Many Preferred The Comfort of Babylon

Ezra 2:1–13
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Zerubbabel was the undisputed leader of this group of returning Jews to Jerusalem and he was officially appointed governor of this new settlement. This chapter lists the names the families of those who returned. The entire company is said to have totaled 42,360 (v. 64). This is exactly the same figure as given in Nehemiah (Neh. 7:66).  The list of priests is divided into four classes. These names agree with the classes of priests mentioned in I Chronicles 24:7-18 and Nehemiah 7:39-42. It is surprising that even the animals were numbered.

Ezra puts an emphasis on the Word of God (v. 1). Cyrus was the man at the top in those days and he gave a decree (v. 2). He gave permission for the Jews who had been in captivity in Babylon to:

1. Return to the land
2. Rebuild the city of Jerusalem
3. Rebuild the temple.

Many of them had become prosperous so they chose not to go (vv. 3-6). However the people who did not return felt a responsibility to become partners with their brethren. “The vessels of the house of the Lord,” had been desecrated at Belshazzr’s drunken feast but now they were in the hands of Cyrus. These holy vessels are put back in the hands of the priests and Levites who are returning to Jerusalem (v. 7). As they were officially delivered to the Jews, we are given some details concerning them (vv. 8-13). They represent tremendous wealth.

Application

Many today don’t want to get involved in the work of God. Some spend their time criticizing the work of others. I want to be a part of the few committed to the task of reaching our world for Christ.