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Ezra Capítulo 2
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日本語
Original em inglês
That many returned out of Babylon upon Cyrus's proclamation we were told in the foregoing chapter; we have here a catalogue of the several families that returned, Ezr 2:1. I. The leaders, Ezr 2:2. II. The people, Ezr 2:3-35. III. The priests, Levites, and retainers to the temple, Ezr 2:35-63. IV. The sum total, with an account of their retinue, Ezr 2:64-67. V. Their offerings to the service of the temple, Ezr 2:68-70.
1-70
The Return of the Captives (536 BC)
日本語
捕囚の民の帰還（紀元前536年）
¹ さて、捕囚の民のうちから上って来た州の人々はこれである。すなわち、バビロンの王ネブカデネザルがバビロンへ捕えて行った者たちで、再びエルサレムとユダに帰って来て、おのおの自分の町に着いた人々である。
² ゼルバベルと共に来た者は次のとおりである。エシュア、ネヘミヤ、セラヤ、レエラヤ、モルデカイ、ビルシャン、ミスパル、ビグワイ、レフム、バアナ。イスラエルの民の男の数は次のとおりである。
³ パロシュの子孫二千百七十二。
⁴ シェファトヤの子孫三百七十二。
⁵ アラフの子孫七百七十五。
⁶ パハト・モアブの子孫、すなわちエシュアとヨアブの子孫二千八百十二。
⁷ エラムの子孫一千二百五十四。
⁸ ザットの子孫九百四十五。
⁹ ザッカイの子孫七百六十。
¹⁰ バニの子孫六百四十二。
¹¹ ベバイの子孫六百二十三。
¹² アズガデの子孫一千二百二十二。
¹³ アドニカムの子孫六百六十六。
¹⁴ ビグワイの子孫二千五十六。
¹⁵ アディンの子孫四百五十四。
¹⁶ ヒゼキヤのアテルの子孫九十八。
¹⁷ ベザイの子孫三百二十三。
¹⁸ ヨラの子孫百十二。
¹⁹ ハシュムの子孫二百二十三。
²⁰ ギバルの子孫九十五。
²¹ ベツレヘムの子孫百二十三。
²² ネトファの人々五十六。
²³ アナトテの人々百二十八。
²⁴ アズマベテの子孫四十二。
²⁵ キルヤテ・アリム、ケフィラ、ベエロテの子孫七百四十三。
²⁶ ラマとゲバの子孫六百二十一。
²⁷ ミクマスの人々百二十二。
²⁸ ベテルとアイの人々二百二十三。
²⁹ ネボの子孫五十二。
³⁰ マグビシュの子孫百五十六。
³¹ もう一人のエラムの子孫一千二百五十四。
³² ハリムの子孫三百二十。
³³ ロデ、ハディデ、オノの子孫七百二十五。
³⁴ エリコの子孫三百四十五。
³⁵ セナアの子孫三千六百三十。
ここで観察できるのは、1. 捕囚から上って来た家族とその家族の数が書き留められていたこと。これは彼らの誉れのため、彼らの信仰と勇気、神への信頼と自分たちの地への愛着への報いの一部として、また他の人々にその良い模範に従うよう促すために行われた。神を尊ぶ者を神はこのように尊んでくださる。キリストによる救いの提供を受け入れるすべての真のイスラエル人の名は、より聖なる記録、すなわち小羊のいのちの書に、彼らの誉れのために見出されるであろう。捕囚から上って来た家族について保たれた記録は、後世の益のためでもあった。彼らがだれから出たのか、だれと縁組みしたのかを知るためであった。2. 彼らが州の人々と呼ばれていること。かつて他の王国をその属州とし、それらを自分に服させ、自分に依存させていた輝かしい王国であったユダは、今や自らが州となった。ペルシャの王から法律と命令を受け、彼に責任を負う州として。義が国を高くするのに、罪が国を小さくし卑しくする様を見よ。しかしこうして僕とされることによって（族長たちが約束された国で寄留者であったように）、彼らはさらに良い国、すなわち天の（Heb 11:16）、動かされることのない、あるいは州に変えられることのない王国を思い出させられた。3. 彼らがおのおの自分の町に来たと言われていること。すなわち、彼らに割り当てられた町である。その割り当てにおいて、間違いなくヨシュアによる以前の割り当てに目が向けられた。そしてそれに、できる限り近く帰還した。彼らが不在の間にそれらを所有した他の者たち、少なくとも彼らに反抗できた者たちはいなかったようであるから。4. 指導者たちがまず言及されていること（Ezr 2:2）。ゼルバベルとエシュアは彼らのモーセとアロンであった。前者は彼らの首たる君、後者は彼らの首たる祭司であった。ネヘミヤとモルデカイがここで言及されている。ある人々はこれらの名の有名な人々と同じではないと考える。おそらく同じであったが、後に自国の奉仕のために宮廷に戻ったのであろう。5. これらのいくつかの家族はその先祖であった人物から名づけられ、他は彼らが以前住んでいた場所から名づけられている。私たちのところでも多くの姓が人物の固有名詞であり、他は場所のものであるように。6. ここでとNe 7:5-73でこの目録が繰り返されている箇所との間で、いくつかの家族の数に小さな違いがある。これは次のことから生じたかもしれない。すなわち、最初に来るために名前を提出した一部の者が後に引き退いた―「行きます、主よ」と言ったが行かなかった―者たちで、それは彼らの属していた家族の数を減らしたであろう。最初は辞退したが後に悔い改めて行った者たちがおり、そうして数を増やした。7. エラムの子孫と呼ばれる二つの家族がある（一つはEzr 2:7、もう一つはEzr 2:31）。そして奇妙なことに、両方とも数は同じ1254である。8. 高い主を意味するアドニカムの子孫は666であった。ちょうど獣の数（Re 13:18）である。そこでは人間の数であると言われている。ヒュー・ブルートン氏はこれがこの人物に関係があると考える。9. ベツレヘムの子孫（Ezr 2:21）はわずか123であった。それはダビデの町であったにもかかわらず。ベツレヘムはユダの数千のうちの小さいものであったが、そこにメシアが起こらなければならなかったのである（Mic 5:2）。10. アナトテはベニヤミン部族の中で有名な場所であったが、ここではわずか128（Ezr 2:23）と数えられている。これはアナトテの人々が自分たちの町のエレミヤを迫害したことによって自分たちの上にもたらした神ののろいに帰すべきである。Jer 11:21,23「彼らの残りの者はいない。わたしはアナトテの人々にわざわいをもたらすからである」。またIsa 10:30「ああ、哀れなアナトテよ」を見よ。迫害ほど速く一つの民を滅ぼすものはない。
³⁶ 祭司たち：エシュアの家のエダヤの子孫九百七十三。
³⁷ イメルの子孫一千五十二。
³⁸ パシュルの子孫一千二百四十七。
³⁹ ハリムの子孫千十七。
⁴⁰ レビ人たち：ホダウィヤの子孫のうちエシュアとカドミエルの子孫七十四。
⁴¹ 歌うたい：アサフの子孫百二十八。
⁴² 門衛の子孫：シャルム、アテル、タルモン、アックブ、ハティタ、ショバイの子孫。合わせて百三十九。
⁴³ ネティニム：ジハ、ハスパ、タバオテ、
⁴⁴ ケロス、シアハ、パドン、
⁴⁵ レバナ、ハガバ、アックブ、
⁴⁶ ハガブ、シャルマイ、ハナン、
⁴⁷ ギデル、ガハル、レアヤ、
⁴⁸ レツィン、ネコダ、ガザム、
⁴⁹ ウッザ、パセア、ベサイ、
⁵⁰ アスナ、メウニム、ネフシム、
⁵¹ バクブク、ハクパ、ハルフル、
⁵² バズルテ、メヒダ、ハルシャ、
⁵³ バルコス、シスラ、テマ、
⁵⁴ ネツィア、ハティパ。
⁵⁵ ソロモンのしもべの子孫：ソタイ、ソフェレテ、ペルダ、
⁵⁶ ヤアラ、ダルコン、ギデル、
⁵⁷ シェファトヤ、ハティル、ポケレテ・ツェバイム、アミ。
⁵⁸ ネティニムとソロモンのしもべの子孫はみ合わせて三百九十二。
⁵⁹ テル・メラハ、テル・ハルシャ、ケルブ、アダン、イメルから上って来た者たちで、自分たちの父祖の家と血筋がイスラエルであるかどうかを示せなかった者たちがこれである。
⁶⁰ デラヤ、トビヤ、ネコダの子孫六百五十二。
⁶¹ 祭司の子孫のうち：ハバヤ、コツ、バルジライ。これはギルアデ人バルジライの娘たちのひとりを妻にめとり、その名で呼ばれた者たちである。
⁶² これらの者は系図によって数えられた者のうちに自分たちの登録を探したが、見つからなかった。それゆえ彼らは汚れた者として祭司職から除外された。
⁶³ そして総督は彼らに、ウリムとトンミムを持つ祭司が立つまでは、最も聖なるものを食べてはならないと言った。
ここには次の記録がある。I. 帰還した祭司たち。彼らはかなりの数であり、全体の約十分の一であった。全体が42,000以上（Ezr 2:64）であり、四つの祭司の家族が4200以上を構成した（Ezr 2:36-39）。このように十分の一は神の分であった―祝福された十分の一。ここで名の挙げられている祭司の父祖のうち三人は組の長であった（1Ch 24:7,8,14）。四人目はパシュルであった（Ezr 2:38）。もしこれらがエレミヤを虐待したパシュル（Jer 20:1）の子孫であるなら、あんなに悪い人がこれほど良い、これほど多数の子孫を持ったというのは不思議である。
II. レビ人たち。私は彼らの数の少なさに驚かざるを得ない。歌うたいと門衛を含めても（Ezr 2:40-42）、350に達しなかった。かつてはレビ人たちが祭司たちよりも義務に進んで出たことがあった（2Ch 29:34）が、今はそうではなかった。もしある場所、ある家族が今敬虔な熱心で評判であるなら、他の時には他の者が持つかもしれない。風はその望むところに吹き、その方向を変える。
III. ネティニムについて。彼らはギブオン人であると考えられている。ヨシュアによって最初に（Jos 9:27）、次にダビデによって（Ezr 8:20）与えられた（彼らの名はこれを意味する）、サウルが彼らを追放したとき、神の家のわざにおいてレビ人に仕えるため、木を切る者、水を汲む者として用いられるために。そして彼らと共に、ソロモンのしもべの子孫たち。彼は同じような用途のために与えた（ユダヤ人であったか異邦人であったかは明らかでない）。彼らは神殿の従者の中にあって注目され、ネティニムと共に数えられた（Ezr 2:55,58）。最も低い職務においてであっても、神の家に属することは誉れである。
IV. 生まれながらのイスラエル人と見なされたが、他は祭司と見なされたが、その栄誉への明確な資格を証明できなかった者たちについて。1. 自分たちがイスラエル人であることを証明できなかった者たちがいた（Ezr 2:59,60）。かなりの数であり、ヤコブの子孫であると信じていたが、系図を提示できず、それでも神の家と民への愛着を持ってエルサルレムに上ろうとした者たち。これらの者たちは、ユダの水から出たと言われながらも、その水の風味を失った、真の生まれのイスラエル人でありながら「真のイスラエル人」とは呼ばれなかった者たち（Isa 48:1）を恥じ入らせた。2. 自分たちが祭司であることを証明できなかったが、アロンの子孫であると見なされた者たちがいた。白黒で保存されなかったものは、おそらく少しのうちに忘れられるであろう。ここで私たちは告げられている。（1.）彼らがどのようにしてその証拠を失ったか。彼らの先祖の一人が、ダビデの時代に読むあの大人物バルジライの娘と結婚した。彼はその誉れある家との縁組を誇り、祭司の尊厳よりそれを優先し、子どもたちにバルジライの家の名を名乗らせ、その家の系図に保存し、アロンの家ではなく、その結果それを失った。バビロンでは祭司職によって得るものはなく、それゆえ彼らは祭司と縁があることを気にしなかった。自分の奉仕や、仕える者たちとの関係を自分の価値を下げる、あるいは不名誉なことと考える者たちは、「私は自分の職務を誇りとする」と言われた方を忘れている。（2.）それと共に何を失ったか。彼らが証拠を出せない以上、彼らが祭司であることは前提できず、彼らは汚れた者として祭司職から除外された。今や祭司たちは自分たちの権利を回復し、再び祭壇によって生きるようになったので、彼らは喜んで祭司と見なされたかったであろう。しかし彼らは紳士であることの誉れのために長子の権利を売り、それゆえ正当に格下げされ、最も聖なるものを食べることを禁じられた。キリストとその奉仕を恥じる者たちを、キリストも恥じるであろう。彼らをこの隔離の下に置いたのはティルシャタ、すなわち総督であった。ある人々はこれを現総督のゼルバベルと理解し、他はネヘミヤと理解する（彼はそう呼ばれている、Neh. viii. 9, x. 1。そして数年後に来たときにこの命令を与えたと）。しかしその禁止は絶対的なものではなく、ウリムとトンミムを持つ大祭司が立つまでの一時停止に過ぎなかった。それによって彼らはこの事において神の御心を知るであろう。これは期待され、望まれたようであるが、第二神殿の下で彼らがそれに祝福されたことは現れない。彼らには旧約聖書の正典が完成しており、それはウリムよりも良かった。そしてその神託の欠如によって、彼らは大いなる神託であるメシアを期待するよう教えられた。ウリムとトンミムはその型に過ぎなかったのである。また、第二神殿には古い契約の箱も新しい契約の箱もなかったようである。実体が近づくにつれて、それらの影は徐々に消え去った。そして神は、預言者を通じて、ご自分の民に、契約の箱がなくても彼らは損害を被らないことを示された（Jer 3:16,17）。「その日々に」、彼らがエルサレムを主の御座と呼び、すべての国々がそれに集まるとき、彼らはもはや『主の契約の箱』とは言わず、それが心に浮かぶこともない。彼らはそれがなくても十分だからである。
⁶⁴ 会衆全体の合計は四万二千三百六十。
⁶⁵ その男女の奴隷は別にして七千三百三十七。そのほかに男女の歌うたいが二百いた。
⁶⁶ 彼らの馬は七百三十六。騾馬二百四十五。
⁷⁷ らくだ四百三十五。ろば六千七百二十。
⁶⁸ 父祖のかしらたちのうち、エルサレムにある主の家に来たとき、その所に建てるために神の家に進んで献げた者たちがいた。
⁶⁹ 彼らはその能力にしたがって、そのわざの宝に金六万一千ダリク、銀五千ミナ、祭司の衣百着を献げた。
⁷⁰ こうして祭司とレビ人、民の一部、歌うたい、門衛、ネティニムは自分たちの町々に住み、すべてのイスラエルも自分たちの町々に住んだ。
ここには次のものがある。I. バビロンから帰還した一行の総計。前に言及された個別の合計は三万（29,818）に達しない。それゆえ、いずれの計算にも入ってこない一万二千以上がいた。それはおそらく、ユダとベニヤミン以外のイスラエルの残りの部族の者たちで、自分がどの特定の家族や町の出身であるかは言えないが、イスラエル人であり、どの部族の者であるかを知っていた者たちであった。1. これはネブカデネザルによってバビロンに捕囚として連行された数の二倍以上であった。エジプトでのように、彼らの苦しみの時は彼らの増加の時であった。2. これらは一つの国を始めるには少なかった。しかしその父祖たちに与えられた古い約束のゆえに、ローマ人による最後の滅びの約五百年前には非常に多数の民となるまでに増え広がった。神が「生めよ、増えよ」と言われるとき、小さな者は千となる。
II. 彼らの従者。彼ら自身も僕よりましでなかったので、彼らの僕が比較的に少なかった（Ezr 2:65）のも、またその荷物の獣がほぼ同数であった（Ezr 2:66,67）のも不思議ではない。今の彼らには昔のようではなかった。しかし彼らのうちにいた二百人の男女の歌うたいが注目されている。彼らは（2Ch 35:25の者たちと同じように）嘆きを引き出すためのものであったと想定できる。この機会に彼らは泣きながら行くことが預言されていたからである（Jer 50:4）。哀歌の小歌と共に。
III. 彼らの献げ物。次のように言われている（Ezr 2:68,69）。1. 彼らはエルサレムの主の家に来た。しかしその家、あの聖く美しい家は今や廃墟、がれきの山であった。しかしその父祖アブラハムのように、祭壇がなくなっても彼らは祭壇の場所に（Ge 13:4）献身をもって来た。そして真のシオンの子たちの特徴は、そのちりさえも恵むことである（Ps 102:14）。2. 彼らはその所に建てるために進んで献げた。それが彼らが建てようと語り始めた最初の家であったようである。そして彼らは旅をして来て、世を始めていた（二つの費用のかかることである）が、それでも進んで神殿の建設のために献げた。宗教の必要な費用について不平を言う者がだれもいませんように。清算するとき、それが費用に見合うものであることが分かるからである。彼らの献げ物はダビデの時代の君たちの献げ物に比べれば取るに足らない。当時はタラントで（1Ch 29:7）、今はダリクで献げた。しかしこれらのダリクは、その能力にしたがって、あのタラントと同様に神に受け入れられた。やもめの二枚の小銭のように。六万一千ダリクの金は、カンバーランドの計算によれば、私たちの通貨でこれだけのポンドとこれだけのグロートに相当する。一ミナ、すなわち銀一ポンドは、彼は六十シェケル（すなわち三十オンス）と計算する。これは私たちの通貨で7ポンド10シリングと見なせる。それゆえこの五千ポンドの銀は私たちの通貨の37,000ポンド以上になる。神はバビロンで彼らの数の増加と同様に富の増加をも祝福されたようである。そして神が彼らを栄えさせたように、彼らは喜んで神の家の奉仕に献げた。3. 彼らは自分たちの町々に住んだ（Ezr 2:70）。彼らの町々は修繕を要したが、神が割り当てられた彼らの町々であったので、彼らはそこに住むことに満足し、ほとんど華やかさも、豊かさも、力も持たなかったが、自由と所有に感謝した。彼らの貧しさは悪い原因であったが、彼らの一致と和合はその良い結果であった。そこには彼らすべてとその財産のための十分な場所があり、それゆえ彼らの間には争いがなく、完全な調和があった。彼らの定住の祝福された前兆であり、その状態の後の時代の彼らの不和は彼らの滅びの前兆であった。
Original em inglês
The Return of the Captives (536 BC)
¹ 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;
² Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
³ The children of Parosh, two thousand a hundred seventy and two.
⁴ The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
⁵ The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.
⁶ The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.
⁷ The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
⁸ The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.
⁹ The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
¹⁰ The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.
¹¹ The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.
¹² The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.
¹³ The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.
¹⁴ The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.
¹⁵ The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.
¹⁶ The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
¹⁷ The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.
¹⁸ The children of Jorah, a hundred and twelve.
¹⁹ The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.
²⁰ The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.
²¹ The children of Beth-lehem, a hundred twenty and three.
²² The men of Netophah, fifty and six.
²³ The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty and eight.
²⁴ The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.
²⁵ The children of Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.
²⁶ The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.
²⁷ The men of Michmas, a hundred twenty and two.
²⁸ The men of Beth-el and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.
²⁹ The children of Nebo, fifty and two.
³⁰ The children of Magbish, a hundred fifty and six.
³¹ The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
³² The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
³³ The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five.
³⁴ The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
³⁵ The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.
We may observe here, 1. That an account was kept in writing of the families that came up out of captivity, and the numbers of each family. This was done for their honour, as part of their recompence for their faith and courage, their confidence in God and their affection to their own land, and to stir up others to follow their good example. Those that honour God he will thus honour. The names of all those Israelites indeed that accept the offer of deliverance by Christ shall be found, to their honour, in a more sacred record than this, even in the Lamb's book of life. The account that was kept of the families that came up from the captivity was intended also for the benefit of posterity, that they might know from whom they descended and to whom they were allied. 2. That they are called children of the province. Judah, which had been an illustrious kingdom, to which other kingdoms had been made provinces, subject to it and dependent on it, was now itself made a province, to receive laws and commissions from the king of Persia and to be accountable to him. See how sin diminishes and debases a nation, which righteousness would exalt. But by thus being made servants (as the patriarchs by being sojourners in a country which was theirs by promise) they were reminded of the better country, that is, the heavenly (Heb 11:16), a kingdom which cannot be moved, or changed into a province. 3. That they are said to come every one to his city, that is, the city appointed them, in which appointment an eye, no doubt, was had to their former settlement by Joshua; and to that, as near as might be, they returned: for it does not appear that any others, at least any that were able to oppose them, had possessed them in their absence. 4. That the leaders are first mentioned, Ezr 2:2. Zerubbabel and Jeshua were their Moses and Aaron, the former their chief prince, the latter their chief priest. Nehemiah and Mordecai are mentioned here; some think not the same with the famous men we afterwards meet with of those names: probably they were the same, but afterwards returned to court for the service of their country. 5. Some of these several families are named from the persons that were their ancestors, others from the places in which they had formerly resided; as with us many surnames are the proper names of persons, others of places. 6. Some little difference there is between the numbers of some of the families here and in Ne 7:5-73, where this catalogue is repeated, which might arise from this, that some who had given in their names at first to come afterwards drew back—said, I go, Sir, but went not, which would lessen the number of the families they belonged to; others that declined, at first, afterwards repented and went, and so increased the number. 7. Here are two families that are called the children of Elam (one Ezr 2:7, another Ezr 2:31), and, which is strange, the number of both is the same, 1254. 8. The children of Adonikam, which signifies a high lord, were 666, just the number of the beast (Re 13:18), which is there said to be the number of a man, which, Mr. Hugh Broughton thinks, has reference to this man. 9. The children of Bethlehem (Ezr 2:21) were but 123, though it was David's city; for Bethlehem was little among the thousands of Judah, yet there must the Messiah arise, Mic 5:2. 10. Anathoth had been a famous place in the tribe of Benjamin and yet here it numbered but 128 (Ezr 2:23), which is to be imputed to the divine curse which the men of Anathoth brought upon themselves by persecuting Jeremiah, who was of their city. Jer 11:21,23, There shall be no remnant of them, for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth. And see Isa 10:30, O poor Anathoth! Nothing brings ruin on a people sooner than persecution.
³⁶ The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
³⁷ The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
³⁸ The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
³⁹ The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
⁴⁰ The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.
⁴¹ The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight.
⁴² The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine.
⁴³ The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
⁴⁴ The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
⁴⁵ The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
⁴⁶ The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,
⁴⁷ The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
⁴⁸ The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
⁴⁹ The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
⁵⁰ The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim,
⁵¹ The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
⁵² The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
⁵³ The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,
⁵⁴ The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
⁵⁵ The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
⁵⁶ The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
⁵⁷ The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.
⁵⁸ All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.
⁵⁹ And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not show their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel:
⁶⁰ The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.
⁶¹ And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:
⁶² These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.
⁶³ And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.
Here is an account, I. Of the priests that returned, and they were a considerable number, about a tenth part of the whole company: for the whole were above 42,000 (Ezr 2:64), and four families of priests made up above 4200 (Ezr 2:36-39); thus was the tenth God's part—a blessed decimation. Three of the fathers of the priests here named were heads of courses, 1Ch 24:7,8,14. The fourth was Pashur, Ezr 2:38. If these were of the posterity of that Pashur that abused Jeremiah (Jer 20:1), it is strange that so bad a man should have so good a seed, and so numerous.
II. Of the Levites. I cannot but wonder at the small number of them, for, taking in both the singers and the porters (Ezr 2:40-42), they did not make 350. Time was when the Levites were more forward to their duty than the priests (2Ch 29:34), but they were not so now. If one place, one family, has the reputation for pious zeal now, another may have it another time. The wind blows where it listeth, and shifts its points.
III. Of the Nethinim, who, it is supposed, were the Gibeonites, given (so their name signifies) by Joshua first (Jos 9:27), and again by David (Ezr 8:20), when Saul had expelled them, to be employed by the Levites in the work of God's house as hewers of wood and drawers of water; and, with them, of the children of Solomon's servants, whom he gave for the like use (whether they were Jews or Gentiles does not appear) and who were here taken notice of among the retainers of the temple and numbered with the Nethinim, Ezr 2:55,58. Note, It is an honour to belong to God's house, though in the meanest office there.
IV. Of some that were looked upon as Israelites by birth, and others as priests, and yet could not make out a clear title to the honour. 1. There were some that could not prove themselves Israelites (Ezr 2:59,60), a considerable number, who presumed they were of the seed of Jacob, but could not produce their pedigrees, and yet would go up to Jerusalem, having an affection to the house and people of God. These shamed those who were true-born Israelites, and yet were not called Israelites indeed, who came out of the waters of Judah (Isa 48:1), but had lost the relish of those waters. 2. There were others that could not prove themselves priests, and yet were supposed to be of the seed of Aaron. What is not preserved in black and white will, in all likelihood, be forgotten in a little time. Now we are here told, (1.) How they lost their evidence. One of their ancestors married a daughter of Barzillai, that great man whom we read of in David's time; he gloried in an alliance to that honourable family, and, preferring that before the dignity of his priesthood, would have his children called after Barzillai's family, and their pedigree preserved in the registers of that house, not of the house of Aaron, and so they lost it. In Babylon there was nothing to be got by the priesthood, and therefore they cared not for being akin to it. Those who think their ministry, or their relation to ministers, a diminution or disparagement to them, forget who it was that said, I magnify my office. (2.) What they lost with it. It could not be taken for granted that they were priests when they could not produce their proofs, but they were, as polluted, put from the priesthood. Now that the priests had recovered their rights, and had the altar to live upon again, they would gladly be looked upon as priests. But they had sold their birthright for the honour of being gentlemen, and therefore were justly degraded, and forbidden to eat of the most holy things. Note, Christ will be ashamed of those that are ashamed of him and his service. It was the tirshatha, or governor, that put them under this sequestration, which some understand of Zerubbabel the present governor, others of Nehemiah (who is so called, Neh. viii. 9, x. 1, and who gave this order when he came some years after); but the prohibition was not absolute, it was only a suspension, till there should be a high priest with Urim and Thummin, by whom they might know God's mind in this matter. This, it seems, was expected and desired, but it does not appear that ever they were blessed with it under the second temple. They had the canon of the Old Testament complete, which was better than Urim; and, by the want of that oracle, they were taught to expect the Messiah the great Oracle, which the Urim and Thummim was but a type of. Nor does it appear that the second temple had the ark in it, either the old one or a new one. Those shadows by degrees vanished, as the substance approached; and God, by the prophet, intimates to his people that they should sustain no damage by the want of the ark, Jer 3:16,17. In those days, when they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord, neither shall it come to mind, for they shall do very well without it.
⁶⁴ The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,
⁶⁵ Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
⁶⁶ Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;
⁶⁷ Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
⁶⁸ And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:
⁶⁹ They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.
⁷⁰ So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
Here is, I. The sum total of the company that returned out of Babylon. The particular sums before mentioned amount not quite to 30,000 (29,818), so that there were above 12,000 that come out into any of those accounts, who, it is probable, were of the rest of the tribes of Israel, besides Judah and Benjamin, that could not tell of what particular family or city they were, but that they were Israelites, and of what tribe. Now, 1. This was more than double the number that were carried captive into Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, so that, as in Egypt, the time of their affliction was the time of their increase. 2. These were but few to begin a nation with, and yet, by virtue of the old promise made to their fathers, they multiplied so as before their last destruction by the Romans, about 500 years after, to be a very numerous people. When God says, "Increase and multiply," a little one shall become a thousand.
II. Their retinue. They were themselves little better than servants, and therefore no wonder that their servants were comparatively but few (Ezr 2:65) and their beasts of burden about as many, Ezr 2:66,67. It was not with them now as in days past. But notice is taken of 200 singing-men and women whom they had among them, who, we will suppose, were intended (as those 2Ch 35:25) to excite their mourning, for it was foretold that they should, upon this occasion, go weeping (Jer 50:4), with ditties of lamentation.
III. Their oblations. It is said (Ezr 2:68,69), 1. That they came to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem; and yet that house, that holy and beautiful house, was now in ruins, a heap of rubbish. But, like their father Abraham, when the altar was gone they came with devotion to the place of the altar (Ge 13:4); and it is the character of the genuine sons of Zion that they favour even the dust thereof, Ps 102:14. 2. That they offered freely towards the setting of it up in its place. That, it seems, was the first house they talked of setting up; and though they came off a journey, and were beginning the world (two chargeable things), yet they offered, and offered freely, towards the building of the temple. Let none complain of the necessary expenses of their religion, but believe that when they come to balance the account they will find that it clears the cost. Their offering was nothing in comparison with the offerings of the princes in David's time; then they offered by talents (1Ch 29:7), now by drams, yet these drams, being after their ability, were as acceptable to God as those talents, like the widow's two mites. The 61,000 drams of gold amount, by Cumberland's calculation, to so many pounds of our money and so many groats. Every maneh, or pound of silver, he reckons to be sixty shekels (that is, thirty ounces), which we may reckon 7l. 10s. of our money, so that this 5000 pounds of silver will be above 37,000l. of our money. It seems, God had blessed them with an increase of their wealth, as well as of their numbers, in Babylon; and, as God had prospered them, they gave cheerfully to the service of his house. 3. That they dwelt in their cities, Ezr 2:70. Though their cities were out of repair, yet, because they were their cities, such as God had assigned them, they were content to dwell in them, and were thankful for liberty and property, though they had little of pomp, plenty, or power. Their poverty was a bad cause, but their unity and unanimity were a good effect of it. Here was room enough for them all and all their substance, so that there was no strife among them, but perfect harmony, a blessed presage of their settlement, as their discords in the latter times of that state were of their ruin.
キュロスの布告に従って多くの者がバビロンから帰還したことは、前の章で告げられた。ここには帰還したいくつかの家族の目録がある、Ezr 2:1。I. 指導者たち、Ezr 2:2。II. 民、Ezr 2:3-35。III. 祭司、レビ人、および神殿に付随する奉仕者たち、Ezr 2:35-63。IV. 随行員を含む総計、Ezr 2:64-67。V. 神殿の奉仕のための彼らのささげ物、Ezr 2:68-70。