Many Preferred The Comfort of Babylon
September 25, 2022
Commentary
Zerubbabel was the clear leader of the group of Jews who returned to Jerusalem, and he was officially appointed as governor of the new settlement. Ezra 2 records the names of the families who chose to return, totaling 42,360 people, the same number later recorded in Nehemiah. This careful record shows how important identity, order, and faithfulness were to God’s people, even counting the animals and reflecting how organized the return was.
Ezra emphasizes the Word of God and His direction from the very beginning. King Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jews to return, rebuild Jerusalem, and restore the temple. This was not only a political decision but a spiritual opportunity for God’s people to renew worship and community life, requiring faith, sacrifice, and commitment. God was working through a pagan ruler to accomplish His divine purposes and fulfill His promises.
Many Jews had become comfortable and prosperous in Babylon, so they chose not to return. Still, those who stayed behind felt responsible for supporting those who went. The sacred items taken from the temple years earlier were now returned, and the vessels of the house of the Lord were placed back into the hands of the priests and Levites. These valuable items represented great wealth, but more importantly, they symbolized restored worship, renewed devotion to God, and obedience to His unfolding plan. God remained faithful. This moment of return reminded the people that God was still guiding their history, keeping His promises despite exile, hard-ship, and delay, and calling His people to trust Him fully as they rebuilt their lives, city, and worship with hope for the future. His faithfulness gave renewed purpose.
Application
Is God asking me to move, serve, or support someone today? How can I use what I have to help God’s work? Do I believe my small faithfulness matters to Him right now? I choose to respond with trust, gratitude, and obedience, knowing God sees me and values my role in His plan each step forward daily.
Ezra 2:1–13 (NET)
1 These are the people of the province who were going up, from the captives of the exile whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile in Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city. 2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of Israelites was as follows:
3 the descendants of Parosh: 2,172;
4 the descendants of Shephatiah: 372;
5 the descendants of Arah: 775;
6 the descendants of Pahath Moab (from the line of Jeshua and Joab): 2,812;
7 the descendants of Elam: 1,254;
8 the descendants of Zattu: 945;
9 the descendants of Zaccai: 760;
10 the descendants of Bani: 642;
11 the descendants of Bebai: 623;
12 the descendants of Azgad: 1,222;
13 the descendants of Adonikam: 666;
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