Heads of Families Return With Ezra
April 30, 2019
Commentary
This chapter contains a list of those who returned with Ezra to Jerusalem. This group was much smaller than the one that had re-turned earlier with Zerubbabel. Those traveling with Ezra totaled 1,496 males, along with 18 heads of families. It is interesting to notice that many of the names listed here are similar names found earlier. This suggests that when the first group returned, some family members remained behind in Babylon. Now, years later, many of those family members were returning home under Ezra’s leader-ship. God was continuing His work of restoring His people, one family at a time, by His grace.
Ezra gathered the returning group at the river Ahava. During this time, he discovered that no Levites were among them, so he sent trusted leaders to recruit workers for the temple. As a result, 40 Levites and 220 helpers agreed to join the journey. Before beginning the long 900-mile trip, Ezra called the people together for a time of fasting and prayer. They asked God to grant them safety and success along the way. The group was carrying a large amount of silver and gold, nearly 25 tons of treasure. Traveling with such wealth through dangerous territory was risky, but Ezra trusted God’s protection. Because he had spoken confidently of God’s power to the king, he chose not to request soldiers and instead relied on God’s care.
This passage shows the importance of spiritual preparation before difficult tasks. Ezra understood that prayer and fasting were more powerful than human strength alone. The people learned to depend on God together, not just as individuals. Their journey reminds believers to seek God’s guidance before moving forward in faith, especially during uncertain seasons of life today.
Application
I see Ezra preparing his people through prayer, fasting, and trust in God for the long journey. Today I ask myself: Do I prepare my heart before big decisions? Do I trust God more than safety or money? Do I pray with others when facing risk? How can I show faith, courage, and obedience in daily life today?
Ezra 8:1–23 (NET)
1 These are the leaders and those enrolled with them by genealogy who were coming up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:
2 from the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom; from the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel;
3 the son of Shecaniah; from the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were enrolled by genealogy 150 men;
4 from the descendants of Pahath Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men;
5 from the descendants of Zattu, Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men;
6 from the descendants of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men;
7 from the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men;
8 from the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him 80 men;
9 from the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men;
10 from the descendants of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men;
11 from the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;
12 from the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;
13 from the descendants of Adonikam there were the latter ones. Their names were Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men;
14 from the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai, and Zaccur, and with them 70 men.
15 I had them assemble at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there for three days. I observed that the people and the priests were present, but I found no Levites there. 16 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were teachers. 17 I sent them to Iddo, who was the leader in the place called Casiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his relatives, who were the temple servants in Casiphia, so they would bring us attendants for the temple of our God.
18 Due to the fact that the good hand of our God was on us, they brought us a skilled man, from the descendants of Mahli the son of Levi son of Israel. This man was Sherebiah, who was accompanied by his sons and brothers, 18 men; 19 and Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, 20 men; 20 and some of the temple servants that David and his officials had established for the work of the Levites—220 of them. They were all designated by name.
21 I called for a fast there by the Ahava Canal, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from him a safe journey for us, our children, and all our property. 22 I was embarrassed to request soldiers and horsemen from the king to protect us from the enemy along the way, because we had said to the king, “The good hand of our God is on everyone who is seeking him, but his great anger is against everyone who forsakes him.” 23 So we fasted and prayed to our God about this, and he answered us.
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