Ezra 2:36
The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Ezra 2:36
The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
While Jedaiah was a priestly family line listed among David's divisions, the phrase "of the house of Jeshua" indicates they were a branch within a larger, possibly high-priestly, lineage. This detail highlights how even within the dedicated service of God, specific family and ancestral connections were significant markers of identity and belonging.
This verse is part of a large list detailing the people returning from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel. It specifically lists the families and numbers of the priests, focusing on the lineage of Jedaiah and noting their connection to Jeshua, likely the high priest at that time. The context shows Ezra meticulously recording who returned, which is crucial for rebuilding the temple and restoring community life according to God's law.
Why does the list of returnees from exile begin with the priests? What does this tell us about their role in God's unfolding plan?
The book of Ezra meticulously records the lineage of those returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. It's no accident that the very first group mentioned is the priests (Ezra 2:36-39). This isn't just a dry genealogical list; it highlights the critical importance of the priestly order in re-establishing worship and covenant faithfulness in the promised land.
The verse mentions both 'Jedaiah' and 'Jeshua.' What's the significance of these names, and how do they connect the returning priests to their ancestors?
The text identifies the priests as belonging to the 'house of Jedaiah' and, more specifically, a branch within that lineage named after 'Jeshua.' This isn't just about naming names; it’s about tracing continuity and identity through ancestry.
Understand the original words
koh-hane · Hebrew Noun
A mediator between God and man, authorized to offer sacrifices and perform sacred duties in the temple or tabernacle on behalf of the people. They were descendants of Aaron and held a set-apart position of holiness.
bane · Hebrew Noun
A term used to denote ancestral descent or membership in a specific family group, emphasizing the historical identity and covenantal continuity of the Israelites as a people belonging to God.
This detailed census of those returning from exile highlights the significant number of priests who re-established their roles, providing a crucial link between the pre-exilic Temple worship and its restoration in Jerusalem.
c. 587 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroying the Temple and exiling many Judeans, including priests and Levites, to Babylon.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire, creating a new political reality for the exiles.
538 BC
Cyrus' Decree allowing return
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, marking the beginning of the return.
c. 537-536 BC— this verse
First Return of Exiles
The first significant group of exiles, led by Zerubbabel and including priests and Levites, returns to Judah to begin rebuilding.
This passage lists the courses of the priests established by David, and Jedaiah is named as the head of the second course, providing historical context for the families returning.
Nehemiah 7:39-42This is a parallel account of the return from exile, listing the same four priestly families and their numbers, reinforcing the historical record.
1 Corinthians 9:13-14Paul references the Old Testament principle that those who serve the altar should live from the altar, connecting the practical provision for priests in Ezra to a spiritual principle about those who serve God.
Hebrews 7:11-12This passage discusses the inadequacy of the Levitical priesthood and the need for a new priesthood after the order of Melchizedek, offering a theological perspective on the ongoing significance and eventual fulfillment of the priestly line.
henryEzra 2:36-63: "The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three."
2:36-63 Those who undervalue their relation to the Lord in times of reproach, persecution, or distress, will have no benefit from it when it becomes honourable or profitable. Those who have no evidence that they are, by the new birth, spiritual priests unto God, through Jesus Christ, have no right to the comforts and privileges of Christians.
clarkeEzra 2:36: "The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three."
The priests - The preceding list takes in the census of Judah and Benjamin.
While Jedaiah was a priestly family line listed among David's divisions, the phrase "of the house of Jeshua" indicates they were a branch within a larger, possibly high-priestly, lineage. This detail highlights how even within the dedicated service of God, specific family and ancestral connections were significant markers of identity and belonging.
This verse is part of a large list detailing the people returning from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel. It specifically lists the families and numbers of the priests, focusing on the lineage of Jedaiah and noting their connection to Jeshua, likely the high priest at that time. The context shows Ezra meticulously recording who returned, which is crucial for rebuilding the temple and restoring community life according to God's law.
This verse is part of a large list detailing the people returning from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel. It specifically lists the families and numbers of the priests, focusing on the lineage of Jedaiah and noting their connection to Jeshua, likely the high priest at that time. The context shows Ezra meticulously recording who returned, which is crucial for rebuilding the temple and restoring community life according to God's law.
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This detailed tracing ensures that God's people understood their inheritance and their specific place within the ongoing story of God's covenant people.
With nearly a thousand priests returning, what does this significant number reveal about the state of the priesthood after exile?
The return of 973 priests from the lineage of Jedaiah is a striking detail. This wasn't a small, depleted group; it represented a substantial portion of the restored priestly order.
This large number underscores that God’s work of restoration included raising up a fully functional priesthood, ready to lead the people back into right relationship with Him.
"The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973." — While Jedaiah was a priestly family line listed among David's divisions, the phrase "of the house of Jeshua" indicates they were a branch within a larger, possibly high-priestly, lineage. This detail…