Ezra 2:3-8
the sons of Parosh, 2,172. The sons of Shephatiah, 372. The sons of Arah, 775. The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812. The sons of Elam, 1,254. The sons of Zattu, 945.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This seemingly dry list isn't just about names and numbers; it's a picture of God's faithfulness. Even after exile, these "children" or descendants are tracing their lineage back to an original founder, showing how God preserved family lines and brought them back to their homeland.
This chapter begins an account of the families who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile, listing their numbers and ancestral lines. The "sons of Parosh" are the first family group mentioned, followed by a lengthy catalog of other clans and their respective totals. This detailed census is crucial for understanding the rebuilding of the community and the temple in post-exilic Jerusalem.
Ever wonder if your family name carries a story? This verse lists a name, a number, and a whole lot of history.
When you read "the children of Parosh," it’s easy to just see a name and a count. But in the context of Ezra, "children" here isn't just about immediate offspring. It signifies the entire lineage, the descendants who carried the family name and legacy forward through generations.
Think of it as an entire clan, not just a few individuals. This wasn't just a group of people; it was the descendants of Parosh, a family line tracing back to their ancestor. They weren't just individuals making a decision; they were representatives of their heritage, returning to their ancestral land.
A family name like 'Parosh' might sound unusual, but the return of over 2,000 of them speaks volumes.
The name 'Parosh' itself is sometimes linked to meanings like 'flea,' which seems an unlikely name for a prominent family returning from exile. What's more significant, however, is the act of their return.
This wasn't just a random gathering; it was a structured return of specific families. The detailed listing in Ezra chapter 2 shows us that God cares about the details of His people, including their family affiliations and their numbers. It highlights that this return wasn't just about rebuilding a city, but about restoring families and communities to their rightful place.
Understand the original words
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.
beney · Hebrew Noun (plural construct)
A phrase referring to descendants of a specific patriarch, ancestor, or family head. In the post-exilic context of Ezra, these designations were essential for establishing tribal identity, inheritance rights, and eligibility for service in the rebuilt community and temple.
Pahath-Moab · Hebrew Proper Noun
The name of a Jewish family or clan that returned from Babylonian exile. The name literally means 'governor of Moab' or 'pit of Moab,' and identifies a specific ancestral line within the tribe of Judah.
Yeshua · Hebrew Proper Noun
This list in Ezra 2 isn't just a headcount; it's a testament to God's faithfulness in bringing His people back from exile, detailing the specific families like Parosh who journeyed home to rebuild their lives and their worship.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Judah and begins deporting Israelites, including nobility and skilled workers, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, leading to a second, larger deportation of Judeans to Babylon. This event deepens the crisis for the exiled people.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the Babylonian Empire. This conquest ushers in a new era and offers hope for the return of exiled peoples.
538 BC
Cyrus's Decree for Return
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This pivotal moment initiates the return journey.
This verse provides a parallel account of the same census, offering slightly different numbers and confirming the importance of these family lists for understanding the returning exiles.
Ezra 8:3This passage mentions descendants of Parosh returning with Ezra years later, showing the enduring legacy of this family line beyond the initial return from exile.
Ezra 10:25This verse directly names individuals from the family of Parosh who had married foreign wives, illustrating the challenges and spiritual struggles faced by the returned community.
1 Chronicles 5:24This passage lists prominent families in the Transjordan, highlighting that such detailed genealogies and family affiliations were a crucial part of Israelite identity and history.
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 2:3: "The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two."
i.e. The posterity (as that word is for the most part, if not constantly, taken in this catalogue) that descended either from Parosh, or from that family whereof Parosh was the chief. And so for the rest.
This seemingly dry list isn't just about names and numbers; it's a picture of God's faithfulness. Even after exile, these "children" or descendants are tracing their lineage back to an original founder, showing how God preserved family lines and brought them back to their homeland.
This chapter begins an account of the families who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile, listing their numbers and ancestral lines. The "sons of Parosh" are the first family group mentioned, followed by a lengthy catalog of other clans and their respective totals. This detailed census is crucial for understanding the rebuilding of the community and the temple in post-exilic Jerusalem.
This chapter begins an account of the families who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile, listing their numbers and ancestral lines. The "sons of Parosh" are the first family group mentioned, followed by a lengthy catalog of other clans and their respective totals. This detailed census is crucial for understanding the rebuilding of the community and the temple in post-exilic Jerusalem.
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A name derived from the Hebrew 'Yehoshua,' meaning 'Yahweh is salvation.' It was a prominent name given to various figures, including the successor of Moses and a post-exilic leader.
Yo'ab · Hebrew Proper Noun
A Hebrew name meaning 'Yahweh is father.' It was borne by several biblical figures, most notably the commander of King David's army.
'Elam · Hebrew Proper Noun
The name of an ancestral head and his descendants among the returning exiles. The name likely means 'hidden' or 'eternity.'
Zattu' · Hebrew Proper Noun
The name of a clan among the returned exiles. The meaning of the name is obscure but is traditionally associated with a family line recorded in post-exilic genealogies.
c. 537 BC— this verse
First Return under Zerubbabel
The first wave of exiles, led by Zerubbabel, returns to Jerusalem. Ezra chapter 2 lists the specific families and their numbers who made this journey.
c. 458 BC
Second Return with Ezra
A later group of exiles, led by Ezra, returns to Jerusalem. Some family names reappear in this list, indicating a continued presence or lineage from those who returned earlier.
"the sons of Parosh, 2,172. The sons of Shephatiah, 372. The sons of Arah, 775. The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812. The sons of Elam, 1,254. The sons of Zattu, 945." — This seemingly dry list isn't just about names and numbers; it's a picture of God's faithfulness. Even after exile, these "children" or descendants are tracing their lineage back to an original found…
