1 esdras 5:15 - the sons of Ater, of Ezekias, ninety and two: the sons of Kilan and Azetas, three score and seven: the sons of Azaru, four hundred thirty and two:

Generated Verse: 1 esdras 5:15

What does "1 esdras 5:15" mean?


This verse is part of a list recording the number of men who returned from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem. It's essentially a census, organized by family or clan. Let's break it down:

"The sons of Ater, of Ezekias, ninety and two:" This means that 92 men were counted who belonged to the family (or clan) of Ater, specifically of the line of Ezekias. "Sons of" is a common idiom to represent descendants or members of a particular family/clan.

"the sons of Kilan and Azetas, three score and seven:" Here, "three score and seven" translates to 67. So, 67 men were counted who belonged to the families of Kilan and Azetas.

"the sons of Azaru, four hundred thirty and two:" This indicates that 432 men were members of the family of Azaru.

In summary, the verse is providing a tally of the returnees, organized by ancestral family/clan.

Significance:

Genealogical Importance: These lists were important for establishing lineage and rights to land and temple service after the exile.
Rebuilding the Community: Knowing the size of different families and clans helped in the overall effort to rebuild Jerusalem and restore Jewish life.
Historical Record: While the details may vary between different versions of these lists in Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1 Esdras, they provide valuable insight into the return from exile and the composition of the Jewish community at that time.
Source Material: The book of 1 Esdras is accepted as canon by Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches, but is considered Apocrypha by Catholic and Protestant churches. As such, the book can be a source for the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, though there are contradictions to the accepted Hebrew version of the text.

The passage is not meant to be interpreted theologically but rather as a part of a historical record.

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