Ezra 2:11

KJV

The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.

KJV (with Strong's)

The children {H1121} of Bebai {H893}, six {H8337} hundred {H3967} twenty {H6242} and three {H7969}.

Complete Jewish Bible

descendants of B'vai 623

Berean Standard Bible

the descendants of Bebai, 623;

American Standard Version

The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezra 2:11 precisely records the return of "The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three" individuals to Judah from Babylonian captivity. This seemingly simple numerical entry is a vital component of the comprehensive census of post-exilic Jewish families, underscoring the meticulous nature of God's restoration plan and the foundational importance of each family unit in the re-establishment of the community, the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and the reconstruction of the Temple.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 2 is a meticulously detailed census of the Jewish exiles who returned to Judah under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, following King Cyrus's decree. This chapter serves as a foundational document, listing families, individuals, priests, Levites, temple servants, and even animals, providing the demographic backbone for the nascent post-exilic community. It immediately follows the decree of [Cyrus in Ezra 1](/ezra/1 "Ezra 1 - Cyrus's Decree and the Return") and precedes the commencement of the [rebuilding of the altar and temple foundations in Ezra 3](/ezra/3 "Ezra 3 - Rebuilding the Altar and Temple Foundations"). The list's precision highlights its administrative and theological significance, establishing legitimacy for land claims and, crucially, for priestly and Levitical service. A parallel, though slightly variant, list is also found in [Nehemiah 7:6-73](/nehemiah/7 "Nehemiah 7 - The Parallel List of Returnees"), affirming its historical importance and the careful record-keeping of the period.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The return described in Ezra 2 occurred in the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia, around 538 BC, marking the end of the 70-year Babylonian exile prophesied by Jeremiah ([Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Prophecy of Seventy Years of Exile")). The Persian Empire, under Cyrus, adopted a policy of allowing conquered peoples to return to their homelands and worship their gods, a stark contrast to the Assyrian and Babylonian policies of forced assimilation. For the returning Jews, genealogy was paramount. It determined tribal affiliation, land inheritance, social standing, and, most critically, eligibility for the priesthood and temple service, which required an unblemished lineage ([Ezra 2:61-63](/ezra/2-61 "Ezra 2:61-63 - Exclusion from Priesthood Due to Unclear Genealogy")). The act of returning was not merely a physical journey but a profound act of faith and national re-identification, laying the groundwork for the Second Temple period.

* **Key Themes:** The meticulous enumeration in Ezra 2:11, as part of the larger census, contributes to several overarching themes within Ezra and the broader post-exilic narrative. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates **Divine Providence and Restoration**, demonstrating God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to bring His people back to their land after exile ([Isaiah 43:5-7](/isaiah/43-5 "Isaiah 43:5-7 - God's Promise to Gather Israel")). Secondly, it underscores the critical importance of **Identity and Genealogy** for the re-establishment of the covenant community, where lineage provided continuity with their past and legitimacy for their future. Thirdly, the sheer detail reflects **God's Meticulous Care for His People**, showing that every individual and family, even those seemingly small in number like the children of Bebai, was known and valued in His grand plan. Finally, this list forms the very foundation of **Community Building and Reconstitution**, identifying the core group who would undertake the monumental task of rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple, marking a new chapter in Israel's history.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bebai (Hebrew, בֵּבַי, _Bevai_):** This is a proper noun, a family name or the name of a clan patriarch. While the etymology is uncertain, possibly meaning "my father" or "my entrance," its primary significance here is its function as an identifier for a specific lineage within the returning exiles. Its inclusion emphasizes the detailed, family-by-family accounting that characterized the census, highlighting the importance of tribal and familial identity in the post-exilic community.
* **Children (Hebrew, בְּנֵי, _b'nei_):** This term literally means "sons of," but in this context, it functions as a collective noun, "the descendants of" or "the house of." It refers to all the members of the family or clan of Bebai who returned, including men, women, and children, indicating a family unit rather than just male heads of households. This emphasizes the corporate nature of the return and the re-establishment of the community through its constituent family units.
* **Six hundred twenty and three (Hebrew, שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת עֶשְׂרִים וְשָׁלֹשׁ, _shesh me'ot 'esrim v'shalosh_):** This precise numerical figure is characteristic of ancient administrative and genealogical records. Its specificity reinforces the historical accuracy and meticulousness of the biblical account. It is not an approximation but a careful count, suggesting that each individual was known and accounted for, reflecting the value placed on every member of the returning community and, by extension, God's precise knowledge of His people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The children of Bebai,"**: This clause identifies a specific family or clan unit among the multitude of returnees. The use of "children of" (בְּנֵי) signifies the collective descendants or members belonging to the house of Bebai. This highlights the importance of familial and ancestral lineage in the re-establishment of the Jewish community, where identity, land claims, and even eligibility for religious service were tied to one's family name and heritage.
* **"six hundred twenty and three."**: This numerical statement provides the exact count of individuals associated with the family of Bebai who participated in the return from Babylon. The precision of the number underscores the meticulous record-keeping of the time and the administrative rigor applied to the census. The inclusion of such specific figures for each family group emphasizes that the return was not a chaotic migration but an organized, divinely orchestrated movement, where every person counted in the grand narrative of restoration.

#### Literary Devices
Ezra 2:11, as part of a larger list, primarily employs **Enumeration** and **Genealogy** as its key literary devices. The entire chapter is an extensive **List**, a form of enumeration that serves to catalog and quantify the returning exiles. This meticulous listing functions as a **Historical Record**, lending authenticity and credibility to the narrative of the return. By detailing specific family names and their precise numbers, the text emphasizes the **Specificity** and **Verifiability** of the event, transforming what could be a general account into a concrete, human-scale reality. The repetition of the "children of [name], [number]" pattern throughout the chapter creates a rhythmic, almost liturgical effect, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of the census and the collective identity of the returning community.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezra 2:11, though a simple numerical entry, carries profound theological weight. It testifies to God's unwavering faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises to His people, even after their disobedience led to exile. The meticulous counting of each family, including the children of Bebai, underscores that God's plan of restoration is not a broad, impersonal act, but one that involves and values every single individual. It highlights the corporate nature of God's people—a community built not just on individual faith, but on interconnected families and lineages, each playing a vital role in the larger divine narrative. This attention to detail speaks to God's sovereignty and His intimate knowledge of those He calls and redeems, ensuring that none are forgotten in His grand redemptive purposes.

* [Isaiah 43:1-2](/isaiah/43-1 "Isaiah 43:1-2 - God's Promise to Redeem Israel")
* [Psalm 139:1-4](/psalm/139-1 "Psalm 139:1-4 - God Knows Us Fully")
* [Romans 11:29](/romans/11-29 "God's Gifts and Call are Irrevocable")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The seemingly "dry" statistics of Ezra 2:11 offer rich spiritual lessons for contemporary believers. This verse reminds us that God's grand redemptive plan is meticulously detailed and deeply personal. Just as every family and individual counted in the restoration of Israel, so too does every believer matter in God's ongoing work in the world. We are not anonymous cogs in a machine, but uniquely known and valued members of His spiritual household. This encourages us to embrace our place within the community of faith, recognizing that our individual contributions, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, are vital to the collective building up of God's kingdom. It calls us to faithfulness in our specific roles, trusting that God sees and uses our obedience to accomplish His larger purposes, just as He did with the children of Bebai.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail of Ezra 2:11 challenge my perception of God's involvement in the seemingly mundane aspects of life?**
* **In what ways do I see myself as a part of a larger spiritual community, and how can I contribute to its flourishing, even in small ways?**
* **What does God's faithfulness in restoring the exiles teach me about His character and His promises in my own life?**

### FAQ
**Why is this list of names and numbers so important in the Bible?**

Answer: This list, including Ezra 2:11, is crucial for several reasons. Historically, it provides a verifiable record of the initial returnees, establishing the foundation of the post-exilic Jewish community. Theologically, it demonstrates God's faithfulness in fulfilling His prophecies of restoration after the Babylonian exile ([Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Prophecy of Seventy Years of Exile")). Culturally, it underscores the paramount importance of genealogy in ancient Israel for establishing identity, land claims, and eligibility for religious service, especially for priests and Levites. It shows that God's plan is not abstract but involves specific people, known by name and number, each playing a part in His redemptive narrative.

**Who was Bebai, and why is his family specifically mentioned?**

Answer: Bebai was likely the patriarch or head of a prominent family or clan among the Jewish exiles. His family is specifically mentioned because the census in Ezra 2 is organized by family units, reflecting the social structure of the returning community. Each family's inclusion, with its precise number, serves to authenticate their lineage and their right to participate in the re-establishment of Israel. The fact that "the children of Bebai" numbered 623 individuals indicates a significant contribution to the overall population of returnees, highlighting the collective effort required for the monumental task of rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous record of returning families in Ezra 2:11, including the children of Bebai, foreshadows the ultimate and more glorious restoration found in Christ. Just as God meticulously accounted for each individual in the physical return to Jerusalem, so too does He know and gather every single one of His chosen people into the spiritual kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. The rebuilding of the physical temple by these returnees points to Christ as the true Temple ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus Predicts His Resurrection and the True Temple")), and the Church as His spiritual body, built of "living stones" ([1 Peter 2:5](/1_peter/2-5 "1 Peter 2:5 - Living Stones in a Spiritual House")). The importance of lineage for the physical Israel finds its ultimate fulfillment in the spiritual lineage of those born again into God's family through faith in Christ ([John 1:12-13](/john/1-12 "John 1:12-13 - Children of God by Faith")). Every believer, like each child of Bebai, is known by name to the Good Shepherd ([John 10:3](/john/10-3 "John 10:3 - The Shepherd Calls His Own Sheep by Name")), and their names are eternally inscribed in the Lamb's Book of Life ([Revelation 21:27](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - Only Those in the Book of Life Enter New Jerusalem")), demonstrating God's perfect and precise care for every member of His redeemed community.

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.