Ezra 2:64–65

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

But in grace God remembered the faithful remnant. He moved the heart of Cyrus, the king of Persia, to let the Jewish people return to Jerusalem after the seventy years of captivity. Isaiah had prophesied this 150-200 years before (Isa. 45). Only a small part of Judah and Benjamin made use of this opportunity. The majority had no longing for the God-given land nor for Jerusalem where the temple had stood.

The whole assembly totaled 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... But at least Judah did have "a little strength" (Compare Revelation 3:8).

And God took note carefully of all those who overcame the many counter-arguments and who went up. It is good to see a recovery of priestly activity among the people (v.36), as well as of service by the Levites (v.40). But Levites always seem to be in short supply. Here we find just 74 Levites for about 4,000 priests.

So the number of people registered was 29,166 (Ezra 2:1-35; 36-58). But the whole assembly together consisted of 42,360 persons (v. 64). Among them, 652 (v. 60) of the children of Israel could not prove that they were really part of the people.

These verses tell us how careful the people were not to tolerate anyone among them whose origin was in any way doubtful. They were determined that Israel should be an unmixed Israel... There were 652 who had joined the company from the Babylonian places Tel-melah, Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addan and Immer. They were the children of Delaiah, of Tobiah and Nekoda. These could not show their descent. They were allowed to return with the rest, but their names are not found in Ezra 10:25-43 or in Nehemiah 10:15-28.

There they were, a minority from two tribes out of 12. And yet they are conscious of the whole people. They offer 12 male goats, making the point that the people was made up of 12 tribes, that all 12 tribes had sinned, and that the only way for God to bless and forgive them would be through the sin offering. Ten tribes were completely absent. Many who belonged to Judah and Benjamin had stayed in Babylon. Neither fact stopped them from remembering the whole people before God.

But faith does not follow such considerations, however reasonable and correct they may seem. It does not look at circumstances. It does not judge whether a chosen path is right by the results that appear. It does not count upon the number of people making common cause with it. It does not let history judge God's instructions. It judges history by obedience to God's commandments.