What significance does the number of Adonikam's descendants hold in Ezra 2:13? Setting the Passage Ezra 2 records the first wave of exiles returning from Babylon with Zerubbabel. Verse 13 notes: “the sons of Adonikam, 666.” (Ezra 2:13) Literal Census Detail • The number is a straightforward headcount—nothing more, nothing less. • It testifies to the care God took in preserving every family line. Compare the similar list in Nehemiah 7:18, which repeats the same figure. • Scripture’s accuracy in small details like this underlines the truth of 2 Timothy 3:16 that “All Scripture is God-breathed.” Who Was Adonikam? • Name meaning: “My Lord has arisen” or “The Lord has set up.” • His descendants appear again in a later return: “Of the descendants of Adonikam, the last ones, these were their names… 60 men.” (Ezra 8:13) • Together, these records show a family committed to God’s work over multiple generations. Why 666 Catches Our Eye • Revelation 13:18 later identifies 666 as “the number of the beast,” yet Ezra predates that by almost 500 years. • 1 Kings 10:14 also mentions 666 talents of gold received by Solomon—another neutral, factual use. • Scripture uses the same number in a variety of contexts. Its meaning is set by context, not superstition. • In Ezra it simply marks how many Adonikamites walked back into the land God promised. Spiritual Takeaways • God knows every one of His people by name and number (Luke 12:7). Even a figure that later gains ominous overtones doesn’t intimidate Him. • The return of 666 descendants highlights God’s victory over the pagan empire that once held them captive—evil numbers, nations, or powers cannot thwart His plans. • The meticulous roll call encourages us to value historical precision in Bible study and trust Scripture’s reliability down to the smallest digit. • Like Adonikam’s family, believers today are called to leave captivity, embrace covenant faithfulness, and participate in rebuilding the worship of the true God. |
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