Ezra 2 The number of the people that returned, Ezra 2:1–35; and of the priests, Ezra 2:36–39; of the Levites, Ezra 2:40; of the singers, Ezra 2:41; of the porters, Ezra 2:42; of the Nethinims, Ezra 2:43–54; and of Solomon’s servants, Ezra 2:55–60.

The children of the province, i.e. the Israelites, called the children of the province, either, 1. Of Babylon, of which province we oft read, as Ezra 7:16, Dan. 2:48, Dan. 3:1–2, Dan.

As for this catalogue, it differs in some names and numbers from that Neh. 7:0, which might be from divers causes, partly because several names were given to one and the same person; and partly because of the many changes which might happen in the same families between the time of the first making…

i.e. The posterity (as that word is for the most part, if not constantly, taken in this catalogue) that descended either from Parosh, or from that family whereof Parosh was the chief. And so for the rest.

In Neh. 7:10, they were only six hundred and fifty-two. It seems seven hundred and seventy-five marched out of Babylon, or gave in their names that they would go; but some of them died, others changed their minds, others were hindered by sickness, or other casualties, happening to themselves or…

Of Jeshua and Joab, or of Jeshua-joab, as the former was Palath-moab.

Of Ater the son of Hezekiah, not the king, but another famous person so called.

Either of a man called Beth-lehem, or the Beth-lehemite, by way of eminency; or of the place so called. And so these were the remainders of the inhabitants of that city. And the like may be said of the two following names, Netophah and Anathoth, or others of the like nature.

Kirath-arim, or Kirjath-jearim, as it is Neh. 7:29.

The head of one of the twenty-four courses which David appointed, 1 Chron. 24:8; of all which courses, some observe, here are not above four or five that returned. There is another Harim mentioned above, Ezra 2:32, but that was no priest as this was, Ezra 2:35.

The Nethinims; the persons devoted to the inferior services of the priests and Levites; of whom see 1 Chron. 9:2.

The children of Solomon’s servants; either of those strangers and proselytes whom Solomon used in the building of the temple, 1 Kings 9:21, to the service of which, as some add, he devoted them, as there should be occasion hereafter; or others who had lived in Solomon’s family, and after his death…

Tel-mela, Tel-harsa; the names of the places whence they came, and where they had lived in the time of their captivity. Cherub, Addan, and Immer; the names either of the heads of the families living in the places last mentioned, or of other places where the persons here understood had dwelt.

To wit, Barzillai; which name he preferred before that of his own family, accounting it, as it seems, a greater honour to be allied to so noble a family, than to be a priest of the Lord.

The Jews were generally very exact and careful in their genealogies, partly from their own choice and interest, that they might preserve the distinctions of the several tribes and families, which was necessary both to make out their claims or titles to offices or inheritances, which might belong to…

The Tirshatha, i.e. the governor, to wit, Zerubbabel; whence Nehemiah also is so called, Neh. 8:9, Neh. 10:1. Till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim; that this point, which could not be found out by any human skill or industry, might be determined by Divine direction.

The particular sums here recited come only 29, 818; unto whom are added in this total sum, 12, 542; which either were of the other tribes beside Judah and Benjamin, or were such as were supposed by themselves and others to be Israelites, but could not prove their pedigree by their genealogies, and…

For women as well as men were devoted to and employed in this exercise in the temple service, as appears from 1 Chron. 25:5–6. And the parents of these persons had taken care to instruct and exercise them as far as they could in this art, both for God’s service, and for their own benefit, when…

To the house of the Lord, i.e. to the ruins of the house; or to the place where that house stood.

A dram of gold is supposed to be of the weight of the fourth part of a shekel, and of the value of a French crown.