42;
The number 42 here represents the count of male members from the family of Azmaveth who returned to Jerusalem and Judah. This specific number highlights the detailed record-keeping of the returning exiles, which was essential for the restoration of the community and religious practices. The precision in numbers underscores the historical reliability of the text and the importance of each family in the rebuilding process. This attention to detail reflects the broader biblical theme of God's faithfulness in preserving His people, as seen in other genealogical records throughout Scripture, such as in the books of Chronicles and the genealogies of Jesus in the Gospels.

• “the descendants” signals a family line, reminding us how the return from exile was organized around households; Ezra 2:1 says, “Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity…”, showing that God cataloged entire families, not just isolated individuals.

• Genealogies in Scripture consistently underscore covenant continuity—1 Chronicles 9:1 affirms, “All Israel was registered by genealogy,” and Matthew 1:1 opens Christ’s lineage the same way.

• These records highlight God’s faithfulness to promises first made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) and later reiterated through Jeremiah 29:10-14 about the return.

• By listing descendants, Ezra underlines that restoration happens in community and within God-ordained family structures.

• Azmaveth appears both as a person (1 Chronicles 12:3; 8:36) and as a town in Benjamin’s territory (Nehemiah 11:33; 12:29). Whether this entry refers to the place or a patriarch, the point is the same: even lesser-known names are precious to God.

• Nehemiah 7:28, a parallel census, also lists “the men of Beth-Azmaveth,” confirming the historicity of Ezra’s count.

• Including such small groups shows God’s eye for detail—much like the listing of gatekeepers (1 Chronicles 26) or singers (Ezra 2:41)—reminding us no ministry or locale is insignificant.

• It testifies that every tribe, town, and family, no matter how obscure, has a role in rebuilding God’s work (1 Corinthians 12:22-24 speaks of the “weaker” parts being indispensable).

• The exact figure “42” demonstrates God’s precision. Psalm 147:4 says, “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name,” and Luke 12:7 adds, “Even the hairs of your head are all numbered.”

• Numbers 1 and 26 show earlier censuses where God ordered Moses to count every man; Ezra’s list follows that same pattern of careful accountability.

• Small though it seems, forty-two people could repopulate a village and contribute to temple service—Zechariah 4:10 cautions us not to despise “the day of small beginnings.”

• The number also validates the historic reliability of Scripture; Nehemiah 7 records the same 42, confirming consistency between books written decades apart.

Ezra 2:24 may look like a bare statistic—“the descendants of Azmaveth, 42”—yet it proclaims deep truths: God values families, remembers obscure places, and numbers every individual. Each name and digit affirms His covenant faithfulness, meticulous care, and commitment to restore His people exactly as promised.

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