Ezra 2:44 - the children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,

Generated Verse: Ezra 2:44

What does "Ezra 2:44" mean?


Ezra 2 lists the families who returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. The verse "the children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon" (and the verses surrounding it) lists families of temple servants (Nethinim) who returned.

Here's a breakdown:

The context is key: Chapter 2 of Ezra is a census list of those who returned to Judah after the Babylonian exile. It details various groups, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Nethinim.

Nethinim: These were temple servants. The term "Nethinim" means "given ones" or "dedicated ones." They performed menial tasks in the temple, such as cleaning, fetching water, and assisting with sacrifices. They were not of Israelite descent; many were likely descendants of the Gibeonites (Joshua 9), who had been condemned to serve the Israelites in this way.

Children of Keros, Siaha, and Padon: These are the families or clans of Nethinim. These names likely represent the heads of these families or perhaps places of origin. The verse is stating that the descendants of these individuals (Keros, Siaha, and Padon) were members of the Nethinim who returned from exile.

In summary, the verse means that the descendants of Keros, Siaha, and Padon were families of temple servants (Nethinim) who were part of the returning exiles to Jerusalem. The inclusion of these families shows that the rebuilding of the temple and the restoration of Jewish worship required the contributions of all classes of people, not just the priests and Levites.

What categories does "Ezra 2:44" have?