Ezra 2 – Sacred responsibility and community

In Ezra 1:8, the leader of the returnees was slated as Sheshbazzar. Without any given reason, here in Ezra 2, we see him replaced by the joint leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua. Could Sheshbazzar be Zerubbabel, as some have suggested? This is a guess, which we will not add to the speculation.     

However, we can see that Ezra 2 accounts for those who journeyed back to Jerusalem. Here, we see a detailed roster of the prominent individuals designated to aid Zerubbabel and Joshua. Notably, the Nehemiah mentioned in this list differs from the person we encounter later in the book of Nehemiah.

A total of approximately 50,000 individuals made the return. They were part of the first wave of repatriation to Israel from the Babylonian captivity. This group, made up of only the heads of families, was just a fraction of the total number of exiles who returned, estimated to be between 100,000 and 150,000. However, this figure was small compared to most who remained in Babylon, including the exiles and their descendants.

These returnees were meticulously grouped according to their family lineage in verses 3-19 and according to their original respective ancestral town in verses 20-35. The priests, Levites, and temple servants were meticulously enumerated separately in verses 36-58, demonstrating the thoroughness of the record-keeping.

Verses 59-63 reveal the people who claimed to be from the priestly line but could not prove their genealogy. These were considered uncleaned and excluded from the priesthood. They were forbidden to partake of the consecrated food apportioned for the priest until they could be ascertained. This narrative underscores the reverence and seriousness with which matters of the priesthood were handled.

Verses 68-70 tell us that upon reaching Jerusalem, several made substantial monetary contributions to support the temple’s construction, signifying their deep reverence and dedication. This act of commitment and faith is a testimony of the people’s devotion to their religious beliefs. All the people eventually established themselves in and around Jerusalem.

Here are two lessons to take away:

First, their scrutiny of the priestly lineage and exclusion of those who could not prove their genealogy highlights the reverence and seriousness with which matters of the priesthood were handled. It underscores the significance of upholding sacred responsibilities with integrity and authenticity. We who had the privilege of handling God’s business must do so with such reverence attitude.   

Second, we see the importance of establishing a true community. The eventual establishment of the returnees in and around Jerusalem signifies the importance of building and nurturing a community. It shows us the value of coming together, supporting one another, and creating a sense of belonging in a shared fellowship.