The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. The sons of Immer, 1,052.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to skim over this verse, but notice how it specifies "the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua." This tells us these priests belonged to a specific family line, the Jedaiahs, but also highlights their connection to the revered house of Jeshua, likely referencing a significant ancestor or even the High Priest himself. This dual identity reveals the deep genealogies that mattered for belonging and identity within the priesthood.
The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. The sons of Immer, 1,052.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezra 2 lists the genealogies of those returning to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile, detailing the descendants of various families. This verse specifically focuses on the priests, noting the substantial number of Jedaiah's lineage, identified as belonging to the house of Jeshua, who was likely the high priest at the time. The subsequent verses continue to enumerate other priestly and Levitical families, all part of this detailed census of the returning community.
This verse lists a specific priestly family, but why highlight them? What makes the 'house of Jedaiah' significant among all the priests returning from exile?
The return from exile was a pivotal moment, and the genealogies are meticulously recorded to show the continuity of God's people and His promises. The priests, as intercessors and mediators, were crucial for rebuilding the temple and restoring worship.
The Second Course
The house of Jedaiah is noted as the second of David's original twenty-four priestly courses mentioned in Chronicles. Their large number, 973 individuals, signifies a substantial portion of the priestly contingent returning. This wasn't just a random group; they represented a specific, recognized order within the Levitical priesthood, tasked with a vital role in the new era of worship.
The phrase 'of the house of Jeshua' adds a layer of detail. What does this connection to Jeshua signify for the Jedaiah family and the broader community?
The connection to Jeshua is debated among scholars, but a strong understanding is that Jeshua was likely the High Priest at the time of the return.
Linking to the High Priesthood
When a priestly family is linked to the High Priest's lineage, it underscores their authority and importance in the community. Even though the house of Jedaiah was numerically the second or even the least important of the returning priestly families, being associated with the house of Jeshua (the High Priest) would have given them a unique status and priority. It shows how lineage and appointed leadership were critical in re-establishing the religious order.
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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 list details the return from Babylonian exile, a pivotal moment. The inclusion of specific priestly families like the sons of Jedaiah, numbering 973, highlights the restoration of religious order and the importance of lineage in re-establishing the community and its worship after decades of exile.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar deports many Judeans, including members of the royal family and skilled workers, to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
587/586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, with a further, larger deportation of Judeans to Babylon.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers the Neo-Babylonian Empire, leading to the Edict of Cyrus which allows exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus the Great issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem.
537 BC— this verse
Return of Exiles
The first significant group of Jewish exiles, including priests and Levites, returns to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua the high priest, beginning the process of rebuilding.
c. 515 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
The Second Temple in Jerusalem is completed and dedicated, a major milestone in the restoration of Jewish religious life after the exile.
This passage lists the courses of priests established by David, showing that the house of Jedaiah was one of these prominent families, providing historical context for their significant number returning from exile.
Nehemiah 7:39-42This passage in Nehemiah provides an almost identical list and count for these same priestly families, reinforcing the accuracy and importance of this record for the post-exilic community.
Ezra 3:2This verse mentions Jeshua the priest (likely the High Priest of that time) and Zerubbabel taking their positions to build the altar, highlighting the leadership role of priests like Jeshua in the community's restoration.
Haggai 1:1This prophecy is addressed to Zerubbabel and Jeshua the priest, underscoring their crucial leadership roles in re-establishing worship and rebuilding the Temple after the return from exile.
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.
It's easy to skim over this verse, but notice how it specifies "the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua." This tells us these priests belonged to a specific family line, the Jedaiahs, but also highlights their connection to the revered house of Jeshua, likely referencing a significant ancestor or even the High Priest himself. This dual identity reveals the deep genealogies that mattered for belonging and identity within the priesthood.
Ezra 2 lists the genealogies of those returning to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile, detailing the descendants of various families. This verse specifically focuses on the priests, noting the substantial number of Jedaiah's lineage, identified as belonging to the house of Jeshua, who was likely the high priest at the time. The subsequent verses continue to enumerate other priestly and Levitical families, all part of this detailed census of the returning community.
Ezra 2 lists the genealogies of those returning to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile, detailing the descendants of various families. This verse specifically focuses on the priests, noting the substantial number of Jedaiah's lineage, identified as belonging to the house of Jeshua, who was likely the high priest at the time. The subsequent verses continue to enumerate other priestly and Levitical families, all part of this detailed census of the returning community.
"The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. The sons of Immer, 1,052." — It's easy to skim over this verse, but notice how it specifies "the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua." This tells us these priests belonged to a specific family line, the Jedaiahs, but a…
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Last reviewed October 2026