Ezra 2:3
The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
The census format follows ancient Near Eastern administrative practices, particularly Persian imperial records that documented populations for taxation and military conscription. However, Ezra's register served distinct theological purpose: establishing genealogical legitimacy for land claims, priestly service, and covenant identity. Families had preserved genealogies through two generations of exile, demonstrating extraordinary commitment to heritage despite assimilation pressures.
The return occurred in 538 BC under Zerubbabel's leadership, approximately fifty years after Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem. Those returning faced ruins, hostile neighbors, and massive rebuilding task. The detailed numbers (often totaling odd figures) suggest authentic historical sources rather than symbolic approximations.
Questions for Reflection
- What does God's preservation of family identities through exile teach about His faithfulness to generational covenant promises?
- How should the church today balance concern for numerical growth with care for individual souls known by name?
- What costly decisions might modern believers face that parallel the choice to leave comfortable exile for difficult obedience?
Analysis & Commentary
The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two. This census begins the genealogical register of returning exiles with the family of Parosh (פַּרְעֹשׁ), meaning 'flea' or possibly 'blooming'—a name suggesting humble origins transformed by God's grace. The precise enumeration of 2,172 individuals demonstrates meticulous record-keeping that served legal, theological, and historical purposes.
The Hebrew word bene (בְּנֵי, 'children') denotes both literal descendants and clan members, encompassing family units that preserved covenant identity through seventy years of captivity. These numbers weren't merely statistical—each represented a soul who chose costly obedience to return. The Parosh family's prominence (largest group listed) suggests significant leadership role in the exile community.
Theologically, this verse teaches that God's redemptive work includes detailed record of individuals. Unlike pagan empires that treated masses as expendable, Scripture names families and numbers souls, reflecting the God who 'knows them that are His' (2 Timothy 2:19). The parallel account in Nehemiah 7:8 lists identical numbers, confirming historical reliability.