Ezra 2:10

KJV

The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.

KJV (with Strong's)

The children {H1121} of Bani {H1137}, six {H8337} hundred {H3967} forty {H705} and two {H8147}.

Complete Jewish Bible

descendants of Bani 642

Berean Standard Bible

the descendants of Bani, 642;

American Standard Version

The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezra 2:10 is a precise entry within the comprehensive register of Jewish exiles who returned from Babylon to Judah and Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua. This verse specifically records that "The children of Bani" numbered six hundred forty and two individuals, contributing to the initial wave of restoration. Far from a mere numerical detail, this verse underscores God's meticulous care for His people, the importance of lineage and identity in the post-exilic community, and the collective effort required to rebuild the nation and its spiritual center.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 2:10 is situated within a detailed census that spans the entirety of [Ezra chapter 2](/ezra/2 "Ezra 2 - The List of Returnees"). This chapter meticulously lists the families, their ancestral towns, and the precise number of individuals who returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua, following King Cyrus's decree. The chapter begins with a general introduction to the returnees ([Ezra 2:1-2](/ezra/2-1 "Ezra 2:1-2 - Returnees from Exile")), then proceeds to enumerate various family groups, including the "children of Bani" in verse 10. The chapter concludes with a summary of the total number of people and their possessions, highlighting the scale of this foundational migration ([Ezra 2:64-67](/ezra/2-64 "Ezra 2:64-67 - Total Numbers of Returnees")). This meticulous record-keeping establishes the legitimate continuity of the Israelite community and sets the stage for the rebuilding efforts described in subsequent chapters, such as the reconstruction of the altar and the temple's foundation ([Ezra 3:1-13](/ezra/3-1 "Ezra 3:1-13 - Rebuilding the Altar and Temple Foundation")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The return described in Ezra chapter 2 occurred after seventy years of Babylonian captivity, a period prophesied by Jeremiah ([Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Prophecy of Seventy Years of Exile")). In 538 BC, Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, issued a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem ([Ezra 1:1-4](/ezra/1-1 "Ezra 1:1-4 - Cyrus's Decree")). This census was not merely for administrative purposes; it was vital for re-establishing land claims, verifying tribal and family identities, and, critically, confirming priestly and Levitical lineages for temple service ([Ezra 2:61-63](/ezra/2-61 "Ezra 2:61-63 - Exclusion of Those Unable to Prove Lineage")). In ancient Israelite society, one's identity was inextricably linked to their family and tribal affiliation, which determined their inheritance, social standing, and religious responsibilities. The detailed enumeration of clans like the "children of Bani" reflects this profound cultural emphasis on lineage and the re-establishment of a divinely ordained social order.

* **Key Themes:** The meticulous listing of returnees in Ezra 2, including the "children of Bani," contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Ezra and the broader post-exilic narrative. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates **Restoration and Divine Faithfulness**. God, true to His covenant promises, brought His people back from exile, initiating a new chapter in Israel's history and demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His chosen people. This physical return is a tangible manifestation of God's grace and His desire to restore His people to their land and their spiritual heritage. Secondly, the emphasis on **Identity and Lineage** is paramount. The careful enumeration of families underscores the importance of maintaining a clear sense of who belonged to the covenant community, crucial for both social organization and the proper functioning of religious duties, particularly regarding the Temple. This theme is further highlighted by the exclusion of those who could not prove their lineage ([Ezra 2:59-63](/ezra/2-59 "Ezra 2:59-63 - Those Who Could Not Prove Their Ancestry")). Finally, the chapter highlights the theme of **Community Rebuilding**. Each number, each family, represents individuals who were essential to the collective effort of rebuilding the nation, the city of Jerusalem, and, most importantly, the Temple ([Ezra 3:8](/ezra/3-8 "Ezra 3:8 - The Start of Temple Rebuilding")). It underscores that God's work is often accomplished through the unified contributions of many individuals, each playing a vital role.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bani (Hebrew, _Bānî'_):** The name "Bani" (בָּנִי) appears multiple times in the Old Testament, often referring to different individuals or family heads. Its root meaning can be related to "my son" or "my building," suggesting a connection to progeny or establishment. In the context of Ezra 2:10, "Bani" identifies a specific family or clan that formed a significant contingent among the returnees. The recurrence of this name in other post-exilic lists (e.g., [Nehemiah 7:15](/nehemiah/7-15 "Nehemiah 7:15 - Parallel List of Bani's Descendants")) indicates a prominent and enduring family line within the restored community, some of whom were Levites or played roles in the Temple service and community leadership.
* **Children (Hebrew, _bĕnê'_):** The Hebrew term "bĕnê" (בְּנֵי), translated as "children of," is a common construct form indicating "sons of" or "descendants of." In this context, it signifies the entire clan or family group associated with the patriarch Bani, encompassing all its members, not just literal offspring. This collective designation emphasizes the corporate identity and solidarity of the returning community, where individuals were counted as part of larger family units.
* **Six hundred forty and two (Hebrew, _shēsh mē'ôt 'arbā'îm ûshnayim'_):** The precise numerical designation (שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁנַיִם) highlights the meticulous nature of the census. This exact figure underscores the administrative rigor and the importance placed on accurate record-keeping during the re-establishment of the community. It also implicitly conveys the scale of the return, with many individual family units contributing significant numbers to the overall population. The specificity of the number lends credibility and historical weight to the account, emphasizing that this was a real, tangible event involving identifiable people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The children of Bani":** This phrase identifies a specific family or clan group that participated in the return from Babylonian exile. The use of "children of" (Hebrew: בְּנֵי, _bĕnê_) indicates that this refers to all the descendants and members associated with the patriarch or founder named Bani, rather than just his immediate offspring. This clan was one of many that formed the backbone of the returning community, each contributing to the overall strength and composition of the nascent Jewish settlement in Judah.
* **"six hundred forty and two":** This precise numerical figure indicates the exact count of individuals belonging to the Bani clan who made the journey back to Jerusalem. The specificity of this number, along with similar figures for other families throughout Ezra 2, underscores the meticulous record-keeping of the post-exilic community. This census was crucial for administrative purposes, such as land redistribution, community organization, and verifying eligibility for temple service, highlighting the importance of every individual and family unit in the divine plan of restoration.

#### Literary Devices
Ezra 2:10, as part of a larger census, primarily employs **Enumeration** and **Genealogy/List** as its dominant literary devices. The entire chapter is a meticulously compiled list, and verse 10 is a single entry within this comprehensive register. This **Enumeration** serves to establish the historical veracity and administrative precision of the return, emphasizing the sheer number of people involved in God's restorative work. The **Genealogy/List** format itself is a powerful device in biblical literature, asserting continuity, legitimacy, and the fulfillment of divine promises through identifiable people groups. While seemingly dry, the act of listing these families and their numbers carries profound **Symbolism**: each number represents a life, a family, and a testament to God's faithfulness in bringing His scattered people home. The very act of counting and recording signifies a re-establishment of order, identity, and community after the chaos of exile.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezra 2:10, though a simple numerical entry, speaks volumes about God's meticulous care for His people and His unwavering commitment to His covenant promises. The very act of counting and recording each family, down to the last individual, demonstrates that God's redemptive plan is not a broad, impersonal sweep, but one that values and accounts for every person involved. This attention to detail underscores divine providence, showing that God orchestrates historical events and remembers each participant in His grand narrative of restoration. The return from exile, meticulously documented, is a powerful testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His word, particularly the prophecies concerning the seventy years of captivity and the subsequent return. This return laid the groundwork for the rebuilding of the Temple and the re-establishment of the covenant community, signifying God's desire to dwell among His people once more.

* [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Prophecy of Seventy Years of Exile")
* [Nehemiah 7:15](/nehemiah/7-15 "Nehemiah 7:15 - Parallel List of Bani's Descendants")
* [Haggai 1:8](/haggai/1-8 "Haggai 1:8 - Call to Rebuild the Temple")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While Ezra 2:10 might appear to be a mundane historical record, it carries profound spiritual lessons for believers today. Firstly, it reminds us of God's incredible attention to detail. Just as He meticulously counted every family and individual returning from exile, He knows each of us intimately, numbering the hairs on our heads and caring about every aspect of our lives. No one is overlooked or forgotten in His kingdom. Secondly, this verse highlights the value of every contributor to God's work. The "children of Bani," along with all the other families, were essential to the collective effort of rebuilding. Similarly, in the church today, every believer, regardless of their perceived prominence or numbers, has a vital role to play in the spiritual building of God's kingdom. Our contributions, whether large or small, visible or unseen, are all significant and necessary. Finally, the return from exile, documented with such precision, is a powerful testament to God's faithfulness. If God kept His promise to bring His people back from Babylon, we can trust Him implicitly to fulfill all His promises to us, including those for our future hope, redemption, and ultimate restoration in Christ. This verse calls us to recognize our place in God's ongoing story of redemption and to faithfully contribute to His purposes, knowing that He is meticulously at work in and through us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail of Ezra 2:10 challenge or affirm your understanding of God's personal care for you?**
* **In what ways might you be overlooking or underestimating your own contribution to God's kingdom, or the contributions of others, based on their apparent "size" or "prominence"?**
* **What specific promise of God are you currently holding onto, and how does the historical fulfillment in Ezra 2 encourage your faith in that promise?**
* **How can your local church community better embody the collective effort and shared identity seen in the returning exiles of Ezra chapter 2?**

### FAQ
**Why are these detailed lists of names and numbers so important in biblical books like Ezra?**

Answer: These detailed lists, like the one in [Ezra chapter 2](/ezra/2 "Ezra 2 - The List of Returnees"), are critically important for several reasons. Historically, they served as a vital census for the returning exiles, establishing their legitimacy as the true descendants of Israel and their right to the land. Culturally, lineage was paramount in ancient Israel; these lists verified tribal affiliations, land claims, and, most importantly, the purity of priestly and Levitical lines necessary for proper temple service ([Ezra 2:61-63](/ezra/2-61 "Ezra 2:61-63 - Those Excluded from Priesthood")). Theologically, they demonstrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to restore His people, showing that this was not a vague hope but a concrete, historical event involving identifiable individuals and families. The meticulousness underscores divine providence and God's attention to every detail of His redemptive plan.

**Does the number for the "children of Bani" appear elsewhere in the Bible, and is it consistent?**

Answer: Yes, a parallel list of returnees is found in [Nehemiah chapter 7](/nehemiah/7 "Nehemiah 7 - The List of Returnees"). In [Nehemiah 7:15](/nehemiah/7-15 "Nehemiah 7:15 - Bani's Descendants in Nehemiah's List"), the "children of Bani" are also listed, but with a slightly different number: six hundred forty-eight (648), compared to Ezra 2:10's six hundred forty-two (642). This minor discrepancy (a difference of 6 individuals) is common in biblical lists of this nature and can be attributed to various factors, such as different stages of the census, slight variations in scribal copying, or the inclusion/exclusion of specific individuals (e.g., those who died or were born during the journey, or those who joined later). Despite the small numerical difference, the presence of Bani's descendants in both lists confirms their significant presence and role in the post-exilic community.

**What was the role of the "children of Bani" in the post-exilic community beyond just returning?**

Answer: While Ezra 2:10 only provides their number among the initial returnees, other passages in Ezra and Nehemiah indicate that the "children of Bani" played active roles in the rebuilding and spiritual life of the restored community. For instance, some of Bani's descendants were involved in the work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem ([Nehemiah 3:17](/nehemiah/3-17 "Nehemiah 3:17 - Bani's Role in Wall Building")) and in the spiritual reforms under Ezra and Nehemiah, including the reading of the Law and leading in worship and confession ([Nehemiah 9:4-5](/nehemiah/9-4 "Nehemiah 9:4-5 - Bani's Descendants Leading Worship"); [Nehemiah 10:13](/nehemiah/10-13 "Nehemiah 10:13 - Bani's Descendants Sealing the Covenant")). This demonstrates that the families listed in Ezra 2 were not just passive participants but active contributors to the re-establishment of Jewish life in the land.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous counting of the "children of Bani" and other families returning from exile in Ezra 2:10, while a historical record, powerfully foreshadows God's ultimate work of restoration and the formation of a new, spiritual community in Christ. The physical return to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the Temple point to a greater spiritual reality: the gathering of God's people from every nation, tribe, and tongue into the new covenant community, the Church. Just as the returning exiles were counted and identified as God's chosen people, so too are believers in Christ meticulously known and numbered as members of God's spiritual household, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone ([Ephesians 2:19-22](/ephesians/2-19 "Ephesians 2:19-22 - Believers as God's Household")). The emphasis on lineage in Ezra finds its fulfillment not in physical descent, but in spiritual adoption through faith in Christ, making believers "children of God" ([John 1:12](/john/1-12 "John 1:12 - Becoming Children of God")) and "Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise" ([Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Heirs According to Promise")). The collective effort of rebuilding the physical temple in Ezra anticipates the spiritual building of the Church, which is the true temple of the Holy Spirit ([1 Corinthians 3:16](/1_corinthians/3-16 "1 Corinthians 3:16 - You Are God's Temple")). Ultimately, the restoration in Ezra is a glimpse of the new creation in Christ, where God fully dwells with His people, and all things are made new, culminating in the eternal city, the New Jerusalem, where every redeemed soul is perfectly accounted for in God's presence ([Revelation 21:1-4](/revelation/21-1 "Revelation 21:1-4 - The New Heaven and New Earth")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezra 10:34

Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,

Nehemiah 7:15

The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.