's people under the power of foreign rulers.
Zerubbabel · Hebrew Proper Noun
A name meaning "sown in Babylon," he was a governor of Judah who led the first major wave of returnees from the Babylonian exile, symbolizing God’s faithfulness in preserving a remnant.
ben · Hebrew Noun
A term used to describe the descendants or the collective people group tracing their lineage to a specific ancestor or clan head, emphasizing covenant identity and tribal belonging.
This verse introduces the official register of those returning from Babylonian exile to Judah, which had become a Persian province. The term 'province' starkly highlights the dramatic fall from an independent kingdom to a subdued territory, a constant reminder of the consequences of their past disobedience.
598-597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports the Jewish king Jehoiachin, along with many nobles, craftsmen, and citizens, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity.
587-586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, carrying away a larger portion of the population into exile. This event marks the end of the Kingdom of Judah.
c. 538 BC
Cyrus Permits Return
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon and issues a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples. This marks the start of the return from exile.
c. 537 BC— this verse
First Return to Judah
The first significant group of Jewish exiles, led by Zerubbabel, returns to the province of Judah. They begin the process of rebuilding the Temple and re-establishing community life.
c. 516 BC
Rebuilding of the Temple
After many delays and challenges, the Second Temple in Jerusalem is finally completed and dedicated, symbolizing the restoration of Jewish religious life in the province.
This passage prophesies the 70-year exile in Babylon, setting the stage for the return described in Ezra 2:1 and highlighting God's faithfulness to His promises even after judgment.
2 Kings 25:11This verse describes the Babylonian conquest and exile, providing the direct historical context for the 'captivity' mentioned in Ezra 2:1.
Nehemiah 7:6This passage is a parallel account, listing many of the same families returning from exile, reinforcing the significance of this organized return and the detailed record-keeping.
Psalm 126:1This psalm beautifully captures the joy and astonishment of the exiles returning from captivity, mirroring the sentiment of rediscovery and restoration implied in Ezra 2:1.
Isaiah 44:28This prophecy speaks of Cyrus the Great as God's shepherd who would decree the rebuilding of Jerusalem, directly preceding and enabling the return described in Ezra 2:1.
clarkeEzra 2:1: "Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;"
These are the children of the province - That is, of Judea; once a kingdom, and a flourishing nation; now a province, subdued, tributary, and ruined! Behold the goodness and severity of God! Some think Babylon is meant by the province…
henryEzra 2:1-35: "Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;"
2:1-35 An account was kept of the families that came up out of captivity. See how sin lowers a nation, which righteousness would exalt!
This verse subtly highlights the profound shift in their identity: "the province" points to Judah, no longer a mighty kingdom but a subdued territory, reminding them of the humbling consequences of their sin. It's a stark contrast between who they were and their current reality as they begin to return home.
This verse kicks off a detailed census of those returning to Jerusalem and Judah after being exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. It's the start of a new section in Ezra, marking the beginning of the physical restoration of God's people to their promised land, reminding them of the profound change from a once-great kingdom to a subject province.
This verse kicks off a detailed census of those returning to Jerusalem and Judah after being exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. It's the start of a new section in Ezra, marking the beginning of the physical restoration of God's people to their promised land, reminding them of the profound change from a once-great kingdom to a subject province.
"Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. They came with…" — This verse subtly highlights the profound shift in their identity: "the province" points to Judah, no longer a mighty kingdom but a subdued territory, reminding them of the humbling consequences of t…
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Last reviewed October 2026
