1 esdras 8:32 - of the sons of Zathoes, Sechenias the son of Jezelus, and with him three hundred men: of the sons ofAdin, Obeth the son of Jonathan, and with him two hundred and fifty men:

Generated Verse: 1 esdras 8:32

What does "1 esdras 8:32" mean?


This verse from 1 Esdras 8:32 (which corresponds to Ezra 8:5 in the Hebrew Bible/Protestant Old Testament) is part of a list of the heads of families who returned from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem with Ezra. Let's break down what it means:

"Of the sons of Zathoes..." This indicates that the following individuals belong to the family or clan of Zathoes. Family lines and lineage were very important in ancient Jewish society, indicating heritage, property rights, and social standing.

"...Sechenias the son of Jezelus, and with him three hundred men..." This specifies the leader, Sechenias (also spelled Shecaniah), son of Jezelus, from the Zathoes family. The phrase "with him three hundred men" indicates that Sechenias was responsible for leading 300 men from the Zathoes family during the return journey to Jerusalem. These "men" likely also included their families (wives, children, elderly relatives). It signifies the size of the contingent from that family.

"Of the sons of Adin..." Similar to the previous phrase, this indicates that the following individuals belong to the family or clan of Adin.

"...Obeth the son of Jonathan, and with him two hundred and fifty men..." This specifies the leader, Obeth, son of Jonathan, from the Adin family. The phrase "with him two hundred and fifty men" indicates that Obeth was responsible for leading 250 men from the Adin family during the return journey to Jerusalem. As with Sechenias, this implies a larger group including families.

In summary:

The verse is a segment from a register that records the heads of families and the number of men (representing households) who returned with Ezra from Babylonian exile. It highlights:

Family/Clan Identity: The importance of lineage and belonging to a specific family group.
Leadership: The designated leader responsible for a particular group.
Numbers: An approximation of the number of people returning under each leader's responsibility, giving insight into the size of each family's contribution to the re-establishment of the Jewish community in Jerusalem.
Historical Record: The verse serves as a historical record documenting the individuals and families who participated in this pivotal event.

The passage emphasizes the organized nature of the return and demonstrates the commitment of various families to rebuild Jerusalem and restore Jewish life after the exile. It's a glimpse into the social structure and demographics of the returning community.

What categories does "1 esdras 8:32" have?