Ezra 2:25
The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Ezra 2:25
The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
It's easy to glance over this verse as just another headcount, but notice how these names – Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, Beeroth – carry echoes of significant biblical history. These weren't just random towns; they were places connected to the Gibeonites, the ark of the covenant, and even a place where Jesus was momentarily lost, reminding us that even the ordinary lists in Scripture often point to extraordinary divine involvement.
Ezra chapter 2 is a long list of names and numbers, detailing the families returning to Jerusalem after their exile in Babylon. This particular verse is part of that exhaustive census, focusing on the descendants from the cities of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth. These cities, with their own unique histories, are simply being accounted for as part of the larger group making the journey back to their homeland.
This verse lists the sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth. Ever heard of them? They were a unique group with a surprising history in Israel.
A Deeper Identity
These cities – Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth – weren't just any towns. They were originally part of the Gibeonite cities. Remember the Gibeonites? They famously tricked Joshua and the Israelites into making a treaty with them instead of being wiped out (Joshua 9).
Later, these cities were assigned to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Kiriath-arim, in particular, has a significant past::
Chephirah and Beeroth also have their own histories, connected to important events and figures in Israel's story.
More Than a Census
Listing these names and their number (743) isn't just about record-keeping. It’s about showing that these communities, despite their complicated origins, were now fully integrated into the people of God returning from exile.
Seven hundred and forty-three. Why is this specific number so important in the grand story of the return from exile?
The Significance of Detail
Ezra meticulously records the numbers of those returning. This isn't just a dry historical list; it's a testament to God's faithfulness. Each number represents individuals, families, and a community being restored.
Understand the original words
Qiryat Arim · Hebrew Proper Noun
An ancient Gibeonite city (also known as Kiriath-jearim). Its inclusion in the census lists the recovery and resettlement of cities that were once significant in Israel's history, reflecting God's faithfulness in restoring the inheritance of His people.
Kephirah · Hebrew Proper Noun
A town associated with the Gibeonites, symbolizing the expansion of the returned remnant into diverse areas of the land, demonstrating the breadth of the restoration after the Babylonian captivity.
Beeroth · Hebrew Proper Noun
A city also associated with the Gibeonite league, marking the boundaries of the resettled area and illustrating the organized, systematic return of the Israelites to their respective ancestral towns.
This list details the return of the exiles to Judah, as recorded in Ezra. The cities of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, with their 743 inhabitants, are part of this post-exilic resettlement effort.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan
The Israelites, having been freed from slavery in Egypt, conquer the land of Canaan. The cities of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth are established and later assigned to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
c. 1000 BC
Ark of the Covenant rests at Kiriath-arim
After being returned by the Philistines, the Ark of the Covenant is housed in Kiriath-arim for about 70 years, making it a significant religious site.
605 BC
First deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, begins his campaigns against Judah, leading to the first wave of exiles being taken to Babylon.
597 BC
Second deportation to Babylon
A larger group of Judeans, including royalty and skilled artisans, are exiled to Babylon following further unrest in Jerusalem.
586 BC
This passage lists the same towns (Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth) as part of the returnees, confirming their historical presence and inclusion in this census.
Joshua 9:17It identifies Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim as Gibeonite cities, showing their ancient significance before the return from exile.
1 Samuel 6:21This verse notes that the Ark of the Covenant rested in Kiriath-jearim, highlighting the town's sacred history prior to the Babylonian exile.
2 Samuel 4:2Beeroth is mentioned as the hometown of assassins who murdered Ishbosheth, illustrating the historical and sometimes dark events connected to these towns.
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!
pooleEzra 2:25: "The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three."
Kirath-arim , or Kirjath-jearim , as it is Nehemiah 7:29 .
It's easy to glance over this verse as just another headcount, but notice how these names – Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, Beeroth – carry echoes of significant biblical history. These weren't just random towns; they were places connected to the Gibeonites, the ark of the covenant, and even a place where Jesus was momentarily lost, reminding us that even the ordinary lists in Scripture often point to extraordinary divine involvement.
Ezra chapter 2 is a long list of names and numbers, detailing the families returning to Jerusalem after their exile in Babylon. This particular verse is part of that exhaustive census, focusing on the descendants from the cities of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth. These cities, with their own unique histories, are simply being accounted for as part of the larger group making the journey back to their homeland.
Ezra chapter 2 is a long list of names and numbers, detailing the families returning to Jerusalem after their exile in Babylon. This particular verse is part of that exhaustive census, focusing on the descendants from the cities of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth. These cities, with their own unique histories, are simply being accounted for as part of the larger group making the journey back to their homeland.
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Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, bringing about the final, massive deportation of the Judean population into exile in Babylon.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire, paving the way for the return of exiled peoples to their homelands.
538 BC— this verse
Cyrus's decree allows Jewish return
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jews to return from exile and rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem. This marks the beginning of the return journeys.
"The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743." — It's easy to glance over this verse as just another headcount, but notice how these names – Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, Beeroth – carry echoes of significant biblical history. These weren't just random…