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1
Esdras ii.
Notes
& Commentary:
Ver. 1. Now. This catalogue is given
again, 2 Esdras vii. 6., and 3 Esdras v. 7., immediately (Haydock) after the long interpolated story (Kennicott) of the three
guards, concerning the superior strength of wine, the king, women or truth, in which Zorobabel gains the victory, in favour
of the latter. (Haydock) --- The rest of the book is taken from other inspired writings; (Sandford) and this story may be
borrowed from Josephus: so that there is no reason for asserting "that one whole book is now lost out of the sacred canon." (Kennicott)
--- Yet this argument is by no means conclusive, as the Paralipomenon consists of such supplements, &c. These three catalogues
vary considerably, not only in the proper names, but also in the numbers, (Haydock) though they must have been the same originally,
and still give the same total, 42,360. We cannot find that number at present, by above 8,400. In many cases, the disagreement
consists of a single unit, hundred, &c., which may lead us to suspect that the Palmyrene, or the more ancient Sidonian
notation, may have been adopted in some Hebrew manuscripts, being used about the time of Christ. See Swinton's tables, (Phil.
Trans. xlviii., and l.) where the Sidonian coins express the units by small perpendicular strokes; and the Palmyrene inscriptions
only admit four of these together, having an arbitrary mark for 5: "the hundreds and units after the tens, are expressed in
both, in the same manner as the single units." (Kennicott, 2 Diss.) --- Cordell (manuscript note on this author) disapproves
of this mode of correcting, and says that the females are included in the total sum, being 12,542, not recorded in the separate
sums. But this number seems too small, as there are generally as many of that sex as of the other. (Haydock) --- Some find
the total 31,583, which leaves 10,777 wanting to complete 42,360, as these could not make out their genealogies, or were of
the ten tribes. In this chapter only 29,818 are specified, whereas [in] 2 Esdras vii. has 31,089; the latter reckons 1765
unnoticed by Esdras, who has 494 not specified in Nehemias. The difference, that seems to make a reconciliation impossible,
is what makes these authors agree; for, if you add the surplus of each to the other, the same total, 31,583, will arise. (Alting.
ep. 59.) This solution, though ingenious, is not solid or satisfactory. (Rondet, t. v. p. 176.) --- De Vence rather thinks
that the difference is to be laid to the charge of transcribers, or that some people enrolled themselves after the registers
had been made up; so that they are only included in the general sum. (Haydock) --- Some things may have been inserted from
2 Esdras, though here out of place, (Grotius) as we find similar anachronisms, 1 Paralipomenon ix. 2., and perhaps Genesis
xxxvi. 31. Nehemias may also have included those whom he brought back along with these; unless we allow that some one, by
attempting to reconcile the two, has thrown all into confusion. It seems undeniable, that some additions have been made to
the latter book, chap. xii. 11., and 22. The list given [in] 1 Paralipomenon ix. 4., comprises only those who came first from
Babylon. (Calmet) --- After this remark, it will hardly be requisite to specify all the variations of names and numbers. (Haydock)
--- "For what can be hence inferred, but that there are some arithmetical mistakes in Scripture, which no one denies?" (Huet)
--- "Almost all who are conversant with ancient copies, agree in the decision of St. Jerome, as they cannot but perceive that
some variations have crept in, particularly with respect to numbers and proper names." (Walton) --- Province, born
in Chaldea, (Menochius) or rather belonging to Judea, which was now considered as a province of the empire, (Calmet) and paid
tribute, chap. iv. 13., and 2 Esdras ix. 36. (Tirinus) --- In 3 Esdras, we read, "These are they of Judea." --- Nabuchodonosor
had taken some of these; the rest were chiefly their descendants. --- Juda now is used to denote Judea. (Haydock)
Ver. 2. Zorobabel was the prince, Josue
the high priest. (Calmet) --- There are 12 mentioned in 2 and 3 Esdras. But here the sixth Nahamani, or Enenion, is omitted.
(Haydock) --- They represented the 12 tribes, (Kennicott) and were chiefs. (Menochius) --- It is wonderful that Esdras is
not here mentioned, as well as Nehemias, who led a company after him, many of whom are here recorded. (Calmet) --- They might
come to take care of their patrimony, and return into Chaldea, like Mardochai, (Tirinus.; though it does not seem to be Esther's
uncle, Du Hamel) and Nehemias, who is styled also Athersatha, ver. 63. (Tirinus) --- Baana. 3 Esdras adds, "their
leaders." (Haydock)
Ver. 3. Children. When this term precedes
the name of a man, it means his offspring; (ver. 3, 20.) when placed before a city, it denotes the inhabitants, ver. 21, 35.
(Calmet) --- The lay Israelites are placed here; then the Levitical tribe; (ver. 36.) the Nathineans, &c., ver. 43. It
is very difficult to decide when the names designate places, and when persons. (Menochius)
Ver. 5. Seven. 2 Esdras, only 652.
These arrived at Jerusalem; the rest altered their mind. (Junius) (Calmet) --- But 3 Esdras has 756: so that there is most
probably a mistake somewhere. (Haydock)
Ver. 6. Moab. This seems to be the
name of a place, where the descendants of Josue and Joab might reside; (chap. viii. 4.; Calmet) or Phahath might have
this title, on account of some victory, or residence in the country. His descendants, with those of Josue and Joab, were 2812,
(Tirinus) or 2818, 2 Esdras vii. 11. (Calmet) --- Josue. Protestants, "Jeshua and Joab." (Haydock) --- Some
translate Pahath, "the chief of" Moab, &c. (Du Hamel) --- Grotius suspects that to ver. 68 may be inserted from Nehemias.
Ver. 13. Six. Other 60 returned afterwards
with Esdras. (Haydock) (Chap. viii. 13.)
Ver. 16. Ather. 3 Esdras, Ator-Ezekios,
92: but 2 Esdras has Ater, children of Hezecias, 98. (Haydock)
Ver. 17. Besai. We should perhaps read
Hasum, (ver. 19.; Calmet) then Besai, and afterwards Jora, who may be the same with Hareph, 2 Esdras vii. 24. (Haydock)
Ver. 20. Gebbar. 2 Esdras, Gabaon.
3 Esdras, "Baitereus, 3005." (Haydock)
Ver. 22. Six. 2 Esdras puts the inhabitants
of those two cities together, and makes 188, instead of the present calculation 179. (Calmet) --- Netupha was in Ephraim.
(Du Hamel)
Ver. 29. Nebo. 2 Esdras (vii. 33.)
adds, "of the other Nebo," as in some Latin copies a first had been mentioned, (ver. 30.) where we have Geba, (Calmet) here
written Gabaa, ver. 26. (Haydock) --- Nebo belonged to some of the other tribes, as well as Phahath-Moab; which shews that
some of the people returned, (Calmet) and are particularized, as well as the men of the three tribes of Juda, Benjamin, and
Levi. (Haydock)
Ver. 30. Megbis. 3 Esdras, "Niphis;"
(Calmet) or, according to the Alexandrian Manuscript, "Phineis." (Haydock) --- The verse is omitted [in] 2 Esdras. But Megphias
occurs below, chap. x. 20. Megabyse is a Persian name. (Herodotus iii. 20., and 160.)
Ver. 31. Other Elam. The first is mentioned
(ver. 7.) with exactly the same number. Is not this verse redundant? (Calmet) --- Who would not be astonished? (Tirinus) ---
3 Esdras omits this and the following name. (Haydock)
Ver. 33. Hadid. These cities were in
the tribe of Benjamin. (Calmet) --- Senaa was in Ephraim, eight miles from Jericho. (Eusebius)
Ver. 36. Josue, the high priest, ver.
2.
Ver. 40. Odovia, called Juda, chap.
iii. 9. (Calmet)
Ver. 43. Nathinites, "people given"
(1 Paralipomenon ix. 2.; Haydock) by Josue, David, and Solomon. (Tirinus)
Ver. 55. Servants, proselytes, 1 Paralipomenon
xxii. 2. (Menochius)
Ver. 57. Pocereth-Hatsebaim, in Hebrew
(Calmet) or "of Zebaim." (Protestants)
Ver. 59. Thelmela, "the height of Mela,
or of salt." The river Melas empties itself into the Euphrates. (Strabo xii.) --- The cities here mentioned were in Chaldea.
Some of the ten tribes had probably been transported into Cappadocia, where Herodotus (ii. 35,) place some circumcised Syrians.
--- Thelharsa, or Thelassar, 4 Kings xix. 12. --- Cherub, &c., were cities of Chaldea, (Tirinus) or chief
men; but as they had been carried away by Theglathphalassar, they had lost their genealogies, and could only produce circumcision
as a proof that they were Israelites.
Ver. 61. Their name. The priest, Berzellai,
assumed the name of the family, from which he had chosen a wife. (Haydock) --- It was that of the famous old man, who was
so hospitable to David, 2 Kings xix. 31. (Calmet)
Ver. 62. Priesthood. Those who cannot
prove that they are priests, ought not to exercise the functions. (Worthington) --- The Jews were particularly careful to
preserve their genealogical tables, and transcribed them again after any very troublesome times. (Josephus, contra Apion 1,
and in his own Life.) --- The Rabbins falsely assert that only the mother's side was examined, and that the children followed
her condition. (Calmet)
Ver. 63. Athersatha. Protestants' marginal
note, "the governor," (Haydock) in the Persian language. (Du Hamel) --- Nehemias has this title, 2 Esdras viii. 9. (Haydock)
--- It means "a cup-bearer." (Calmet) (Menochius) --- 3 Esdras, "And Nehemias, who is also Atharias, said unto them,
that they should not partake of the holy things, till a high priest, clothed with manifestation and truth, should arise."
(Haydock) --- Learned. Hebrew, "with Urim and Thummim." We do not find that God had been consulted, in this manner,
since the time of David: and the Jews inform us that the ornament was not used after the captivity, (Calmet) as it had been,
perhaps, concealed with the ark, by Jeremias, 2 Machabees ii. 4. (Tirinus) --- Nehemias hoped that it would be soon recovered.
In the mean time, he followed the spirit of the law, but with additional rigour, as it permitted such priests to eat consecrated
meats, Leviticus xxi. 22. It seems that this decision is out of its proper place, since Nehemias came 80 years after Zorobabel.
(Calmet) --- But he might have been present on this occasion, (Haydock) though he returned afterwards to Babylon, where he
officiated as cup-bearer to the king. (Tirinus)
Ver. 64. Forty-two thousand, &c.
Those who are reckoned up above of the tribes of Juda, Benjamin, and Levi, fall short of this number. The rest, who must be
taken in to make up the whole sum, were of the other tribes. (Challoner) --- This explanation is given by R. Solomon. (Worthington)
--- But we have seen that cities belonging to the ten tribes are specified. See ver. 1, and 29. (Haydock) --- Some might not
be able to make out their genealogies, (Calmet) ver. 62. Yet some of these also are counted, ver. 60. (Haydock) --- The particular
sums may therefore be incorrect. Josephus ([Antiquities?] xi. 1,) adds 102 to the number. (Calmet) --- 3 Esdras has, "But
they were all of Israel from 12 years old and upwards, exclusive of boys and girls, (or male and female servants) 42,300."
Grabe has in another character "sixty. The men and women servants of these, 7300." Then the Alexandrian Manuscript continues,
"thirty-seven." So that without the addition it would give for the total, 42,337. Some copies (Haydock) have 40. (Calmet)
--- But the most correct (Haydock) read 60. (Kennicott) The small number of servants and cattle shew that the people were
poor. (Du Hamel)
Ver. 65. Servants. Probably strangers.
(Calmet) --- Yet the Hebrews might renounce their liberty, Exodus xxi. 6. (Haydock) --- Hundred, comprised in the last
number; (Calmet) or they belong to Israel, but were different from those mentioned [in] ver. 41. We find 45 more in 2 and
3 Esdras. (Haydock) --- These might be inserted by Nehemias, after they had proved themselves to be of the tribe of Levi.
(Tournemine) --- There were in all 49,942. (Haydock) So much was the power of this kingdom now reduced! Sulp Severus says
above 50,000 of every sex and rank could not be found. (Haydock)
Ver. 69. Solids. Hebrew darcemonim.
(Haydock) --- "Darics," worth as much as a golden sicle. (Pelletier) (Calmet) (1 Paralipomenon xxix. 7.) --- Pounds,
(mnas) or 60 sicles. (Menochius) --- 3 Esdras has "mnas" in both places.
Ver. 70. Some. The laics, mentioned
from ver. 2., to 35. (Haydock)
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Bible Text & Cross-references:
The number of them that returned to Judea: their oblations.
1 Now *these are the children of the province, that went out of the captivity,
which Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon, had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Juda, every man to his
city:
2 Who came with Zorobabel, Josue, Nehemia, Saraia, Rahelaia, Mardochai,
Belsan, Mesphar, Beguai, Rehum, Baana. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
3 The children of Pharos, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
4 The children of Sephatia, three hundred seventy-two.
5 The children of Area, seven hundred seventy-five.
6 The children of Phahath Moab, of the children of Josue: Joab, two thousand
eight hundred twelve.
7 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty-four.
8 The children of Zethua, nine hundred forty-five.
9 The children of Zachai, seven hundred sixty.
10 The children of Bani, six hundred forty-two.
11 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three.
12 The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty-two.
13 The children of Adonicam, six hundred sixty-six.
14 The children of Beguai, two thousand fifty-six.
15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty-four.
16 The children of Ather, who were of Ezechias, ninety-eight.
17 The children of Besai, three hundred and twenty-three.
18 The children of Jora, a hundred and twelve.
19 The children of Hasum, two hundred twenty-three.
20 The children of Gebbar, ninety-five.
21 The children of Bethlehem, a hundred twenty-three.
22 The men of Netupha, fifty-six.
23 The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty-eight.
24 The children of Azmaveth, forty-two.
25 The children of Cariathiarim, Cephira, and Beroth, seven hundred forty-three.
26 The children of Rama and Gabaa, six hundred twenty-one.
27 The men of Machmas, a hundred twenty-two.
28 The men of Bethel and Hai, two hundred twenty-three.
29 The children of Nebo, fifty-two.
30 The children of Megbis, a hundred fifty-six.
31 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty-four.
32 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
33 The children of Lod, Hadid and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five.
34 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
35 The children of Senaa, three thousand six hundred thirty.
36 The priests: the children of Jadaia, of the house of Josue, nine hundred
seventy-three.
37 The children of Emmer, a thousand fifty-two.
38 The children of Pheshur, a thousand two hundred forty-seven.
39 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
40 The Levites: The children of Josue, and of Cedmihel, the children
of Odovia, seventy-four.
41 The singing men: The children of Asaph, a hundred twenty-eight.
42 The children of the porters: the children of Sellum, the children
of Ater, the children of Telmon, the children of Accub, the children of Hatita, the children of Sobai: in all a hundred thirty-nine.
43 The Nathinites: The children of Siha, the children of Hasupha, the
children of Tabbaoth,
44 The children of Ceros, the children of Sia, the children of Phadon,
45 The children of Lebana, the children of Hegaba, the children of Accub,
46 The children of Hagab, the children of Semlai, the children of Hanan,
47 The children of Gaddel, the children of Gaher, the children of Raaia,
48 The children of Rasin, the children of Necoda, the children of Gazam,
49 The children of Aza, the children of Phasea, the children of Besee,
50 The children of Asena, the children of Munim, the children of Nephusim,
51 The children of Bacbuc, the children of Hacupha, the children of Harhur.
52 The children of Besluth, the children of Mahida, the children of Harsa,
53 The children of Bercos, the children of Sisara, the children of Thema,
54 The children of Nasia, the children of Hatipha.
55 The children of the servants of Solomon, the children of Sotai, the
children of Sopheret, the children of Pharuda,
56 The children of Jala, the children of Dercon, the children of Geddel.
57 The children of Saphatia, the children of Hatil, the children of Phochereth,
which were of Asebaim, the children of Ami,
58 All the Nathinites, and the children of the servants of Solomon, three
hundred ninety-two.
59 And these are they that came up from Thelmela, Thelharsa, Cherub,
and Adon, and Emer. And they could not shew the house of their fathers and their seed, whether they were of Israel.
60 The children of Dalaia, the children of Tobia, the children of Necoda,
six hundred fifty-two.
61 And of the children of the priests: The children of Hobia, the children
of Accos, the children of Berzellai, who took a wife of the daughters of Berzellai, the Galaadite, and was called by their
name:
62 These sought the writing of their genealogy, and found it not; and
they were cast out of the priesthood.
63 *And Athersatha said to them, that they should not eat of the holy
of holies, till there arose a priest, learned and perfect.
64 All the multitudes as one man, were forty-two thousand three
hundred and sixty,
65 Besides their men-servants, and women-servants, of whom there were
seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven: and among them singing men and singing women, two hundred.
66 Their horses, seven hundred thirty-six, their mules, two hundred forty-five,
67 Their camels, four hundred thirty-five, their asses, six thousand
seven hundred and twenty.
68 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the temple
of the Lord, which is in Jerusalem, offered freely to the house of the Lord to build it in its place.
69 According to their ability, they gave towards the expenses of the
work, sixty-one thousand solids of gold, five thousand pounds of silver, and a hundred garments for the priests.
70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singing
men, and the porters, and the Nathinites, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
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*
1: 2 Esdras vii. 6.
63: 2 Esdras vii. 65.
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