Ezra 2:36-38
The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. The sons of Immer, 1,052. The sons of Pashhur, 1,247.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
It's easy to read this as just a number, but notice "of the house of Jeshua." This phrase hints that this specific family of priests, the Jedaiah clan, was deeply connected to the high priestly lineage through Jeshua. This wasn't just any priestly group; they carried a particular honor and responsibility tied to the very top of the spiritual leadership.
This verse is part of a detailed census listing the returnees from Babylonian exile, specifically cataloging the priestly families. It follows the general counts of the people of Judah and Benjamin and begins the enumeration of the Levites, starting with the priests themselves, who held a crucial role in worship. The subsequent verses continue to list other priestly and Levitical families and their numbers, all contributing to the picture of a community re-establishing its religious life.
Imagine a world where access to God felt distant, where rituals were the only bridge. The priests in Ezra's day were the vital link for the entire community.
The Heart of Worship
The book of Ezra meticulously lists those returning to Jerusalem, and it starts with the priests. This isn't just a genealogical roll call; it highlights their foundational role in Israel's spiritual life.
Family names, especially in ancient times, carried immense weight. For priests, tracing their lineage was crucial for their sacred duties.
More Than Just Names
Ezra names specific priestly families, like the sons of Jedaiah, and links them to a significant house – that of Jeshua. This level of detail isn't arbitrary; it signifies continuity and belonging.
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 list of returnees, including specific priestly families like Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, highlights the organized and lineage-conscious nature of the community re-establishing itself in Jerusalem after the trauma of exile and the rebuilding of their sacred center.
c. 538 BC— this verse
First Return from Exile
Following the decree of Cyrus the Great, many Judeans, including priests, Levites, and ordinary people, returned from Babylonian exile to Jerusalem.
c. 537 BC
Rebuilding the Temple Foundation
Upon their return, the exiles, under the leadership of Zerubbabel, first re-established the altar for sacrifices and laid the foundation for the Second Temple.
c. 536 BC
Opposition to Temple Reconstruction
Local inhabitants and adversaries presented challenges and sowed discouragement, hindering the progress of the Temple rebuilding efforts.
c. 520 BC
Resumption of Temple Building
Encouraged by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest recommenced the work on the Temple, completing it a few years later.
This passage lists the twenty-four divisions of priests established by King David, providing context for the specific priestly families like Jedaiah and Immer mentioned in Ezra's account of the return from exile.
Nehemiah 7:39-42This chapter contains a nearly identical census list of those who returned from Babylonian exile, specifically including the same four priestly families and their numbers, reinforcing the historical accuracy and importance of this genealogical record.
Haggai 2:1-9This prophecy, given during the time of the return and rebuilding of the temple, speaks to the legitimacy and future glory of the new house of God, giving spiritual weight to the presence and role of the priests in re-establishing worship.
Malachi 3:1-3This prophecy anticipates a 'messenger of the covenant' who will purify the sons of Levi (the priestly line), highlighting the ongoing spiritual need for purity and divine affirmation within the priestly order, even after their return.
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 read this as just a number, but notice "of the house of Jeshua." This phrase hints that this specific family of priests, the Jedaiah clan, was deeply connected to the high priestly lineage through Jeshua. This wasn't just any priestly group; they carried a particular honor and responsibility tied to the very top of the spiritual leadership.
This verse is part of a detailed census listing the returnees from Babylonian exile, specifically cataloging the priestly families. It follows the general counts of the people of Judah and Benjamin and begins the enumeration of the Levites, starting with the priests themselves, who held a crucial role in worship. The subsequent verses continue to list other priestly and Levitical families and their numbers, all contributing to the picture of a community re-establishing its religious life.
This verse is part of a detailed census listing the returnees from Babylonian exile, specifically cataloging the priestly families. It follows the general counts of the people of Judah and Benjamin and begins the enumeration of the Levites, starting with the priests themselves, who held a crucial role in worship. The subsequent verses continue to list other priestly and Levitical families and their numbers, all contributing to the picture of a community re-establishing its religious life.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Ezra 2:36-38 is available in the Sola app.
"The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. The sons of Immer, 1,052. The sons of Pashhur, 1,247." — It's easy to read this as just a number, but notice "of the house of Jeshua." This phrase hints that this specific family of priests, the Jedaiah clan, was deeply connected to the high priestly linea…
