Ezra 2:64 - The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,

Generated Verse: Ezra 2:64

What does "Ezra 2:64" mean?


Ezra 2:64, "The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty," is a concluding statement in a chapter that lists the families and individuals who returned to Jerusalem and Judah from exile in Babylon. Let's break down what it means:

"The whole assembly together...": This refers to the entire group of people who had returned. It wasn't just a random collection of individuals but a community, an "assembly," with a shared history and purpose.

"...was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty": This is the total number of people in that entire returning group. This is the grand total of all the individual families and people listed in the preceding verses of Ezra 2, who decided to return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.

In essence, this verse provides the total number of returnees from Babylon to Jerusalem and Judah.

Significance:

End of a List: It serves as a summary and conclusion to a detailed list of names and numbers.
Emphasis on Community: The word "assembly" underscores the communal aspect of the return. They were not just individuals but a people group returning to their homeland to rebuild and re-establish their religious and cultural identity.
Historical Information: It gives us insight into the scale of the return and the people who were instrumental in rebuilding the Jewish community after the exile.

It is important to note that some scholars debate the accuracy of this number and the specific lists in Ezra 2, especially when compared to similar lists in Nehemiah 7. There are slight discrepancies. However, regardless of potential numerical variations, the overall message is that a substantial group of people returned to their homeland after a long period of exile.

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