Ezr 2:36-39 | MHM | STEP | The Return of the Priests, Levites, and Others with Uncertain Pedigree This section records the different groups among the returning exiles: priests, Levites, temple servants, and those who could not prove their family line. The size and details of each group teach us about God’s faithfulness, the importance of serving in his house, and the consequences of neglecting God’s ways. v. 36–39 : Many priests returned from exile—about one-tenth of the total group of over 42,000 people (Ezra 2:64 ). Four main priestly families made up more than 4,200 people (Ezra 2:36–39 ). Three families were named after heads of priestly divisions, as described in 1 Chronicles 24:7, 8, 14 . The fourth family was from Pashur (Ezra 2:38 ). It is surprising that if this Pashur was the man who once mistreated Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:1 ), his descendants were now so many and returned to serve God. This shows that God can bring good from even a troubled past.

‏ Ezra 2:36-39

The Return of the Priests, Levites, and Others with Uncertain Pedigree

This section records the different groups among the returning exiles: priests, Levites, temple servants, and those who could not prove their family line. The size and details of each group teach us about God’s faithfulness, the importance of serving in his house, and the consequences of neglecting God’s ways.

v. 36–39: Many priests returned from exile—about one-tenth of the total group of over 42,000 people (Ezra 2:64 ^a). Four main priestly families made up more than 4,200 people (Ezra 2:36–39 ^b). Three families were named after heads of priestly divisions, as described in 1 Chronicles 24:7, 8, 14 ^c. The fourth family was from Pashur (Ezra 2:38 ^d). It is surprising that if this Pashur was the man who once mistreated Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:1 ^e), his descendants were now so many and returned to serve God. This shows that God can bring good from even a troubled past.

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