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The Families Who Returned with Ezra
Ezra 8:1–14 is a list of the family leaders and counted men who went up with Ezra from Babylon. It shows a community recorded by names, households, and numbers.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the setting
The passage says it is a genealogy of those who went up with Ezra in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. It names heads of fathers’ households, links them to family lines, and usually gives the number of males listed with each leader.
Ezra 8:1–14Main takeaway
This passage presents Ezra’s travelling group as a carefully recorded community, identified by family lines, leaders, and numbers.
Explore the instructions
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A genealogy of those who went upVerse 1 tells readers what this passage is. It is a record of heads of fathers’ households and a genealogy of those who went up with Ezra from Babylon.
Explanation
Verse 1 tells readers what this passage is. It is a record of heads of fathers’ households and a genealogy of those who went up with Ezra from Babylon. It is also set in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. So this passage is presented as a formal list of people, not another travel scene.
02Some leading family lines are named firstThe list begins with three family connections: the sons of Phinehas, the sons of Ithamar, and the sons of David.
Explanation
The list begins with three family connections: the sons of Phinehas, the sons of Ithamar, and the sons of David. For each, one representative is named: Gershom, Daniel, and Hattush. The passage does not explain these lines here, but it clearly identifies them at the start of the record.
03Many entries follow the same patternMost of the list names a family line, then a leader, then the number of males counted with him.
Explanation
Most of the list names a family line, then a leader, then the number of males counted with him. Zechariah is listed with one hundred fifty, Eliehoenai with two hundred, and Ebed with fifty. This repeated pattern shows deliberate registration and counting within the group.
04The record keeps precise detailsLater entries continue to preserve exact names and numbers. Some lines have one named leader, but the sons of Adonikam include Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and the text says they were the last.
Explanation
Later entries continue to preserve exact names and numbers. Some lines have one named leader, but the sons of Adonikam include Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and the text says they were the last. The final entry names Uthai and Zabbud with seventy males. The list values precision.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does Ezra 8:1 describe this passage, and why does that matter for reading it?
Use the words 'heads of their fathers’ households' and 'genealogy' to see that the text presents itself as a formal record of the group.
02What repeated pattern appears in many entries from this list?
03Which entry includes several personal names instead of only one, and what extra note is added?
Find the line that names Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, then notice the added words about them.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezra 8:1–14
1Now these are the heads of their fathers’ households, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:
2Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush.
3Of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were listed by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty.
4Of the sons of Pahathmoab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah; and with him two hundred males.
5Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel; and with him three hundred males.
6Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males.
7Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males.
8Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him eighty males.
9Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred eighteen males.
10Of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him one hundred sixty males.
11Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty-eight males.
12Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan; and with him one hundred ten males.
13Of the sons of Adonikam, who were the last, their names are: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them sixty males.
14Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud; and with them seventy males.