Chephirah
Chephirah was one of the four cities of the Gibeonites, who made a treaty with Israel during the conquest of Canaan (Joshua 9:17). It was located in the territory of Benjamin. The inclusion of Chephirah in this list underscores the fulfillment of God's promise to restore His people to their land. The Gibeonites, despite their initial deception, were integrated into Israel and served as woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and the altar of the Lord (Joshua 9:27), showing God's grace and the importance of covenant faithfulness.

and Beeroth
Beeroth was another city of the Gibeonites, also within the territory of Benjamin (Joshua 9:17). Its mention in Ezra 2:25 indicates the return of its inhabitants from exile. Beeroth is noted in 2 Samuel 4:2-3 as the hometown of the assassins of Ish-bosheth, Saul's son. The return of Beeroth's people signifies the re-establishment of the community and the continuity of Israel's tribal and familial lines, which were crucial for maintaining the identity and promises given to the nation.

743;
The specific number of 743 men returning from these cities highlights the detailed record-keeping and the importance of each family and community in the restoration process. This enumeration reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to bring His people back from exile (Jeremiah 29:10-14) and the meticulous care taken to ensure the reconstitution of Israel's society. The precision of this number also underscores the historical reliability of the biblical narrative and God's faithfulness in preserving His people.

• Kiriath-jearim was the Judah-Benjamin border town that housed the ark after its return from the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:1-2; 2 Samuel 6:2).

• “The men” (BSB “the sons”) refers to male heads of families whose names validated legitimate ancestry, mirroring Ezra 2:59-63 where unverified claims were set aside.

• Their return under Zerubbabel proves God preserved a remnant exactly as promised (Jeremiah 29:10-14) so they could help rebuild the altar and temple (Ezra 3:1-2, 8).

• Like the ark once did, these men would now help restore true worship in Jerusalem.

• Listed with Gibeon in Joshua 9:17 and allotted to Benjamin in Joshua 18:26, Chephirah was one of the Gibeonite towns spared by Joshua’s oath.

• Its presence in the return list highlights God’s faithfulness to ancient covenants (Joshua 9:15; 2 Samuel 21:1-2).

• Even communities with non-Israelite roots were fully integrated when they embraced service to the LORD (Joshua 9:27), illustrating Isaiah 56:6-8—God gathers all who bind themselves to Him.

• Beeroth, another Gibeonite city (Joshua 9:17; 18:25), produced notable Israelites such as Joab’s mother (2 Samuel 23:37).

• The town lay inside Benjamin’s territory, so its men’s return signals that the southern kingdom was represented alongside Judah.

• Their inclusion shows no place is too small to matter; the LORD records every village that contributes to His work (Malachi 3:16).

• Ezra 2:25 (and the identical total in Nehemiah 7:29) gives a precise tally: “the men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three.”

• Exact numbers underline the historical reliability of Scripture and God’s intimate knowledge of His people (Luke 12:7).

• Counting only adult males implies several thousand individuals overall, demonstrating substantial support for the rebuilding project (Ezra 3:8).

• The figure fulfills the prophecy that a remnant—though comparatively small—would return (Isaiah 10:21-22).

Ezra 2:25 records 743 family heads from Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth who left Babylon to re-establish their towns and aid in restoring temple worship. These three Gibeonite-linked settlements, once outsiders, now stand shoulder to shoulder with Judah and Benjamin, proving God’s covenant faithfulness, His detailed care for every community, and His power to preserve a believing remnant to accomplish His redemptive purposes.

Parallel Commentaries ...