The list of those returning with Ezra
These are the family heads and those registered with them who came up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:
2 of the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom; of the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel;
of the descendants of David, Hattush 3 of the descendants of Shecaniah;
of the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 men;
4 of the descendants of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men;
5 of the descendants of Zattu, Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men;
6 of the descendants of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men;
7 of the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men;
8 of the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him 80 men;
9 of the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men;
10 of the descendants of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men;
11 of the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;
12 of the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;
13 of the descendants of Adonikam, the last ones, whose names were Eliphelet, Jeuel and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men;
14 of the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai and Zaccur, and with them 70 men.
Like the lists in Ezra chapter 2, this list of returnees is intended to emphasize the grace of God. The Lord preserved the people of Israel during their exile so that they would be able to return to the Promised Land.
The first two men listed were heads of priestly families descended from Aaron. Phinehas was a grandson of Aaron; Ithamar was Aaron’s youngest son. The third person listed, Hattush, was from the royal house of David. These three men emphasized the restoration of Davidic and Aaronic leadership for Israel. The names of these three leaders are followed by a list of 12 groups of returnees with their leaders. The same family names appear in the list of those who returned under Zerubbabel in Ezra chapter 2.
The fact that 12 groups are listed might have been a coincidence, but it was probably a deliberate representation of the 12 tribes of Israel. Moreover, it symbolized the reunification of the nation under the leadership appointed by God. Ezekiel 37:15-28 indicates the importance that this reunification under Davidic leadership had for the people in exile. “I will make them one nation in the land,” promised God (verse 22).
The unity of God’s people under the priests and kings reached its fullness when Christ, the son of David and our Great High Priest, came and gathered all believers, whether Jews or Gentiles, into one church. The strong emphasis on family ties and continuity with preceding generations that Ezra’s lists express reminds us to appreciate our adoption into God’s family. We have ties with the generations of believers who have gone before us.