What is the meaning of Ezra 2:25? The men of Kiriath-jearim • 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. Chephirah • 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 • 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). 743 • 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). summary 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. |
    |