1 esdras 5:8 - And they returned to Jerusalem, and to the other parts of Jewry, every man to his own city, who came with Zorobabel, with Jesus, Nehemias, and Zaraias, Resaias, Eneneus, Mardocheus, Beelsarus, Aspharsus, Reelias, Roimus, and Baana, their leaders.

Generated Verse: 1 esdras 5:8

What does "1 esdras 5:8" mean?


This verse from 1 Esdras 5:8 describes the return of Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem and other cities in Judea. It lists several prominent figures who led or accompanied Zerubbabel (Zorobabel), Jeshua (Jesus), and Nehemiah (Nehemias) in this repatriation. Let's break it down:

"And they returned to Jerusalem, and to the other parts of Jewry, every man to his own city..." This signifies the resettlement of Jewish people in their ancestral homeland after a period of exile in Babylon. They are going back to their respective towns and villages, re-establishing their communities.

"...who came with Zorobabel, with Jesus, Nehemias, and Zaraias, Resaias, Eneneus, Mardocheus, Beelsarus, Aspharsus, Reelias, Roimus, and Baana, their leaders." This identifies the group of people who returned and highlights some of their leaders.

Zorobabel (Zerubbabel): He was a governor of Judah appointed by the Persian King Cyrus. He played a crucial role in the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.
Jesus (Jeshua): He was the High Priest at the time, and also played a vital role in the rebuilding efforts.
Nehemias (Nehemiah): While he's included here, note that the Nehemiah we often think of (who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem) came later. This "Nehemias" is likely a different individual.
Zaraias, Resaias, Eneneus, Mardocheus, Beelsarus, Aspharsus, Reelias, Roimus, and Baana: These are additional leaders or prominent figures who accompanied Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and Nehemiah. Their specific roles aren't detailed here, but their presence indicates a structured return with capable individuals guiding the process.

In essence, the verse is saying that after the exile, a group of Jewish people, led by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and others, returned to Jerusalem and other parts of Judea, with each person returning to their own city or town. The list of leaders emphasizes the importance of organization and leadership in this crucial period of restoration and rebuilding after the Babylonian exile.

Important Note: 1 Esdras is considered apocryphal by many Protestants and Jews, and is part of the Deuterocanonical books accepted by Catholics and Orthodox Christians. It offers a slightly different version of events related to the return from exile, primarily drawing from the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Some of the names may have different spellings or be presented in a different context than in the canonical books.