References (22)
who came with Zerubbabel (Hebr. Zerobavel), Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rechom, Baana.
[The list given here bears great similarity to a corresponding list in . Many of the families are mentioned in both lists and the number of family members is often the same, but there are differences. Some consider these lists to be two different ones, but the chiastic pattern suggests that they are the same, but with different focuses. This list mentions just over 42,000 people, but the vast majority of the Jews never returned with Zerubbabel, Ezra, or Nehemiah, but remained in Babylon. Their descendants have remained there until modern times, when some of them moved back to Israel after the state was formed in 1948. Between 1948 and 2021, over 3 million Jews have made aliyah. In 2021, there were a total of 15 million Jews in the world (including about 15,000 in Sweden), and just under half (6.9 million) lived in Israel. In Sweden, rising anti-Semitism has led to more and more Jews choosing to move to Israel.]
The number of men of the people of Israel:
Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers, the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers rose up and built the altar to offer burnt offerings to the God of Israel (Elohim) as it is written in the teaching of Moses the man of God.
In the second month [Iyar – April/May] of the second year [of Cyrus' reign – corresponding to 537 BC], after they had come to the house of the Lord (Elohim) in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers, the priests, the Levites, and all those who had returned from captivity to Jerusalem, began the work. They appointed the Levites from the age of 20 and older to supervise the work on the house of the Lord (Yahweh).
they approached Zerubbabel and the leaders [the leading fathers, patriarchs, heads of the returnees] and said to them: Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God (Elohim) and have sacrificed to him since the days of Esarhaddon [681-669 BC], king of Assyria, who brought us here.
[The Assyrian king Sargon had already carried out population transfers when Samaria fell (722 BC). This was continued by subsequent kings, such as Esarhaddon (681-669 BC) and Ashurbanipal (668-627 BC). Non-biblical sources confirm how Esarhaddon relocated groups of people to Sidon after he had conquered those areas.]
But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other prominent leaders of Israel said to them: "It is not for you and us (together) to build a house for the Lord (Yahweh) our God (Elohim); we ourselves will build it for the Lord (Yahweh), the God (Elohim) of Israel, just as Cyrus, king of Persia, has commanded us."
Then Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, son of Jozadak, began to build the house of God in Jerusalem. The prophets of God were with them and helped them.
Those who came with Zerubbabel (Hebr. Zerobavel) were Jeshoa, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispperet, Bigvai, Nechom, Baana.
The number of people of the people of Israel was:
These were the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua. [The priests were:]
Seraja, Jeremiah, Ezra,
In the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel gave the singers and gatekeepers their daily allowance. They gave the Levites their sacred portion, and the Levites gave the sons of Aaron their sacred portion.
In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month [Elul], on the first day [August 29, 520 BC], the word of the Lord (Yahweh) came through the prophet Haggai (Hebr. Chaggai) to:
Zerubbabel (Hebr. Zerobavel), son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah [; ; ]
and to Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest [; ; ; ].
[The message is addressed first to the leaders, as it is primarily their responsibility, but the prophetic word is also addressed to the people, see verses 3-4.]
He said [Haggai prophesied]:
Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel,
and Joshua, son of Jehozadak (Jehotsadak), the high priest,
together with the remnant of the people
listened to the voice of the Lord (Yahweh) their God (Elohim) and to the words of the prophet Haggai, which the Lord (Yahweh) their God (Elohim) had sent to him, and the people came in reverence (fear of God) before (in the presence of) the Lord (Yahweh).
The Lord (Yahweh) stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people, and they came and worked on the house of their God (Elohim), the Lord of Hosts (Yahweh Sebaots).
Now speak to Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant [] of the people, saying:
[Encouragement:]
"Be strong (bold), Zerubbabel,"
declares (says, proclaims) the Lord (Yahweh).
"And be strong (courageous), Joshua, son of Jehozadak, high priest,
and be strong (courageous), all the people of the land,"
declares (says, proclaims) the Lord (Yahweh).
"And do (act, work) [without fear], for I am with you,"
declares (says, proclaims) the Lord of hosts (Yahweh Sebaot).
Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, and say:
"I will shake the heavens
and the earth,
"On that day,"
declares (says, proclaims) the Lord of hosts (Yahweh Sebaot),
"I will take you, Zerubbabel, my servant, son of Shealtiel,"
declares (says, proclaims) the Lord (Yahweh)
"and make you a signet ring, for I have chosen you,"
declares (says, proclaims) the Lord of hosts (Yahweh Sebaot).
Then he [the angel] answered and spoke to me, saying, "This is the word of the Lord (Yahweh) to Zerubbabel (Hebr. Zerobavel) [meaning: 'one who is scattered/sown in Babylon', see also ; ]: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts (Yahweh Sebaot).
Who are you, O great (mighty) mountains, before Zerubbabel? You shall become level ground. And he shall bring forth the headstone (the top stone, the keystone, the last stone that completes the building) with shouts of grace, grace to it." [Here the word chen appears twice, meaning mercy, undeserved love; the repetition of the word is an intensification of the meaning of true mercy.]
"The hand of Zerubbabel has laid the foundation of this house [the temple, see ]. His hand shall also finish it. [] Then you shall know that the Lord of hosts (Yahweh Sebaot) has sent me to you.
For who despises the day of small things? [The people shall not despise a small beginning.] These seven, who are the eyes of the Lord (Yahweh) that go to and fro throughout the whole earth, shall rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel."
[The third section has fourteen links from Jehoiachin to Jesus. Jehoiachin is counted in both this and the previous list. Twenty-seven names are mentioned, including the repetition of Jehoiachin. Of these, 26 are men and one is a woman.] After the exile in
Babylon:
Jehoiachin begot Shealtiel,
Shealtiel begot
Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel begot Abiud,
Abiud begot Eliakim,
Eliakim begot Azor,
