Hadid:
Hadid is a lesser-known location, but it is identified as a town in the territory of Benjamin, as mentioned in Nehemiah 11:34. Its inclusion in the list of returning exiles suggests it was a recognized settlement during the post-exilic period. The mention of Hadid alongside Lod and Ono indicates its geographical proximity and shared historical context as part of the restoration efforts after the Babylonian captivity.

and Ono:
Ono is another town in the region of Benjamin, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:12 alongside Lod. It is also referenced in Nehemiah 6:2, where Nehemiah is invited to meet his adversaries in the plain of Ono, highlighting its strategic location. The town's inclusion in the list of returning exiles underscores its importance in the reestablishment of the Jewish community in the land of Israel.

725
The specific number of 725 men returning from these towns reflects the detailed record-keeping of the post-exilic community. This enumeration emphasizes the importance of each family and town in the restoration of Israel. The precision of the numbers in Ezra 2 is mirrored in Nehemiah 7, which provides a similar census, underscoring the continuity and faithfulness of God's people in preserving their heritage and fulfilling the prophetic promises of restoration.

• Ezra 2 opens by naming those whom “King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had carried captive to Babylon” and who now “returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town” (Ezra 2:1). Verse 33 narrows in on “the men of Lod,” a group counted among those faithful families.

• Lod was a Benjaminite town first mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:12 and later rebuilt under the Maccabees; its presence here shows God restoring even the smaller, seemingly less-important places.

• Their inclusion reminds us that “the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him” (Psalm 33:18), whether from great Jerusalem or a modest outlying village like Lod.

• Like the families listed in Ezra 2:21–32, they willingly uprooted their lives for the sake of God’s house—a living illustration of Romans 12:1’s call to present ourselves as “a living sacrifice.”

• Listed next is Hadid (also called Adida in some historical records), another Benjaminite settlement (Joshua 18:23).

• Though Hadid is scarcely mentioned elsewhere, its appearance here highlights how every community mattered in God’s restoration plan. Just as 1 Corinthians 12:22 notes that “the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,” so even a lesser-known town held vital kingdom value.

• The partnership of people from Lod and Hadid pictures the unity Paul later urges in Philippians 1:27—“standing firm in one spirit, contending together for the faith of the gospel.”

• Ono, situated in the fertile plain of Ono (Nehemiah 6:2), completes the triad. While later used by Sanballat to lure Nehemiah into compromise, here it provides faithful sons who return to Judah.

• Their willingness counters the reputation their region would earn in Nehemiah’s day, showing that individual obedience matters more than a town’s later associations—echoing Ezekiel 18:20, “The soul who sins is the one who will die,” and by implication, the soul who obeys will live.

• Together, Lod, Hadid, and Ono demonstrate that God gathers His remnant from diverse places, just as Jesus later gathers disciples from Galilee, Judea, and beyond (Matthew 4:23–25).

• The number assigned—725—underscores the precision of God’s record-keeping. Every family, every individual is counted (compare Luke 12:7, “Even the hairs of your head are all numbered”).

• In Nehemiah 7:37 the tally Isaiah 721, likely reflecting minor rounding or later demographic shifts; neither figure undermines inerrancy, since both reveal a consistent order of magnitude confirming the authenticity of the census.

• Numerically, 725 men (not including women and children) suggest a thriving community. Factoring in families, the population returning from these towns could easily exceed 2,500 souls—a testimony to God’s faithfulness to “restore your fortunes and gather you again” (Deuteronomy 30:3).

• The precise count reminds believers today that our service is never lost in a crowd; Hebrews 6:10 assures us, “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown.”

Ezra 2:33 records that exactly 725 men from the towns of Lod, Hadid, and Ono made the courageous journey back to Judah. Each place—however small or obscure—contributed to the rebuilding of God’s house, proving that the Lord values every believer, tracks every detail, and weaves individual obedience into His grand redemptive plan.

Parallel Commentaries ...