The Forgotten Families That God Still Records
The Purpose of God Listing Obscure Names
Ezra 2:1-35
Main Passage: Ezra 2:1-35
“Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city; Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two. The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five. The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve. The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five. The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore. The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two. The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three. The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two. The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six. The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six. The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four. The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three. The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve. The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three. The children of Gibbar, ninety and five. The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three. The men of Netophah, fifty and six. The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight. The children of Azmaveth, forty and two. The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three. The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one. The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two. The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three. The children of Nebo, fifty and two. The children of Magbish, an hundred fifty and six. The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty. The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five. The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five. The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.”
Ezra 2:1-35
Introduction
Ezra 2 is the kind of chapter that exposes what a man really believes about the Bible. A shallow reader gets to the names and starts yawning. A modern pulpit comedian skips the list because he cannot turn it into a three-point motivational speech. A Bible corrector stumbles over the numbers and immediately starts looking for a contradiction. A carnal Christian looks at Parosh, Shephatiah, Arah, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zattu, Zaccai, Bani, Bebai, Azgad, Adonikam, Bigvai, Adin, Ater, Bezai, Jorah, Hashum, Gibbar, Bethlehem, Netophah, Anathoth, Azmaveth, and Senaah, and says, “What am I supposed to do with all that?” The answer is simple. Believe it. Read it. Let it rebuke you. Let it teach you that God records names men forget, families men overlook, places men despise, and numbers men think are unnecessary. The Holy Ghost does not pad the Bible with dead ink. If God puts a name in the book, the name matters.
This passage is not merely a census. It is a resurrection of identity after captivity. Babylon had carried Judah away. Nebuchadnezzar had burned the city, destroyed the temple, carried off the vessels, and uprooted families. Seventy years in a strange land can blur memory. Children are born in captivity. Grandchildren grow up speaking the language of exile. Family stories turn into fragments. Land inheritance seems like a dream. Jerusalem becomes a word more than a visible reality. But when God opens the door of return, He does not bring back a nameless crowd. He records families. He attaches numbers to fathers’ houses. He