Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel in their towns.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The repetition of "in their cities" isn't just about settling down; it's a quiet triumph. It signifies that these distinct groups—priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and all the rest of Israel—are reclaiming their God-given places, their inheritance, and their distinct roles within the community. It underscores the fulfillment of promises and the re-establishment of order after exile.
Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel in their towns.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse summarizes the settling of the returned exiles after their arduous journey back from Babylon. It highlights that the various religious roles—priests, Levites, singers, and temple servants—along with the rest of the Israelite community, took up residence in their ancestral towns, marking a return to their promised land and a restoration of their way of life. This final detail of the chapter emphasizes the completion of their physical return and the beginning of their new life in the land God had given them.
After a long exile, the people of God began to resettle. But where did they go, and how did they organize?
The returnees didn't just land anywhere; they moved back into the cities that had belonged to their ancestral families. This wasn't random; it was a deliberate re-establishment of order and identity.
This wasn't just a small group returning; it was a significant moment for the entire nation. What does this resettlement signify for 'all Israel'?
The concluding phrase, "and all Israel in their cities," is powerful. It emphasizes that this return was a national undertaking, not just for a select few.
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Understand the original words
Lewi · Hebrew Noun
Members of the tribe of Levi who served in the tabernacle and later the Temple, assisting the priests and maintaining the sacred site.
sho'er · Hebrew Noun
Officials appointed to guard the entrances of the Temple area, ensuring the sanctity and security of the holy site.
nethin · Hebrew Noun
Specifically, the Nethinim, individuals assigned to perform menial tasks within the Temple precincts as servants to the priests and Levites.
This verse marks the culmination of the return from exile, with various groups settling back into the ancestral towns that had been abandoned for decades. It highlights a sense of restoration and re-establishment in their God-given lands.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (10 tribes) was conquered by the Assyrians, leading to the exile of many of its people and the disruption of their ancestral lands.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deported key citizens, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, from Judah to Babylon.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple, exiling most of the remaining population of Judah to Babylon.
c. 538 BC
Cyrus Cylinder Decree
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon and issued a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
c. 537 BC
First Return of Exiles to Judah
Led by Zerubbabel, a large group of Jewish exiles returned from Babylon to Judah to rebuild the Temple and their community.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Return to Jerusalem
Ezra, a scribe and priest, led another group of exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem to re-establish religious law and order.
c. 445 BC— this verse
Nehemiah's Return and Wall Rebuilding
Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king, returned to Jerusalem to oversee the rebuilding of the city walls, facing significant opposition.
This passage describes the initial decree allowing the exiles to return and rebuild, setting the stage for the settlement in their cities mentioned in Ezra 2:70.
Nehemiah 7:73This verse appears in a parallel account and provides a very similar summary of the various groups settling back into their ancestral towns.
1 Chronicles 9:1-3This passage details the families who first returned and settled in Jerusalem and other towns, mirroring the organized resettlement described in Ezra 2:70.
Psalm 122:1-5This psalm expresses joy and peace about Jerusalem and the tribes gathering there, reflecting the hopeful spirit of the people returning to their cities and communities.
clarkeEzra 2:70: "So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities."
Dwelt in their cities - They all went to those cities which belonged originally to their respective families.
henryEzra 2:64-70: "The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,"
2:64-70 Let none complain of the needful expenses of their religion. Seek first the kingdom of God, his favour and his glory, then will all other things be added unto them. Their offerings were nothing, compared with the offerings of the princes in David's time; yet, being according to their ability, were as acceptable to God. The Lord will carry us through all undertakings entered on accord…
The repetition of "in their cities" isn't just about settling down; it's a quiet triumph. It signifies that these distinct groups—priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and all the rest of Israel—are reclaiming their God-given places, their inheritance, and their distinct roles within the community. It underscores the fulfillment of promises and the re-establishment of order after exile.
This verse summarizes the settling of the returned exiles after their arduous journey back from Babylon. It highlights that the various religious roles—priests, Levites, singers, and temple servants—along with the rest of the Israelite community, took up residence in their ancestral towns, marking a return to their promised land and a restoration of their way of life. This final detail of the chapter emphasizes the completion of their physical return and the beginning of their new life in the land God had given them.
This verse summarizes the settling of the returned exiles after their arduous journey back from Babylon. It highlights that the various religious roles—priests, Levites, singers, and temple servants—along with the rest of the Israelite community, took up residence in their ancestral towns, marking a return to their promised land and a restoration of their way of life. This final detail of the chapter emphasizes the completion of their physical return and the beginning of their new life in the land God had given them.
"Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel in their towns." — The repetition of "in their cities" isn't just about settling down; it's a quiet triumph. It signifies that these distinct groups—priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and all the…
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Last reviewed October 2026