Ezra 8:4

The first fourteen verses give the names of those who went with Ezra. They are listed by family line, with the number of the men in each family. God has seen to it that the names of those who stirred 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 stir themselves are almost entirely lost.

This genealogy reaches to the end of verse 14. It shows how precious to God were the very names of those who responded to His call at such a moment. The response itself is the fruit of His grace. Yet in that same grace He is pleased to credit to His people what He Himself had produced in their hearts. It was a fine company of over fifteen hundred people, gathered to return to the land of their fathers. That was the land of all their traditions, and the land of all their hopes.

The names of those who gathered around Ezra and went up with him are recorded here. In view of the magnificent decree and generosity of Artaxerxes, the company was very small. The majority preferred Babylon and stayed there. The faithful ones are known to God, and their names are written here forever in His Word. The foreign king had given the decree. The people had a full supply of everything they needed. Even so, the undertaking was one of faith. They came out of Babylon trusting the LORD; they marched on in faith.

The earlier return included several priests with their many houses (Ezra 2:36-39); now only two volunteered, with no mention of their houses. Of the people, some fresh families now returned; of other families a fresh part.

The men listed in the first 14 verses, together with their families, went with Ezra. It would have been much easier for them to settle in Mesopotamia, where they had grown up. Instead they return to the place of God's choice (Deut 12), and God is with them.

This list records those who came of their own will to go with Ezra to Jerusalem. The men numbered almost 1500. Women must also have been present, but are not mentioned. This does not mean God thinks less of the faith of women. He often commends them for their devotion. But the emphasis here is on a public record, and women do not hold a public place, so there was no reason to mention them. Children too are not mentioned. In fact, the emphasis in verse 1 is on "the heads of their fathers' houses," showing God's vital interest in households.

Notice especially that only males are mentioned. The mixed marriages we read of in the next chapter were most likely the result of the fact that no women had joined Ezra's expedition.

Notice this principle. It was a day of weakness and humiliation. Even so, it was not to be a day of neglect, but of the greatest care. God's people were to be as watchful for His name as in the days when everything stood in the full power and beauty of divine order.