Ezra 2:1–35

What a humbling description: "the people of the province who came up out of the captivity"! Pride forgets and hides such things. Faith, cleared and cheered by grace, can afford on the darkest day to admit the truth: Israel may change, but the Lord does not change. That is why the sons of Jacob are not destroyed. His own people may well be ashamed of themselves; they glory in Him alone, and in His grace toward them. Yet they were still under the Gentile powers, as Christ Himself pressed home to their rebellious spirits.

As we all know, God redeemed the people out of Egypt, and still they failed completely. They fell again and again into idolatry under their kings, until the captivity in Babylon came. When the foretold period had passed, Cyrus allowed a return to rebuild the temple, and we read, "Now these were the people of the province who came up OUT of the captivity" (Ezra 2:1). Once more God called His people out, though only a few of the many answered.

The very existence of this list shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people, however weakly they had entered into His thoughts about His house. That is why He has kept it on record. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work, and that He knows the names of His people and makes them known. This encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and falling away.

This chapter contains the names of the returning remnant. It is a sample page of the records God keeps. From it we may learn that He remembers His people, that He knows them by name, and that He does not forget their works. Nehemiah repeats this list (chapter 7), and adds a record of those who helped build the wall. He has a book of remembrance (Mal. 3:16). The apostle reminded the Hebrew believers of this when he wrote: "For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do" (Heb. 6:10).

In the land of their exile they had not taken the same care over who had a right to a place and who was qualified. Babylon stands for the corruption that holds God's people in bondage through their sins. So their time in captivity was a careless time. They were suffering under the hand of their God, yet it was still a time of confusion and disorder. It had to be, since they had no temple, no sacrifices, and were without the Lord's presence. But now, through the mercy of their God, there had been a recovery... and now that the Lord's house was to be their centre once more, they were right to examine the claim of everyone who had returned from Babylon.

This remnant of Judah returned to Jerusalem under Cyrus, to wait for the Messiah and welcome Him. They are not the true remnant. Even so, the Holy Spirit presents them as showing the marks a believing remnant should take on in a time of ruin. They are a most helpful example for us Christians, who now find ourselves among the ruins of Christendom: an example that teaches us how we may be witnesses of God in hard circumstances.

The very existence of this list shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. They may have had only a weak grasp of His thoughts about His house. Even so, He kept this list on record. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It shows too that He knows and announces the very names of His people, to encourage everyone to walk in His ways.

God took note of them and put their names into His record. Those whose hearts did not stir them up to go He passed over in silence. Let us take note of this.

They were still subject to the Gentile powers, and Christ Himself pressed this on their rebellious hearts. His first coming did not change it, because they were sinful and unbelieving... So the first named is not the high priest, but the heir without the throne of David.

The first name mentioned is Zerubbabel, who became the "Tirshatha," or civil governor; the second, Jeshua, the priest called Joshua in the books of Haggai and Zechariah. These were the leaders in the migration of 42,360 people, besides some servants and other possessions. The kingdom was not restored, as though the times of the Gentiles had ended.

There were twelve leaders. Ezra gives only eleven. Nehemiah's record adds one more name, Nahamani, making twelve in all. Zerubbabel was the leader of the returning captives. His name means "seed of Babylon." Scripture calls him the son of Shealtiel, the son or grandson of Jeconiah, so he was a descendant of David. His name appears in the two genealogies of Matthew (1:12) and Luke (3:27)... The second leader was Jeshua, also called Joshua. He was a son of Jehozadak and grandson of the high priest Seraiah. Zerubbabel the royal leader, son of David, and Joshua the high priest are both types of Christ.

The Nehemiah mentioned here cannot be the Nehemiah whose book follows Ezra, for he did not come at first, nor with so large a company (Nehemiah 2:9).

One who returned from exile, Nehemiah 7:7: supposed, as in the margin, to be the same as Seraiah in Ezra 2:2.

"How can a minority be right? When Israel left Egypt, they were 600,000 men plus families. When they entered the land of Canaan, they were about the same number. Since then, the people must have grown. And now there were just 43,000 who think Jerusalem is the place to be." But faith does not look to the numbers for guidance, but at God's word.

There was a definite revival, and the first mark of it was this: they got back to God's original centre. Compared with the whole number of scattered Jews they were only a few. Many worldly people may have nicknamed them "Zerubbabelites." Still, they were not that. They were simply a few who cared for their God and sought His original centre.

There are several interesting things to notice in the record. The first is that the list exists at all. That shows how precious to God was the response which His grace had produced in the hearts of His people, however feebly they may have entered into His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has caused this list to be preserved. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work, and that the very names of His people are known and proclaimed. This encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to be identified with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and falling away.

Still, is it not a precious truth that God takes pleasure in letting His people know that every one of them is prized by Him? A sad change had come through Israel's sin, through Judah's sin, and not least through the sin of David's house. Sin gives occasion to His grace, but it cannot be without man's humiliation, and faith takes account of both. But God always waits to bless, and to give His own the proof and sense of His blessing. We see this even in the numbering of those who returned from Babylon.

So we see that the remnant are watchful to stand plainly and clearly as sons of the covenant. Descent by natural birth, in the line of promise, mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to the Christian. Never before had such jealous care been necessary, and it was needed most in the priests, as we shall see. But it was true of the people too: none but Israelites can be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

This very long chapter consists mainly of lists of names, most of them completely unknown to us. But God is pleased to take account of those who took this great step, those who went up out of the captivity, to Jerusalem (v. 1).

"How can a minority be right? When Israel left Egypt, they were 600,000 men plus families. When they entered the land of Canaan, they were about the same number. Since then the people must have grown. And now there are just 43,000 who think Jerusalem is the place to be."

But faith does not look to the numbers for guidance; it looks at God's word.

Dear saint of God, where are you? What feast are you keeping? Are the Lord's interests first, or your own? Your name may be in the Lamb's Book of Life. Every redeemed sinner's name is there, all of grace and mercy for Christ's sake alone. But does your name also have a place in what answers to Ezra 2?

The very fact that this list exists shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people — however feebly they may have entered into His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has kept the list on record. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that the very names of His people are known and announced, to encourage everyone to walk in His ways, to take their stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and apostasy.

24,144 people returned from the captivity. Zerubbabel and Jeshua (or Joshua) the high priest led them, helped by nine chief men. From verse 3 to verse 20 of chapter 2, they are listed by the name of their fathers. From verse 21 to verse 34 they are listed by the name of their cities. Those listed by their cities went to live in and re-people their home cities, once they had returned to Palestine.

So we see that this remnant are careful to stand plain and clear as sons of the covenant. Family descent in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to the Christian. Such care had never been so necessary before. No one but Israelites can be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

Then the answer was found: only those who could "show their father's house," or could find "their register," had the scriptural qualification for a place at the table of the Lord. In other words, we must have peace with God. We must know that we are children of God because we have the Spirit of adoption. That is how we show our Father's house and trace our genealogy. Without it we do not have the divine title required. Profession is not enough.

The gross amount in both is the same; yet the details oddly differ: how this is may not be so easy to decide. We know that numerals are especially liable to corruption, whether through the carelessness or the boldness of copyists. For instance, in Ezra 2:5 the sons of Arah are 775, in Nehemiah 7:10 they are 652.

Their individual names are not recorded, but the Lord knows them all. He cared for each one and kept them going on the journey home. In the same way He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory. If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For instance, the descendants of Arah are here 775, and in Nehemiah we find only 652. Probably 775 had enrolled their names, but only 652 went.

"How can a minority be right? When Israel left Egypt, they were 600,000 men plus families. When they entered the land of Canaan, they were about the same number. Since then, the people must have grown. And now there were just 43,000 who think Jerusalem is the place to be." But faith does not look to the numbers for guidance, but at God's word.

It is a sample page of the records which God keeps, and from it we may learn that He remembers His people, whom He knows by name and whose works are not forgotten by Him. He has a book of remembrance (Mal. 3:16); and the apostle reminded the Hebrew believers of this fact when he wrote: "For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do" (Heb. 6:10).

There are several interesting things to notice in the record. The first is that the list exists at all. That shows how precious to God was the response which His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. They may have grasped His thoughts about His house only weakly. For this reason He has kept this list on record. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that He knows the very names of His people and proclaims them. This is an encouragement to everyone to walk in His ways, to be identified with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and apostasy.

Chapter two, apart from the last three verses, gives the number of those who answered the proclamation. They are listed under the heads of their families. The heads are named and the families counted. God took note of them and put their names in His record. Those whose hearts did not stir them up to go are passed over in silence. Let us take note of this.

Still, is it not a precious truth that God takes pleasure in letting His people know that every one of them is prized by Him? A sad change had come through Israel's sin and through Judah's, and not least through the sin of David's house. Sin does give occasion to His grace, but it cannot be without man's humiliation. Faith takes account of both. And God always waits to bless. He waits to give His own the proof and the sense of His blessing. We see this even in the numbering of those who returned from Babylon.

Their own names are not written down, but the Lord knows them all. He cared for each member and carried them through the journey home. In the same way He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory. If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For instance, the descendants of Arah are 775 here, and in Nehemiah only 652 are recorded. Probably 775 had enrolled their names, but only 652 went.

On the whole the lists agree. The overall total in both is the same, yet the details differ in striking ways. How this happened may not be so easy to decide. We know that numbers go wrong easily, whether a copyist was careless or too daring. For instance, in Ezra 2:5 the sons of Arah are 775, in Nehemiah 7:10 they are 652. … The totals of the servants, the houses, the males and the ages all agree. How good it is for the heart to know that the living God takes a real interest not only in His people, but in all that is theirs!

So we see that the remnant are watchful to stand clear and simple as sons of the covenant. Descent in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to the Christian. Never had such careful watchfulness been so necessary. It was needed most of all in the priests. But it was true of the people too: none but Israelites could be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

The first thing to notice is that this record exists at all. It shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. That is true however feebly they entered into His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has kept this list safe. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. The very names of His people are known and proclaimed, to encourage everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and apostasy.

Apart from its last three verses, chapter two gives the number of those who answered the proclamation, family by family. It names the heads and counts the families. God took note of them and put their names into His record. Those whose hearts did not stir them up to go, He passes over in silence. Let us take note of this.

'Governor of Moab.' A family who returned from exile, one of whom sealed the covenant, and several had married foreign wives. Ezra 2:6; Ezra 8:4; Ezra 10:30; Neh. 3:11; Neh. 7:11; Neh. 10:14.

So we see that the remnant are careful to stand clear and simple as sons of the covenant. Descent by natural birth inside the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to the Christian. Such careful watchfulness had never been needed before, and it was needed most among the priests. It was true of the people too: only Israelites could build a temple to the God of Israel.

The lists agree in substance. The overall total in both is the same, yet the details differ in a strange way. How that happened may not be easy to decide. We know that numbers are very easy to corrupt, whether through the carelessness or the boldness of copyists. For instance, the sons of Pahath-moab and of Binnui are each 6 more in Nehemiah; the sons of Zattu 100 less.

Their individual names are not recorded, but the Lord knows them all. He cared for each one and kept them going through the journey home. In the same way He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory. If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For example, the descendants of Arah are 775 here, and in Nehemiah only 652 are recorded. Probably 775 had enrolled their names, but only 652 went.

Several interesting details stand out in this record. The first is that the list exists at all. That shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people, however weakly they may have entered into His thoughts about His house. This is why He has kept this list safe. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work, and that He knows and announces the very names of His people.

Apart from the last three verses, chapter two gives details of how many answered the proclamation. It groups them under the heads of their families. The heads are named and the families counted. God took note of them and put their names into His record, while those whose hearts did not stir them up to go are passed over in silence. Let us take note of this.

24,144 people returned from the captivity (Ezra 2:1-35). Zerubbabel and Jeshua (or Joshua) the high priest led them, and nine chief men helped. Verses 3 to 20 of chapter 2 list them by the name of their fathers. Verses 21 to 34 list them by the name of their cities. Those listed by their cities went back to live in and refill their original cities, once they had returned to Palestine.

Two or more whose descendants returned from exile. Ezra 2:7, 31; Ezra 8:7; Neh. 7:12, 34.

The descendants of the different persons are now given. In all we find 24,144 descendants. Their individual names are not recorded, but the Lord knows them all, and cared for each member and sustained them on the journey homeward. Even so He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory. If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For instance, the descendants of Arah are here 775, and in Nehemiah we find only 652 recorded. Probably 775 had enrolled their names, but only 652 went.

So we see that the remnant are careful to stand plain and clear as sons of the covenant. Genealogy according to the flesh in the line of promise was as momentous to them as being born of God is to the Christian. Never had such jealous care been so necessary; and this where it was most needed — in the priests, as we shall see. But it was true of the people too: none but Israelites can be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

Still there was a definite revival, and the first mark of it was this: they got back to God's original centre. Compared with the whole number of scattered Jews they were only a few. Many worldly people may have nicknamed them 'Zerubbabelites'. They were not that. They were just a few who cared for their God and sought His original centre.

But faith does not look to the numbers for guidance, but at God's word.

Apart from the last three verses, chapter two sets out in detail how many answered the proclamation, listed under the heads of their families. It names the heads and counts the families. God took note of them and put their names into His record, while He says nothing of those whose hearts did not stir them up to go. Let us take note of this.

The list exists, and that shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. They may have entered only feebly into His thoughts about His house. Even so, He has kept this list, to show that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work, and that the very names of His people are known and proclaimed.

The descendants of the different persons are now given. In all we find 24,144 descendants. Their individual names are not recorded, but the Lord knows them all. He cared for each one and sustained them on the journey homeward. Even so He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory.

On the whole the lists agree. The total in both is the same, yet the details differ oddly, and it may not be easy to decide why. We know that numbers are especially open to corruption, through either the carelessness or the recklessness of copyists. For instance, in Ezra 2:5 the sons of Arah are 775, and in Nehemiah 7:10 they are 652; the sons of Zattu are 100 less. But to put such frequent and marked differences down to a copyist's mistake is hard to accept.

Leave aside the guess that copyists made mistakes. That guess is as easy to make as it is unlikely. We notice first that Nehemiah's list of the leaders of the people contains a name, Nahamani (v. 7), which Ezra 2 does not mention. Second, we see that the genealogical registers drawn up by Zerubbabel kept being updated over a longer or shorter period of time (see Neh. 12:23).

Here is the principle I want you to see. Though it was a day of weakness and humiliation, it was not to be a day of neglect but of the greatest care. God's people were to be as watchful and alert for His name as when everything stood in the full power and beauty of divine order.

Ancestor of some who returned from exile. Ezra 2:8; Neh. 7:13. Several of the family married foreign wives. Ezra 10:27.

Faith does not look to the numbers for guidance, but at God's word.

This chapter contains the names of the returning remnant. It is a sample page of the records God keeps. From it we may learn that He remembers His people. He knows them by name, and He does not forget their works.

The first thing to notice is this. The very existence of this record shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. This was true even though they may have entered only feebly into His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has had this list preserved. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that the very names of His people are known and announced. That encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to take His interests as their own, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and falling away.

The heads are named and the families counted. God took note of them and put their names into His record. Those whose hearts did not stir them up to go are passed over in silence. Let us take note of this.

So we see that the remnant are careful to stand clear and beyond question as sons of the covenant. Descent in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to the Christian. Never had such watchful care been so necessary... only Israelites could be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

This chapter shows the definite interest God had in every individual who returned from the captivity. So it records the number from each city, and the total number too.

"How can a minority be right? When Israel left Egypt, they were 600,000 men plus families... Since then, the people must have grown. And now there were just 43,000 who think Jerusalem is the place to be." But faith does not look to numbers for guidance. It looks to God's word.

This chapter does not give their individual names, but the Lord knows them all. He cared for each one and sustained them on the journey home... If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For instance, this list gives the descendants of Arah as 775, while Nehemiah gives only 652. Probably 775 had enrolled their names, but only 652 went.

The first thing to notice is that the list exists at all. That shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. They may have grasped His thoughts about His house only faintly. For this reason He kept this list on record. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that the very names of His people are known and announced. That encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to make His interests their own, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and turning away from God.

This chapter contains the names of the returning remnant. It is a sample page of the records God keeps. From it we learn that He remembers His people. He knows them by name, and He does not forget their works... He has a book of remembrance (Mal. 3:16). The apostle reminded the Hebrew believers of this when he wrote: "For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do" (Heb. 6:10).

On the whole, the lists agree. The overall total in both is the same. Yet the details differ strikingly, and it may not be easy to say why. Numbers are especially easy to corrupt, through a copyist's carelessness or his rashness. For instance, in Nehemiah the sons of Bebai are 5 more than here, and those of Azgad 1100 more.

Their individual names are not recorded, but the Lord knows them all, and He cared for each member and sustained them on the journey home. In the same way He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory. If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For instance, the descendants of Arah are 775 here, and in Nehemiah only 652 are recorded. Probably 775 had enrolled their names, but only 652 went.

So we see that the remnant are watchful to stand plainly and clearly as sons of the covenant. Descent by birth in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to a Christian. Never before had such jealous care been needed, and the priests needed it most. But it was true of the people too: they could allow no one but Israelites to build a temple to the God of Israel.

"How can a minority be right? When Israel left Egypt, they were 600,000 men plus families. When they entered the land of Canaan, they were about the same number. Since then the people must have grown. And now there were just 43,000 who think Jerusalem is the place to be."

But faith does not look to the numbers for guidance, but at God's word.

Two or three whose descendants returned from exile. Ezra 2:11; Ezra 8:11; Ezra 10:28; Neh. 7:16. And one who sealed the covenant. Neh. 10:15.

Several things in this record are worth noticing. Take the first. The list exists at all, and that shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. They may have entered into His thoughts about His house only feebly. For this reason He has kept this list. It is evidence that He sees with joy the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that the very names of His people are known and proclaimed. That encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to make His interests their own, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and apostasy.

Verses 3 to 20 of chapter 2 list them by the name of their fathers. Verses 21 to 34 list them by the name of their cities. Those listed by their cities came back to Palestine. Then they went to live in their home cities and fill them with people again. The whole people was registered according to their genealogies, as Nehemiah 7:5 tells us.

Their individual names are not recorded but the Lord knows them all, and cared for each member and sustained them in the journey homeward. In the same way He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory.

Two men of this name, whose descendants returned from exile. Ezra 2:12; 8:12; Neh. 7:17.

On the whole the lists agree. The overall total in both is the same. Yet the details differ sharply, and why that is may not be easy to decide. We know how easily numbers get corrupted, through a copyist's carelessness or his rashness. For instance, in Ezra 2:5 the sons of Arah are 775; in Neh. 7:10 they are 652. The sons of Zattu are 100 fewer in Nehemiah, the sons of Bebai 5 more, and those of Azgad 1100 more.

Set aside the guess that copyists made mistakes. That guess is as easy to make as it is unlikely. Notice first that Nehemiah's list of the leaders of the people holds a name, Nahamani (v. 7), which Ezra 2 does not mention. Second, the genealogical registers that Zerubbabel drew up were kept up to date over a longer or shorter period of time (see Neh. 12:23).

So we see that the remnant are careful to stand plainly and clearly as sons of the covenant. Genealogy according to the flesh in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God does to the Christian. Never had such jealous care been so necessary; and this where it was most needed — in the priests, as we shall see. But it was true of the people too: only Israelites can be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

The very existence of this record shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. They may have entered only weakly into His thoughts about His house. Even so, He has kept this list. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It shows that He knows the names of His people and announces them. That encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and apostasy.

Altogether we find 24,144 descendants. Their individual names are not recorded. But the Lord knows them all. He cared for each member and sustained them on the journey home. In the same way He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory.

Of one family, the sons of Adonikam or Adonijah, "the last sons" seem to have gone up. From that family the ominous number, 666, had returned with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:13).

SIX. Incompleteness, imperfection (one short of the perfect number seven). Solomon had six steps to his great throne, 1 Kings 10:19, but it was not high enough to save him from idolatry. Each year he received six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, 1 Kings 10:14, yet he had to confess that everything was vanity and a chasing after wind. The Jews at Cana had six water jars for purification, John 2:6, but those jars showed how far religious rituals fall short of meeting man's need. The number of the imperial beast will be six hundred and sixty-six, Rev. 13:18, imperfect in every respect.

In the middle of this procession, the sons of Adonikam shine. Most of them had returned with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:13). Now the last children (v. 13) go up with Ezra. Their names are not forgotten. So the whole family is complete, and the book of God records this special blessing here. May we also see whole families, like Adonikam's, among those whom the Lord calls to testify of Him in these final days!

The totals in both lists are the same, yet the details differ oddly. How that happened may not be easy to decide. We know that copyists corrupt numbers very easily, through carelessness or through boldness.

Some guess that copyists made mistakes. That guess is as easy to make as it is unlikely, so leave it aside. Notice first that Nehemiah's list of the leaders of the people contains a name, Nahamani (v. 7), which Ezra 2 does not mention. Second, the genealogical registers drawn up by Zerubbabel received updates over a longer or shorter period (see Neh. 12:23).

If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For instance, the descendants of Arah are 775 here and only 652 in Nehemiah. Probably 775 enrolled their names, but only 652 went.

Apart from the last three verses, chapter two gives the numbers of those who answered the proclamation. It lists them under the heads of their families. The heads are named and the families counted. God took note of them and put their names into His record, while He passes over in silence those whose hearts did not stir them up to go. Let us take note of this.

The descendants of the various people are now given. Altogether we find 24,144 descendants. Their individual names are not recorded. But the Lord knows them all. He cared for each member and sustained them on the journey home. In the same way He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory.

All the same, is it not a precious truth that God takes pleasure in letting His people know that every one of them is prized by Him? A sad change had come through Israel's sin, through Judah's sin, and not least through the sin of David's house. Sin does give occasion for His grace, yet it cannot pass without man's humiliation. Faith takes account of both. But God always waits to bless. He waits to give His own the proof and the sense of His blessing. We see that even in the numbering of those who returned from Babylon.

Ancestor of some who returned from exile, one of whom, bearing the same name, sealed the covenant. Ezra 2:2, 14; Ezra 8:14; Neh. 7:7, 19; Neh. 10:16.

So we see that the remnant are watchful to stand plain and clear as sons of the covenant. Descent by birth in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God does to the Christian. Never before had such careful watchfulness been necessary. It mattered most among the priests, as we shall see. But it held for the people too. Only Israelites could be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For instance, the descendants of Arah are here 775, and in Nehemiah we find only 652 recorded.

Several things in this record are worth noticing. The first is that the list exists at all. Its existence shows how precious to God was the response which His grace had produced in the hearts of His people — even though they had only a weak grasp of His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has kept this list on record. It is evidence that He sees with joy the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that the names of His people are known and proclaimed, to encourage everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times when everything is corrupt and people turn away from the truth.

Chapter two, apart from the last three verses, gives the number of those who answered the proclamation. It lists them under the heads of their families. The heads are named and the families counted. God took note of them and put their names into His record, while those whose hearts did not stir them up to go are passed over in silence. Let us take note of this.

This chapter contains the names of the returning remnant. It is a specimen page of the records God keeps. From it we may learn that He remembers His people. He knows them by name, and He does not forget their works. In the book of Nehemiah this list is repeated (chapter 7), with an added record of those who helped build the wall. He has a book of remembrance (Mal. 3:16). The apostle reminded the Hebrew believers of this when he wrote: "For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do" (Heb. 6:10).

Scripture does not record their individual names, but the Lord knows them all. He cared for each one and sustained them on the journey home. In the same way He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory. If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For example, the descendants of Arah are 775 here, and Nehemiah records only 652. Probably 775 had enrolled their names, but only 652 went.

On the whole the lists agree. The overall total in both is the same, yet the details differ sharply. How that happened may not be easy to decide. We know that numbers are especially easy to corrupt, through a copyist's carelessness or rashness. … How good it is for the heart to know that the living God takes a real interest not only in His people, but in all that is theirs!

"How can a minority be right? When Israel left Egypt, they were 600,000 men plus families. When they entered the land of Canaan, they were about the same number. Since then the people must have grown. And now there are just 43,000 who think Jerusalem is the place to be."

But faith does not look to the numbers for guidance, but at God's word.

The first thing to notice is that this record exists at all. Its existence shows how precious to God the response was that His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. That is true however feebly they may have entered into His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has made sure this list was preserved. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that the very names of His people are known and proclaimed. This encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and decay.

One whose descendants returned from exile, and one who sealed the covenant. Ezra 2:17; Neh. 7:23; Neh. 10:18.

This very long chapter mainly consists of lists of names, most of them completely unknown to us. But God is pleased to take account of those who took this great step, those who went up out of the captivity, to Jerusalem (v.1).

"How can a minority be right? When Israel left Egypt, they were 600,000 men plus families. When they entered the land of Canaan, they were about the same number. Since then, the people must have grown. And now there were just 43,000 who think Jerusalem is the place to be." But faith does not look to the numbers for guidance, but at God's word.

So we see that the remnant are careful to stand plain and clear as sons of the covenant. Genealogy according to the flesh in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to the Christian. Never before had such jealous care been necessary, above all where it was needed most — in the priests, as we shall see. But it was true of the people too: only Israelites could be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

The captivity in Babylon had completed the confusion that sin had caused long before. But those who feared the Lord were all the more careful, in a way that was not needed in the days when everything was known and in order.

Their individual names are not recorded, but the Lord knows them all. He cared for each member and sustained them on the journey homeward. Even so He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory. If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For instance, the descendants of Arah are 775 here, and in Nehemiah only 652 are recorded. Probably 775 had enrolled their names, but only 652 went. All the names recorded can be traced in other parts of Scripture.

This chapter contains the names of the returning remnant. It is a specimen page of the records God keeps. From it we may learn that He remembers His people. He knows them by name, and He does not forget their works. In the book of Nehemiah this list is repeated (chapter 7), with an added record of those who helped build the wall. He has a book of remembrance (Mal. 3:16). The apostle reminded the Hebrew believers of this when he wrote: "For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do" (Heb. 6:10).

The very fact that this list exists shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. They may have grasped His thoughts about His house only weakly. That is why He has kept this list on record. It proves that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also proves that He knows the names of His people and makes them known. This encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and turning away from God.

Scripture does not record their individual names, but the Lord knows them all. He cared for each member and supported them on the journey home. In the same way He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory. If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For instance, the descendants of Arah are 775 here, while Nehemiah records only 652. Probably 775 had enrolled their names but only 652 went.

So we see that the remnant are watchful to stand plain and clear as sons of the covenant. Descent by natural birth in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to a Christian. Never before had such jealous care been necessary, and it mattered most in the priests. It was true of the people too: only Israelites could be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

Apart from the last three verses, chapter two gives the number of those who answered the proclamation, family by family. It names the heads of the families and counts each family. God took note of them and put their names into His record. He passes over in silence those whose hearts did not stir them up to go. Let us take note of this.

The whole assembly totalled 42,360, plus servants and singers adding 7,537 to the number. This was only a small percentage of Judah and Benjamin, but the Lord took account of every one. Their 736 horses were nothing compared with Solomon's 40,000 stalls of horses (1 Kings 4:26). But at least Judah did have "a little strength" (compare Revelation 3:8, which the ESV renders "you have but little power").

The first thing to notice is that this record exists at all. Its existence shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people — even if they grasped His thoughts about His house only feebly. That is why He has kept this list. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that He knows the names of His people and announces them. This encourages everyone to walk in His ways and to make His interests their own. It encourages them to stay faithful in times of corruption and falling away.

The descendants of the different people are now given. Altogether we find 24,144 descendants. Scripture does not record their individual names, but the Lord knows them all. He cared for each member and supported them on the journey home. In the same way He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory. If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For example, the descendants of Arah are 775 here, while Nehemiah records only 652. Probably 775 had enrolled their names, but only 652 went.

"We are settled in Babylon. We grew up here, and for some of us our parents grew up here too. We have got used to things. How can we leave everything behind, just to go to a place that is strange to us?"

"How can a minority be right? When Israel left Egypt, they were 600,000 men plus families. When they entered the land of Canaan, they were about the same number. Since then the people must have grown. And now there are only 43,000 who think Jerusalem is the place to be."

But faith does not look to numbers for guidance; it looks at God's word.

Looking at this list a little more closely, we find a fourfold division. Down to the end of verse 42 it describes those who were undoubtedly of Israel — of Judah, Benjamin, or of Levi, and among the Levites both singers and gatekeepers. Then follow two other classes, the Nethinim and the servants of Solomon. The word Nethinim seems to mean "those who are given."

So we see that the remnant are watchful to stand clear and simple as sons of the covenant. Natural descent in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to the Christian. Such careful attention had never been so necessary, and it was needed most among the priests, as we shall see. But it was true of the people as well: only Israelites could be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel. The ruin of the church in no way destroys its divine principles. On the contrary, in view of that ruin Scripture insists on greater care in holding fast to the word.

Then they found the answer. Only those who could "show their father's house," or could find "their register," had the scriptural qualification for a place at the table of the Lord. The same holds for us. We must have peace with God. We must know that we are children of God because we have the Spirit of adoption. Only then can we show our Father's house and trace our descent. Without that we do not have the title God looks for. Profession is not enough.

He has kept this list on record. It is proof that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It shows too that He knows the very names of His people and proclaims them. That encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to be openly on His side, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and turning away from God.

Their individual names are not recorded but the Lord knows them all, and cared for each member and sustained them in the journey homeward. Even so He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory.

David was anointed in the house of Jesse the Bethlehemite, so it seems the town was his birthplace. That is why Luke 2:11 calls it the "city of David." It was also the birthplace of Jesus. Though it was "too little to be among the clans of Judah," that agreed all the better with His humiliation. Beth-lehem means "house of bread." That is a very fitting name for the place the Saviour would come from as a man — He who was the living bread that came down from heaven.

The temple would have meant little if no one lived in the cities of Judah. The numbers in those cities would be small compared with their size before the captivity. Even so, each city would be a testimony to the restoring grace of God. Today too, each little assembly that God restores is a testimony to His grace and faithfulness. But such testimonies give us no reason for pride.

Faith does not look to the numbers for guidance, but to God's word.

If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For instance, the descendants of Arah are 775 here, and in Nehemiah only 652. Probably 775 had enrolled their names, but only 652 went.

So we see that the remnant are careful to stand plain and clear as sons of the covenant. Their family descent in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to the Christian. Such jealous care had never been so necessary… only Israelites can be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

The first thing to notice is this. The very fact that this record exists shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. They may have entered only feebly into His thoughts about His house. Even so, He has caused this list to be preserved. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that the names of His people are known and proclaimed, to encourage everyone to walk in His ways, to be identified with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and apostasy.

This chapter contains the names of the returning remnant. It is a specimen page of the records God keeps, and from which we may learn that He remembers His people, whom He knows by name and whose works are not forgotten by Him.

From verse 3 to verse 20 of chapter 2, the people are listed by the name of their fathers. From verse 21 to verse 34 they are listed by the name of their cities. Those listed by their cities went back to live in and re-people the cities they came from, once they had returned to Palestine.

Jeremiah is known as a prophet, but he belonged to the family of "the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin." As far as we know, he never acted as a priest. His village of Anathoth lay a little over three miles northeast of Jerusalem. It had been given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron, of the family of the Kohathites (Josh. 21:18; 1 Chron. 6:60). Abiathar the priest came from Anathoth (1 Kings 2:26). In Zerubbabel's time 128 of its people came back from captivity under the edict of Cyrus, king of Persia, and filled the village again.

Anathoth means "afflictions," and it answers to the cross. We have to take up our cross — how different to His, however — and to follow Him.

To the casual observer it must have seemed quite a small matter: about 42,000 Jews restored to the land of their fathers under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 2). In the days of Jehoshaphat, Judah could keep a standing army of 1,160,000 men. Beside that, the returned remnant was poor indeed (2 Chron. 17:12-18). It was "a day of small things," as Zech. 4:10 expresses it.

Still there was a definite revival, and the first mark of it was this: they got back to God's original centre. Compared with the whole number of scattered Jews they were only a few. Many worldly people may have nicknamed them "Zerubbabelites." They were not that. They were simply a few who cared for their God and sought His original centre.

So we see that the remnant are watchful to stand plain and clear as sons of the covenant. Physical descent in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to the Christian. Never had such jealous care been so necessary... But it was true of the people: none but Israelites can be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

A village lying on the borders of Judah and Benjamin. Ezra 2:24; Neh. 12:29. Called BETH-AZMAVETH in Neh. 7:28.

This chapter shows the definite interest God had in every individual who returned from the captivity. That is why it records the number from each city, and the total number as well.

The first thing to notice is this. The very fact that such a list exists shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people, however feebly they had entered into His thoughts about His house. That is why He has kept this list. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that He knows the names of His people and makes them known, to encourage everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and apostasy.

This chapter contains the names of the returning remnant. It is a specimen page of the records God keeps. From it we may learn that He remembers His people. He knows them by name, and He does not forget their works... He has a book of remembrance (Mal. 3:16). The apostle reminded the Hebrew believers of this when he wrote: "For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do" (Heb. 6:10).

"We are settled in Babylon. We have been brought up here and, for some of us, our parents have been brought up here. We have got used to things. How can we leave everything behind, just to go to what is a strange place to us?"

God has made sure of this. The names of those who roused themselves to answer His call to return to the land stand on record in a very lasting way. The names of those who did not rouse themselves are almost entirely lost.

The second chapter makes plain something we must grasp to understand the prophecies of the Old Testament. Only a remnant came back out of the captivity of Babylon, and a small remnant at that — some 43,000 or a little less, mainly from Judah and Benjamin. Out of the ten tribes there came only stragglers... This is proof that the return was not the fulfilment of the prophecies, but only a partial accomplishment.

They are now shown that, in this state of mind, they were not in fellowship with the mind and heart of God. The question was not how glorious their work looked, but what God thought about it... So let us learn, along with these returned captives, that the lowliest service, however plain it looks from outside, deserves all our devotion and zeal if the mind and heart of God are upon it.

The first thing to notice is that this list exists at all. That shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people, however feebly they entered into His thoughts about His house. For this reason He kept the list on record. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that He knows the names of His people and announces them. That encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and apostasy.

Verses 3 to 35 count the people of various cities. Verses 36 to 39 add priests to the number of those returning. Verse 43 brings in the Nethinim, whose total number was 392. Ezra 8:20 says David appointed them to serve the Levites; they were probably Gibeonites whom Joshua had received (Joshua 9:23).

One of the four cities of the Hivites which deceived Joshua into making a treaty of peace. It belonged to Benjamin (Joshua 9:17; Joshua 18:25). It is identified with Bireh, about 7 miles north of Jerusalem. People of the city were called Beerothites, and 'children' or 'men of Beeroth' on returning from exile (Ezra 2:25; Neh. 7:29).

These allied peoples included the Hivites, who had four cities: Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim. The heads of these cities planned together. Others of their nation reached for the sword, but these men used a trick to get what they wanted.

It is true that God allowed them to bear a certain mark of degradation as a result. Slavery was the only course left open righteously… After the treaty, to put them to death would have been fresh sin, a crime. The name of the Lord had been solemnly given, and no one can ever trifle with that. On the other hand, the Gibeonites were brought down to the lowest services for the sanctuary of the Lord. So it was made plain that nothing preserved them but His name. They were attached to the sanctuary, but with the brand of slavery on them.

So we see that the remnant are careful to stand simple and clear as sons of the covenant. Physical descent in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to the Christian. Never before had such careful watchfulness been needed… none but Israelites can be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

The Babylonian captivity had completed the confusion which sin had caused long before. But those who feared the Lord took more care than was needed in the days when everything was known and in order. Restoration is always difficult. True grace submits to Scripture. The flesh always craves what we do not have, despises what we do have, and attempts imitations, substitutes and inventions of its own.

Our citizenship is in heaven. No one will have the privilege of entering the gates of the holy city, the new Jerusalem, except those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. That is the heavenly register of saints, called with a holy calling. It never goes through the periodic cancellations that the often faulty citizen-rolls of earthly cities go through.

That this list exists at all shows how precious to God was the response which His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. They may have entered only weakly into His thoughts about His house. Even so, He has kept this list. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. He knows the names of His people, and He proclaims them. All this encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and apostasy.

Verses 3 to 20 of chapter 2 list them by the name of their fathers. Verses 21 to 34 list them by the name of their cities. Those listed by their cities went to live in and re-people the cities they came from, once they had returned to Palestine. Nehemiah 7:5 tells us that the whole people was entered in a register by their genealogies.

City of Benjamin. It was on the frontier between Judah and Israel. Baasha, king of Israel, tried to build up the place as a fort against Asa, king of Judah. But Asa asked the king of Syria for help, and Syria attacked Israel, so the plan came to nothing... Called RAMA in Matthew 2:18.

Levitical city in Benjamin... It seems that while Saul was king the Philistines kept a garrison there, and Jonathan struck it down. 1 Samuel 13:3. Long afterwards Asa built or rebuilt the city. It is called GABA in Joshua 18:24, Ezra 2:26 and Nehemiah 7:30, and GIBEAH in 1 Samuel 13:2-16 and 14:2-16.

To a casual observer it must have seemed quite a small matter — about 42,000 Jews brought back to the land of their fathers under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 2). Remember that in the days of Jehoshaphat Judah could keep a standing army of 1,160,000 men. Next to that, the returned remnant was poor indeed (2 Chronicles 17:12-18). It was "a day of small things," as Zechariah 4:10 puts it.

The temple would have meant little if no one lived in the cities of Judah. The numbers in the cities would be small compared with their size before the captivity. Even so, each city would be a testimony to the restoring grace of God. It is the same today. Each little assembly that God restores is a testimony to His grace and faithfulness. Yet such testimonies are far from being an occasion for our own pride.

Apart from its last three verses, chapter two gives the numbers of those who answered the proclamation, named under the heads of their families. The list names the heads and counts the families. God took note of them and put their names into His record. Those whose hearts did not stir them up to go He passes over in silence. Let us take note of this.

Notice this first. The very existence of this record shows how precious to God was the response of His people. His grace had produced that response in their hearts, however weakly they may have entered into His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has kept this list safe. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that He knows the very names of His people and announces them. This encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to take His interests as their own, and to stay faithful in times of corruption.

City and mountain pass in the tribe of Benjamin. It was where Jonathan struck down the Philistine garrison. The victory might have been greater, but Saul distressed the people by forbidding them to eat until evening. Men of this town returned from the exile.

Chapter two, apart from the last three verses, gives details of the number of those who answered the proclamation. It names them under the heads of their families. The heads are named and the families counted. God took note of them and put their names into His record, while He passes over in silence those whose hearts did not stir them up to go. Let us take note of this.

There again the order is not perfect; Judah even goes a little beyond their limits at Beer-sheba. Yet alongside these defects there was a real desire in each one to occupy the place God assigned to him.

So we see that the remnant are watchful to stand simple and clear as sons of the covenant. Descent by birth in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to the Christian. Never had such careful watchfulness been so necessary. It was needed most among the priests. But it was true of the people as well: no one but Israelites could be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

Their individual names are not recorded, but the Lord knows them all, and cared for each one and sustained them on the journey home. Even so He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory. If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For instance, the descendants of Arah are 775 here, and in Nehemiah only 652 are recorded. Probably 775 had enrolled their names but only 652 went.

The very fact that this list exists shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. They may have grasped His thoughts about His house only weakly. Still, for this reason He has kept this list. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It shows that He knows the names of His people and makes them known, to encourage everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and turning away from God.

God took note of them and put their names into His record, while He passes over in silence those whose hearts did not stir them up to go. Let us take note of this.

There were 24,144 people who returned from the captivity under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the high priest, helped by nine chief men. Verses 3 to 20 of chapter 2 list them by their fathers' names. Verses 21 to 34 list them by the names of their cities. Those listed by their cities went to live in and re-people their home cities, once they had returned to Palestine.

Bethel means "House of God." The place was sacred, because there God showed Himself to Jacob and in grace pledged Himself to His servant (Gen. 28:10-22). Now one of Jeroboam's calf idols stood there (1 Kings 12:28-29). So Jehovah spoke of the place with contempt as Bethaven — "house of folly" (Hosea 4:15).

Ai was a royal city of Canaan. Joshua conquered it by a clever plan, after the sin of Achan had caused an earlier defeat. He burned it and made it a "heap." Joshua 7:2-5; Joshua 8:1-29; Joshua 10:1-2. It stood near Bethel, in the land given to Benjamin, and it was apparently rebuilt, since Ezra 2:28 and Nehemiah 7:32 mention it.

Are we to suppose that in the return of God's people to the land in Ezra's and Nehemiah's time only those belonging to the southern kingdom returned? There is evidence that in some cases it was not so. Ezra 2:28, for instance, tells us of 223 men of Bethel and Ai returning. Bethel was in Ephraim, and it was the centre of the idol worship set up by Jeroboam.

Still there was a definite revival, and the first mark of it was this: they got back to God's original centre. Compared with the whole number of scattered Jews they were only a few. Many worldly people may have nicknamed them "Zerubbabelites." Yet they were not that. They were just a few who cared for their God and sought His original centre.

This list exists, and that alone shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. They may have entered only weakly into His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has kept this list safe. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It shows too that He knows the very names of His people and announces them. That is an encouragement to everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption.

24,144 people returned from the captivity. Zerubbabel and Jeshua (or Joshua) the high priest led them, helped by nine chief men. Verses 3 to 20 of chapter 2 list them by the name of their fathers. Verses 21 to 34 list them by the name of their cities. Those listed by their cities went back to live in their home towns and fill them again, once they had returned to Palestine.

A city whose inhabitants or 'children' returned from exile.

Apart from the last three verses, chapter two gives the number of those who answered the proclamation. It names them under the heads of their families. The heads are named and the families counted. God took note of them and put their names into His record. But He passed over in silence those whose hearts did not stir them up to go. Let us take note of this.

"How can a minority be right? When Israel left Egypt, they were 600,000 men plus families. When they entered the land of Canaan, they were about the same number. Since then, the people must have grown. And now there were just 43,000 who think Jerusalem is the place to be."

But faith does not look to the numbers for guidance, but at God's word.

So we see that the remnant are careful to stand clear and unmistakable as sons of the covenant. Descent in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God does to the Christian. Such careful watching had never been so necessary. It was needed most where it mattered most: in the priests, as we shall see. But it was true of the people too: none but Israelites could be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

The first thing to notice is this. The very existence of this record shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. They may have entered only feebly into His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has kept this list. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that the very names of His people are known and proclaimed, to encourage everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and falling away.

24,144 people (Ezra 2:1-35) returned from the captivity. Zerubbabel and Jeshua (or Joshua) the high priest led them, helped by nine chief men. From verse 3 to verse 20 of this chapter, the list names them by their fathers. From verse 21 to verse 34 it names them by their cities. Those listed by their cities went to live in and re-people the cities they came from, once they had returned to Palestine. The whole people was registered by their genealogies, as Nehemiah 7:5 tells us.

Their individual names are not recorded, but the Lord knows them all. He cared for each one and sustained them on the journey homeward. If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For instance, the descendants of Arah are here 775, and in Nehemiah we find only 652 recorded. Probably 775 had enrolled their names, but only 652 went.

The whole assembly totalled 42,360, plus servants and singers adding 7,537 to the number. This was only a small percentage of Judah and Benjamin, but the Lord took account of every one.

The numbers in the cities would be small compared with their size before the captivity. Yet each city would be a testimony to the restoring grace of God. Today also, each little assembly that God restores is a testimony to His grace and faithfulness. But such testimonies give us no reason for pride. We are thankful for God's goodness, and our own weakness only humbles us.

So we see that the remnant are watchful to stand simple and clear as sons of the covenant. Genealogy according to the flesh in the line of promise was as important to them as being born of God is to the Christian. Never had such careful watchfulness been so necessary. This mattered most of all in the priests, but it was true of the people too: only Israelites could be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

The answer was found: only those who could "show their father's house," or could find "their register," had the scriptural qualification for a place at the table of the Lord. In other words, we must have peace with God. We must know that we are children of God through having the Spirit of adoption, so that we can show our Father's house and trace our genealogy. Without that, we do not have the divine title required. Profession is not enough.

The first thing to notice is that this record exists at all. That shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. They may have entered only weakly into His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has kept this list. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It is evidence too that He knows and announces the very names of His people, to encourage everyone to walk in His ways, to be identified with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and apostasy.

24,144 people returned from the captivity (Ezra 2:1-35). Zerubbabel and Jeshua (or Joshua), the high priest, led them, helped by nine chief men. Verses 3 to 20 of chapter 2 list them by the name of their fathers. Verses 21 to 34 list them by the name of their cities. The families listed by their cities went back to live in their home cities and fill them with people again, once they had returned to Palestine. Nehemiah 7:5 tells us that the whole people was registered according to their genealogies.

Chapter two, apart from the last three verses, gives the number of those who answered the proclamation. It names them under the heads of their families. The heads are named and the families counted. God took note of them and put their names into His record, while those whose hearts did not stir them up to go are passed over in silence. Let us take note of this.

So we see that the remnant are watchful to stand plain and clear as sons of the covenant. Being able to trace their descent in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to a Christian. Such careful attention had never been so necessary, above all in the priests, as we shall see. But it was true of the people too: none but Israelites can be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

In earlier days one priest followed another with no examination beforehand. No one checked genealogy, and children came into their father's place and enjoyed the privileges God had granted them. But Israel now, through the great grace of God, had to recover their position. This was not the beginning of their history, nor the power suited to a beginning. It was a return, and from now on the disorder that sin had brought in could not be endured. So even among those who had come back to Judea, anyone who could not produce his genealogy was set aside. It was weakness, but it was faithfulness.

But what I call your attention to is this principle. It was a day of weakness and humiliation. Even so, it was not to be a day of negligence but of the greatest care. God's people were to be as watchful for His name as when things were in the full power and beauty of divine order. I hold this to be very precious for ourselves now.

The first thing to notice is this. The fact that such a record exists shows how precious to God the response of His people was. His grace had produced that response in their hearts, however feebly they had entered into His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has kept this list. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that He knows the very names of His people and proclaims them, to encourage everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and apostasy.

The heads are named and the families counted. God took note of them and put their names into His record. He passed over in silence those whose hearts did not stir them up to go. Let us take note of this.

Is it not a precious truth that God takes pleasure in letting His people know that He prizes every one of them? A sad change had come through Israel's sin and Judah's sin, and not least through the sin of David's house. Sin gives occasion to His grace, yet it cannot be without man's humiliation. Faith takes account of both. But God always waits to bless and to give His own the proof and sense of His blessing — as we see even in the numbering of those who returned from Babylon.

So we see that the remnant are careful to stand plain and clear as sons of the covenant. Descent according to the flesh in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God does to the Christian. No time had ever called for such careful watchfulness, and it was needed most among the priests. It was true of the people too: only Israelites could have a part in building a temple to the God of Israel.

To a casual observer, the return of about 42,000 Jews to the land of their fathers under Zerubbabel must have seemed a small matter. In the days of Jehoshaphat, Judah could keep a standing army of 1,160,000 men. Beside that, the returned remnant was poor indeed. It was "the day of small things," as Zechariah 4:10 puts it.

But faith does not look to the numbers for guidance, but at God's word.

The list does not give their individual names, but the Lord knows them all. He cared for each one and carried them through the journey home. In the same way He knows all His sheep and keeps every member of His body, leading them home to glory. If some of the numbers do not agree with Nehemiah's record, there is no doubt a good reason for it. For instance, the descendants of Arah are 775 here, while Nehemiah records only 652. Most likely 775 had enrolled their names, but only 652 went.

The overall total in both is the same, yet the details differ oddly, and how this happened may not be easy to decide. We know that numbers are very easy to corrupt, whether through a careless copyist or a bold one... To put such frequent and marked differences down to a copyist's mistake is a hard saying.

Verses 3 to 35 count the people of the various cities. Then verses 36 to 39 show that priests were included among those returning. Verse 40 speaks of Levites, and verses 41-42 of singers.

This chapter gives us a register of the people of the province who came up out of the captivity, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. There are several interesting details to notice in the record. The first is that the list's very existence shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people, however feebly they took in His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has kept this list on record. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It shows too that the very names of His people are known and announced, to encourage everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and falling away.

Apart from its last three verses, chapter two gives the numbers of those who answered the proclamation, listed under the heads of their families. It names the heads and counts the families. God took note of them and put their names into His record. But those whose hearts did not stir them up to go are passed over in silence. Let us take note of this.

Still, is it not a precious truth that God takes pleasure in letting His people know that every one of them is prized by Him? A sad change had come through Israel's sin and through Judah's sin, and not least through the sin of David's house. Sin gives occasion to His grace, yet it cannot come without man's humiliation. Faith takes account of both. But God is always waiting to bless His own, and to give them the proof and the sense of His blessing. We see it even in the numbering of those who returned from Babylon.

Some may be interested to know that the Lydda of the New Testament is none other than the Lod of 1 Chronicles 8:12; Ezra 2:33; Nehemiah 7:37 and Nehemiah 11:35. It is still called Ludd or Lidi today... Ono, Hadid, and Neballat were linked with Lod long ago, and each can still be clearly identified today under a changed name.

It is as if they said: do not be so narrow and exclusive. Come down from your sacred enclosure to "one of the villages in the plain of Ono." "Let us meet together." Come down, and give us your approval in the plain of Ono. Do you ask what this plain of Ono was? Turn to Nehemiah 11:35: "Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen." Leave the one centre of worship inside the walls of Jerusalem, and come down to any one of the villages of "the craftsmen." They knew well that if the true worship of God was set up in that holy place, they would feel, as the Ephesians did later, that their craft was in danger.

The first thing to notice is that this record exists at all. Its existence shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people. It was precious however feebly they may have entered into His thoughts about His house. For this reason He has preserved this list. It is evidence that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It also shows that the very names of His people are known and announced. That is an encouragement to all: to walk in His ways, to be identified with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and falling away.

Chapter two, apart from the last three verses, gives the numbers of those who answered the proclamation. They are named under the heads of their families. The heads are named and the families counted. God took note of them and put their names into His record, while the list passes over in silence those whose hearts did not stir them up to go. Let us take note of this.

From verse 3 to verse 20 of chapter 2 they are listed according to the name of their fathers, and from verse 21 to verse 34 according to the name of their cities. Once they had returned to Palestine, those listed by their cities went to live in their home towns and fill them again. The register covered the whole people according to their genealogies, as Nehemiah 7:5 tells us.

Jericho was allotted to Benjamin (Joshua 18:21), but later Eglon the king of Moab took it over. It is called "the city of palm trees" (Deuteronomy 34:3; Judges 1:16; Judges 3:13; 2 Chronicles 28:15). Afterwards "sons of the prophets" lived there. They said the situation of the city was pleasant, but the water was bad. It was Elisha's first miracle: he threw in salt and the water was healed. It was the ministry of heavenly blessing in the place of the curse (2 Kings 2:18-22). Some who returned from exile are described as "children of Jericho" (Ezra 2:34; Nehemiah 7:36).

The whole assembly totalled 42,360, with servants and singers adding another 7,537 to the number. This was only a small percentage of Judah and Benjamin, but the Lord took account of every one. Their horses numbered 736 — nothing compared to Solomon's 40,000 stalls of horses (1 Kings 4:26). But at least Judah did have "a little strength" (compare Revelation 3:8).

So we see that the remnant are careful to stand clear and unmistakable as sons of the covenant. Descent in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God does to the Christian. Never before had such jealous care been necessary, and above all among the priests, as we shall see. But it was true of the people too: none but Israelites can be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel. The captivity in Babylon had completed the confusion that sin had caused long before. But those who feared the Lord were all the more careful, in a way that was not needed in the days when everything was known and in order. Restoration is always difficult.

The very fact that this record exists shows how precious to God was the response His grace had produced in the hearts of His people — however weakly they had entered into His thoughts about His house. That is why He has kept this list. It shows that He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. It shows that He knows His people's names and makes them known, to encourage everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and apostasy.

Except for the last three verses, chapter two gives the numbers of those who answered the proclamation, listed under the heads of their families. It names the heads and counts the families. God took note of these people and put their names into His record. Those whose hearts did not stir them up to go He passes over in silence. Let us take note of this.

This chapter contains the names of the returning remnant. It is a sample page from the records God keeps. From it we learn that He remembers His people. He knows them by name, and He does not forget their works. In the book of Nehemiah this list is repeated (chapter 7), with an extra record of those who helped build the wall. He has a book of remembrance (Mal. 3:16); and the apostle reminded the Hebrew believers of this fact when he wrote: "For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do" (Heb. 6:10).

Verses 3 to 35 count the people of various cities. Then verses 36 to 39 include the priests among those returning. Verse 40 speaks of the Levites, and verses 41-42 of the singers.

One whose sons built the fish gate at Jerusalem (Neh. 3:3). Probably the same as Senaah in Neh. 7:38 and Ezra 2:35, with the article added in Neh. 3:3.

After them, the sons of Senaah stand out (Neh. 3:3). Senaah may be a city, or it may be a district in the region of Jericho. They built the fish gate... This gate stood in the northern part of Jerusalem. Like "the gate of the old wall", it was especially open to enemy attack. The Assyrian armies came from the north to surround the city and besiege it. The sons of Senaah saw how important this gate was. They did not stop working until its locks and bars were in place.

So we see that the remnant are watchful to stand plain and clear as sons of the covenant. Descent by birth in the line of promise mattered as much to them as being born of God matters to the Christian. Such jealous care had never been so necessary... only Israelites can be allowed to build a temple to the God of Israel.

But what I want you to notice is the principle. It was a day of weakness and humiliation, yet it was not to be a day of carelessness. It was to be a day of the greatest care. God's people were to be as watchful for His name then as when everything stood in the full power and beauty of divine order.