Ezra 2:64

KJV

¶ The whole congregation together [was] forty and two thousand three hundred [and] threescore,

KJV (with Strong's)

The whole congregation {H6951} together {H259} was forty {H702}{H7239} and two thousand {H505} three {H7969} hundred {H3967} and threescore {H8346},

Complete Jewish Bible

The entire assembly numbered 42,360 -

Berean Standard Bible

The whole assembly numbered 42,360,

American Standard Version

The whole assembly together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezra 2:64 culminates the meticulous census of the first wave of Jewish exiles returning to Judah from Babylonian captivity, providing the grand total of the "whole congregation" as forty-two thousand three hundred and threescore (42,360). This verse serves as a powerful numerical summary, underscoring the scale of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His prophetic promises of restoration and highlighting the collective identity and unified purpose of the returning remnant as they embarked on the monumental task of rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezra 2:64 concludes a detailed and extensive register that began in [Ezra 2:1](/ezra/2-1 "Ezra 2:1 - List of Returning Exiles"), listing the various families, clans, and individuals who returned from Babylonian exile under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua. The preceding verses (Ezra 2:1-63) meticulously enumerate the descendants of specific families, cities, and regions, along with priests, Levites, temple servants, and the children of Solomon's servants. This precise accounting establishes the legitimacy and identity of the returning community. Verse 64 then provides the aggregate sum of these individual groups, serving as a climactic numerical summary that emphasizes the collective body of God's people. This census not only records who returned but also sets the stage for the subsequent chapters, which detail the rebuilding of the altar and temple foundation, as seen in [Ezra 3:1](/ezra/3-1 "Ezra 3:1 - Rebuilding the Altar and Temple Foundation"), demonstrating the practical necessity of such a list for organization and resettlement.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The return described in Ezra takes place after the seventy-year Babylonian captivity, a period of divine judgment for Israel's unfaithfulness. This return was initiated by the decree of King Cyrus of Persia, as recorded in [Ezra 1:1-4](/ezra/1-1 "Ezra 1:1-4 - Cyrus's Decree"), allowing the exiled Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild their Temple. The meticulous census in Ezra 2, culminating in verse 64, was culturally significant in the ancient Near East, where such records were vital for establishing lineage, land claims, taxation, and military organization. For the returning exiles, it reaffirmed their identity as the people of God, preserving their tribal and family lineages, which were crucial for maintaining their distinct religious and social structure. The large number, 42,360, though seemingly a dry statistic, represented a tangible fulfillment of prophecies like [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Prophecy of Seventy Years of Exile"), which foretold a future restoration after seventy years.
* **Key Themes:** The meticulous enumeration in Ezra 2:64 contributes to several key themes within the book of Ezra and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the **fulfillment of prophecy** and **God's unwavering faithfulness** to His covenant promises, demonstrating His sovereignty over nations and His commitment to restoring His people to the land. Secondly, it highlights **divine providence and restoration**, showing that this return was not a random migration but a divinely orchestrated act, with God moving the heart of Cyrus and gathering His scattered people. Thirdly, the phrase "the whole congregation together" emphasizes **community, unity, and collective identity**. Despite coming from diverse families and backgrounds, they were united as "the people of God," bound by a common purpose: to re-establish worship and rebuild Jerusalem. Finally, the **meticulous record-keeping** reflects the importance of order, accountability, and divine oversight in God's plan, providing a clear historical record for future generations and practical details for the daunting task of rebuilding, as seen in their subsequent actions in [Ezra 3](/ezra/3 "Ezra 3 - Rebuilding the Altar and Temple").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Congregation (Hebrew, _qāhāl'_):** This term refers to an assembly or gathering, often with a religious or communal purpose. In this context, it emphasizes the collective identity and unity of the returning exiles. It's not merely a random collection of individuals but a divinely gathered community, called together for a specific purpose—the restoration of worship and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The use of "whole congregation together" reinforces the idea of a unified body, acting in concert under God's leading.
* **Threescore (English, _archaic'_):** An archaic English term meaning "sixty." In the King James Version, "forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore" translates to 42,360. This precise number, though seemingly a simple statistic, signifies the meticulousness of the census and, by extension, the divine oversight of the return. It underscores that this was a divinely ordered and accounted-for event, not a chaotic scattering or a random migration.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The whole congregation together":** This phrase emphasizes the unity and solidarity of the returning exiles. Despite the diverse family groups listed in the preceding verses, they are presented as a single, unified body—a "congregation" or assembly. This collective identity was crucial for their mission of rebuilding and re-establishing their national and religious life in Judah. It highlights that their return was a communal effort, driven by a shared purpose and a common faith.
* **"[was] forty and two thousand three hundred [and] threescore":** This numerical statement provides the precise total of the returning exiles, 42,360. This figure is significant not just for its quantity but for its precision, which suggests divine orchestration and historical accuracy. It represents a substantial number of people returning to a desolate land, a tangible fulfillment of God's promise to restore His people. While there are slight discrepancies between the sum of the individual numbers in Ezra 2:1-63 and this total, and also between this total and the parallel account in [Nehemiah 7:66](/nehemiah/7-66 "Nehemiah 7:66 - Total of the Returning Exiles"), the overarching message remains consistent: a significant number of God's people returned to the land, demonstrating His faithfulness.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Ezra 2:64, and indeed the entire chapter, is **Enumeration** or **Census**. This meticulous listing and summation of numbers serves multiple purposes beyond mere factual reporting. It provides a detailed historical record, establishing the legitimacy and lineage of the returning community. The very act of counting and totaling emphasizes the **Significance** of the event; it was not a trivial migration but a divinely orchestrated return of a specific, identifiable group of people. The precision of the numbers, even with minor discrepancies, lends an air of **Verisimilitude** and historical authenticity to the narrative, reinforcing the idea that God is intimately involved in the details of human history. Furthermore, the culmination in a grand total like 42,360 creates a sense of **Climax** for the census, marking the completion of this vital record and preparing the reader for the subsequent actions of the community.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezra 2:64 stands as a powerful testament to God's enduring faithfulness and His meticulous involvement in the affairs of His people. The precise enumeration of the returning exiles underscores the truth that God remembers His covenant promises, even after periods of judgment and exile. This restoration was not a random event but a divinely orchestrated fulfillment of prophecy, demonstrating God's sovereignty over nations and His power to gather His scattered flock. It highlights the theme of a faithful remnant, a core group through whom God continues His redemptive plan. The verse reminds us that God's plans are detailed and purposeful, often working through seemingly ordinary statistics to achieve extraordinary spiritual ends, ultimately bringing His people back into right relationship and purpose.

* [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Prophecy of Seventy Years of Exile")
* [Isaiah 43:5-6](/isaiah/43-5 "Isaiah 43:5-6 - God Gathers His People")
* [Ezekiel 36:24-28](/ezekiel/36-24 "Ezekiel 36:24-28 - Return and Spiritual Renewal")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezra 2:64, though a numerical summary, offers profound encouragement for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God is intimately involved in the details of our lives and the grand sweep of history. Just as He meticulously accounted for and restored His people after exile, He is faithful to bring about restoration and fulfillment in our own lives, even after periods of difficulty, wandering, or brokenness. This verse calls us to trust in God's precise and purposeful plan, recognizing that He orchestrates events for our good and His glory. It also highlights the importance of community and collective purpose in God's work. The "whole congregation together" underscores that we are not meant to navigate faith in isolation but as part of a unified body, working together to fulfill God's purposes in the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail of Ezra 2:64 encourage you regarding God's attention to the specifics of your own life and circumstances?**
* **In what ways can we, as a "congregation" or community of faith today, embody the unity and collective purpose seen in the returning exiles?**
* **Where in your life do you need to trust God for restoration, remembering His faithfulness to His people throughout history?**

### FAQ

**Why is the total number in Ezra 2:64 different from the sum of the individual numbers listed in Ezra 2:1-63?**

Answer: This is a common observation among biblical scholars. If one adds up the individual numbers listed in [Ezra 2:1-63](/ezra/2-1 "Ezra 2:1-63 - List of Returning Exiles"), the sum is 29,818, which is significantly less than the 42,360 total given in [Ezra 2:64](/ezra/2-64 "Ezra 2:64 - Total of Returning Exiles"). A similar discrepancy exists in the parallel account in [Nehemiah 7](/nehemiah/7 "Nehemiah 7 - List of Returning Exiles"), where the individual sums also do not match the stated total. Several explanations have been proposed for this:
1. **Scribal Variations:** Ancient texts were copied by hand, and numerical figures were particularly prone to errors in transmission.
2. **Different Counting Methods:** The individual lists might represent heads of households or specific categories (e.g., adult males), while the grand total might include women, children, servants, or other groups not explicitly itemized in the family lists.
3. **Incomplete Lists:** The individual lists may not be exhaustive, only naming the most prominent or representative families, with the total reflecting all who returned.
4. **Theological Emphasis:** While precision was valued, the primary purpose of the total might have been to emphasize the significant scale of God's restoration, rather than to serve as a perfect mathematical sum of the preceding details. The consistency of the grand total (42,360) in both Ezra and Nehemiah, despite variations in the individual family counts, suggests this was the accepted and significant number. Regardless of the precise reason for the discrepancy, the overarching message of a substantial, divinely orchestrated return remains clear.

**What is the significance of "threescore" in this verse?**

Answer: "Threescore" is an archaic English term used in the King James Version that simply means "sixty." Therefore, "forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore" translates to 42,360. The significance lies not in the term itself, but in the precise number it conveys. In ancient Near Eastern cultures and biblical narratives, numbers often carried symbolic or theological weight beyond mere quantity. The meticulous counting and the presentation of a grand total in [Ezra 2:64](/ezra/2-64 "Ezra 2:64 - Total of Returning Exiles") underscore the divine oversight and order of the return from exile. It signifies that this was not a chaotic or accidental migration, but a divinely purposed and accounted-for movement of God's people, demonstrating His faithfulness to His covenant promises and His active involvement in the details of history.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous census and the grand total of the returning exiles in Ezra 2:64, while a historical record of physical restoration, powerfully foreshadow a far greater spiritual return and gathering accomplished in Jesus Christ. The return from Babylonian exile, though significant, was ultimately incomplete; the people still lived under foreign rule and struggled with sin. Christ, however, initiates the ultimate and eternal restoration. He is the true Shepherd who gathers His scattered sheep, not merely from physical exile, but from the spiritual bondage of sin and death, as prophesied in [John 10:16](/john/10-16 "John 10:16 - Jesus Gathers His Sheep"). The "whole congregation together" in Ezra finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Church, the new spiritual Israel, comprised of believers from every nation, tribe, people, and language, united in Christ (see [Revelation 7:9-10](/revelation/7-9 "Revelation 7:9-10 - Multitude from Every Nation")). Jesus, as the true Temple (as He declared in [John 2:19-21](/john/2-19 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus and the Temple")), is the center of this new community, and through His sacrifice, He inaugurates a new covenant (as mentioned in [Luke 22:20](/luke/22-20 "Luke 22:20 - The New Covenant in His Blood")) that brings about a spiritual restoration far grander than any physical return to a land. The precise counting in Ezra hints at God's meticulous plan for redemption, a plan fully realized in Christ, who builds His Church, against which the gates of Hades will not prevail ([Matthew 16:18](/matthew/16-18 "Matthew 16:18 - Building the Church")).

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.