Ezra 8:1
These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.
Original Language Analysis
רָאשֵׁ֥י
These are now the chief
H7218
רָאשֵׁ֥י
These are now the chief
Strong's:
H7218
Word #:
2 of 10
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
אֲבֹֽתֵיהֶ֖ם
of their fathers
H1
אֲבֹֽתֵיהֶ֖ם
of their fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
3 of 10
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
הָֽעֹלִ֣ים
of them that went up
H5927
הָֽעֹלִ֣ים
of them that went up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
5 of 10
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
עִמִּ֗י
H5973
עִמִּ֗י
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
6 of 10
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
Historical Context
Ezra's return (458 BC) occurred between temple completion (516 BC) and Nehemiah's wall rebuilding (445 BC). Artaxerxes I granted extraordinary authority—treasures, safe passage, and legal power (Ezra 7:11-26). This second aliyah brought scholars and priests to strengthen Jerusalem's spiritual life, not just rebuild infrastructure.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the meticulous recording of family heads demonstrate that God works through identifiable, accountable leaders rather than anonymous masses?
- What does Ezra's 80-year gap from the first return teach about God's patient, multi-generational restoration plans?
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Analysis & Commentary
These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. The Hebrew rashei avotam (רָאשֵׁי אֲבוֹתָם, 'heads of their fathers') identifies family patriarchs leading the second return—Ezra's delegation departing nearly 80 years after Zerubbabel's first wave (538 BC). The phrase went up with me (olim immi, עֹלִים עִמִּי) marks Ezra's personal leadership, while Artaxerxes the king (אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתָּא הַמֶּלֶךְ) specifies Artaxerxes I Longimanus (464-424 BC), whose seventh year (458 BC) frames this journey.
The careful genealogical record demonstrates covenant continuity—these returnees weren't random emigrants but legitimate heirs of Israel's tribes maintaining ancestral identity through exile. Like Matthew 1's genealogy establishing Jesus's royal-priestly lineage, Ezra 8 proves God preserves His people across generations. The yachas (יַחַשׂ, 'genealogy') links post-exilic community to patriarchal promises, fulfilling Jeremiah 29:10's 70-year restoration prophecy.