The number of people who returned for the first time

The List of the Exiles Who Returned

1 Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town, 2 in company with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah): 
 The list of the men of the people of Israel:
3 the descendants of Parosh 2,172 4 of Shephatiah 372 5 of Arah 775 6 of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab) 2,812 7 of Elam 1,254 8 of Zattu 945 9 of Zaccai 760 10 of Bani 642 11 of Bebai 623 12 of Azgad 1,222 13 of Adonikam 666 14 of Bigvai 2,056 15 of Adin 454 16 of Ater (through Hezekiah) 98 17 of Bezai 323 18 of Jorah 112 19 of Hashum 223 20 of Gibbar 95 21 the men of Bethlehem 123 22 of Netophah 56 23 of Anathoth 128 24 of Azmaveth 42 25 of Kiriath Jearim, [a] Kephirah and Beeroth 743 26 of Ramah and Geba 621 27 of Micmash 122 28 of Bethel and Ai 223 29 of Nebo 52 30 of Magbish 156 31 of the other Elam 1,254 32 of Harim 320 33 of Lod, Hadid and no 725 34 of Jericho 345 35 of Senaah 3,630 36 The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua) 973 37 of Immer 1,052 38 of Pashhur 1,247 39 of Harim 1,017 40 The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through the line of Hodaviah) 74 41 The singers: the descendants of Asaph 128 42 The gatekeepers of the temple: the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai 139 43 The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, 44 Keros, Siaha, Padon, 45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub, 46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan, 47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, 48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, 49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai, 50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephussim, 51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, 52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, 53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah, 54 Neziah and Hatipha 55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, 56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, 57 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Ami 58 The temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon 392 59 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel: 60 The descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda 652 61 And from among the priests: The descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).
62 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. 63 The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.
64 The whole company numbered 42,360, 65 besides their 7,337 menservants and maidservants; and they also had 200 men and women singers. 66 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 67 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
68 When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas [b] of gold, 5,000 minas [c] of silver and 100 priestly garments.
70 The priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.
I. Message:
Content:
1. The number of leaders (v.1-2)
2. The number of common people (v.3-35)
3. The number of priests (v.36-39)
4. The number of Levites (v.40-42)
5. The number of servants (v.43-58)
6. The number of people of whose descendants are uncertain (v.59-63)
7. The number of people who returned (v.64-67)
8. The offerings given (v.68-70)
Themes:
1. The number of people who returned for the first time
2. Having one’s name being recorded
I. Who is God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit?
• God who is faithful (fulfills prophecies)
• God who is worthy of praise (reconstructs the temple)
I. What does the passage teach us (about commands, promises, examples, exhortations and warnings)?
• 1. Preaching deliverance to the captives
• Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive to Babylon. (v.1) Since King Nebuchadnezzar took the Israelites captives seventy years ago, their families have been going through exile in Babylon. Nonetheless, many today who went through exile have left Babylon and back to Jerusalem and Judah, to their homes. Said in simpler words, it tells of a time in history filled with misery.
Being God’s people, we claim the right to live in God’s promises and on the land that he blesses. However, we are being punished because we have fallen short and gone against God. This is how unbearable it is - being banished to foreign lands, far away from Jerusalem and having no Holy Temple to worship. Therefore we can imagine that how joyous it was for the Israelites, that have their heart set towards Jerusalem and who cherish the prosperity of the temple, when they left Babylon and returned back home. This just shows how captives must look towards deliverance.
Reflection: Have I experienced the peace, joy and freedom of being set free from being captives of sin?
1. The list of names that are remembered
• The main part in this section of the Bible is the list of people who came back home after being encouraged by God. These people were willing to leave behind whatever they had established there to go home and rebuild the temple. In reality, there were still a lot of people who weren’t willing to returning home and remained in Babylon. This could have probably been because of certain concerns or the unwillingness to give up what they had accomplished there already. The people of the list were those who were willing to pay the price. Since there are names written on the list, it shows that those who are willing to pay the price will be remembered.
• Reflection: Am I willing to pay the price for God? Am I willing to sacrifice myself for the sake of this faith? Is there a place on the list in heaven for me? 
 
 
3. Valuing the heritage of this faith
• The list of the people who returned is quite specific. It can be seen from two perspectives:
• A – The first way
• a. the number of common people (v.3-35) b. the number of priests (v.36-39) c. the number of Levites (v.40-42) d. the number of servants who worked in the temple and for Solomon (v.43-58) e. the number of people of whose descendants are uncertain (v.59-63) f. the number of common servants (v.65)
• B – The second way
• a. The number of people according to family (v.3-20) b. the number of people according to city (v.21-35) c. the number of people according to their duty (v.36-54)
• Although the Israelites were in captive in Babylon for seventy years, they never forgot about valuing genealogical traditions. Behind the genealogy lied the transmission of this faith. Therefore, they still adhered to this tradition of faith. 
Reflection: Do I understand the meaning of ‘drinking from the source’? Do I value my ancestral history? Do I value the tradition of this faith?
• 4. Restoring the life of worship
• According to verses 36 to 54, we can see that the families of the priests, Levites and temple servants were the main focus. There is a purpose behind this, mainly that there is an important task that must be accomplished during this homecoming – rebuilding the temple. 
The reason why the nation of Israel was subjugated was because the people abandoned God. Therefore, the importance of this trip back home was to rebuild this faith. Furthermore, the first step to accomplishing this was to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem and to establish a place of worship, to restore a life of worship. 
Reflection: In my daily life, do I value worship to the extent of molding it into my life? 
 
5. A life that cannot serve
• And from among the priests: The descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name). These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim. (v.61-63)
• Although this is an action that involves the counting of the number of returnees, in reality the emphasis is not on the number of people but on whether or not the family records are clear. The purpose of giving points according to family records is to figure out the beginning of life, which is from one generation to the next, back to Abraham, Esau and Jacob. If the genealogical clues cannot be connected to Abraham, Esau or Jacob, it means that the source is unclear and that the poor is not pure.
• According to the Scriptures, although Haobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name) were the descendants of priests, because they weren’t able to prove who their ancestors were, they were considered unclean and therefore were unable to become priests.
• The governor even told them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim. Therefore it is through recovering family records that determines whether or not life is holy and if the blood is pure.
• Reflection: Is my life holy enough? Do I think I’m qualified to serve this holy God? 
 
 
6. Unified offering to build the temple
• When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas [b] of gold, 5,000 minas [c] of silver and 100 priestly garments. (v.68-69)
• When they returned to Jerusalem to the temple site, some of the heads of the families gave freewill gifts for the rebuilding of the house of God. The donations were all given very enthusiastically according to their abilities. Since many people responded, the wealthy gave generously including 61000 drachmas of gold, 5000 minas of silver and 100 priestly garments. Therefore enough money was raised to rebuild the temple.
• Reflection: Do I give joyfully and willingly when the opportunities show up such as for the construction of churches or for the furthering of church ministries? 
 
IV. My prayer / Life applications