Chapter Five

1-3. Return from captivity. 4-44. List of those who returned with Zerubbabel. 45-49. Building of the altar. 50-52. Festival of Booths and restoration of sacrifices. 53-62. Building of the temple. 63-70. Obstacles from the Samaritans.

1 Esdras 5:1. After this, the clan heads according to their families were chosen to go forth, with their wives and sons and daughters, and their male and female servants with their livestock. 1. Verses 1-5 contain information that is not found in the canonical books. The source from which the author drew this information is unknown. The Greek text of the verses Fritzsche finds to have Hebraic coloring, and Ewald and Bertheau suggest that verses 1-5 once existed also in Ezra 2-3 the words of verse 2 with music, with timbrels and trumpets, some interpreters ascribe to verse 3, understanding it as an indication of the solemn sending off of those departing by the brothers who remained.

1 Esdras 5:2. Darius sent with them a thousand horsemen, until they brought them into Jerusalem in peace, with music, with timbrels and trumpets. 1 Esdras 5:3. All their brothers rejoiced, and the king allowed them to go together. 1 Esdras 5:4. These are the names of the men who went forth by their families in their orders: 1 Esdras 5:5. the priests, the sons of Phineas, the sons of Aaron, Jeshua son of Jozadak, son of Seraiah, and Joiakim son of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel from the house of David, from the tribe of Judah, 5. Seraiah, Seraiah. Joiakim the son of Zerubbabel. In 1 Chr 3:9 Joiakim is not named among the sons of Zerubbabel. In view of 4:58, where Zerubbabel himself is presented as a young man, mention of his son Joiakim can also raise questions. Fritzsche and Reuss, on the contrary, believe that the story of the contest related in chapters 2-4 refers precisely to Joiakim and only later, by error, was a remark about the third bodyguard—which is Zerubbabel—inserted in 4:33, and he was made the hero of the narrative.

1 Esdras 5:6. who spoke before Darius king of Persia wise words in the second year of his reign, in the month Nisan, the first month. 1 Esdras 5:7. These are the Judeans who came forth from captivity of the exile whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had exiled, 1 Esdras 5:8. and who returned to Jerusalem and to the rest of Judea, each to his own city, those who came with Zerubbabel and Jeshua, Nehemiah, Zaraiah, Reshaiah, Enhaniah, Mordecai, Beelsarus, Aspharsus, Reeliah, Roimus, Baanah, their leaders. 8. See Ezra 2:2: Neh 7:7. The transliteration of names in 2 Esdras differs from that in the parallel passages in 1 Esdras and Nehemiah.

1 Esdras 5:9. The number of the people with their leaders: of the sons of Phoros two thousand one hundred seventy-two; of the sons of Saphat four hundred seventy-two; 9. Instead of Phoros in 1 Esdras and Neh 7:8 Parosh is named. The number of the sons of Shatia in 1 Esdras and Nehemiah is determined as 372, not 472 as in 2 Esdras.

1 Esdras 5:10. of the sons of Aras seven hundred fifty-six; 10. In Ezra 2:5 and Neh 7:10 instead of Aras is named Arah. The number of his sons was according to 1 Esdras 775, according to Nehemiah 662 (instead of 756 in 2 Esdras).

1 Esdras 5:11. of the sons of Pahath-Moab with the sons of Jeshua and Joab two thousand eight hundred twelve; 11. In Ezra 2:6 and Neh 7:11—sons of Pahath-Moab. The number of his sons according to Neh 7:11 was 2818.

1 Esdras 5:12. of the sons of Elam one thousand two hundred fifty-four; of the sons of Zathuia nine hundred seventy-five; of the sons of Xorva seven hundred five; of the sons of Bannaia six hundred forty-eight; 12. Elam: according to Ezra 2:7; Neh 5:11-12—Elam. Zathuia: according to Ezra 2:9—Zathuia, according to Nehemiah 7:13—Zattu. Instead of the number 975, it is better with many manuscripts to read 945 as in 1 Esdras. According to Neh 7:12 the number of sons of Zattu—845.—Instead of Xorva in Ezra 2:9 and Neh 7:14 the name is Zaccai, the number of whose sons is determined as 760 (not 705). The number of sons of Bannaia or Binnui according to Ezra 2:10-642. The book of Nehemiah gives the number in agreement with 2 Esdras.

1 Esdras 5:13. of the sons of Bivaia six hundred thirty-three; of the sons of Arge one thousand three hundred twenty-two; 13. Sons of Bivaia or according to 1 Esdras and Neh 7:16—Bevaia—was according to 1 Esdras 623, according to Nehemiah 628 (instead of 633 in 2 Esdras). Sons of Arge according to Ezra 2:12 was 1322, the sons of Azgad—1222. The family of Arge is not mentioned in the book of Nehemiah.

1 Esdras 5:14. of the sons of Adonikam six hundred thirty-seven; of the sons of Vagoia two thousand six hundred six; of the sons of Adina four hundred fifty-four; 14. The number of sons of Adonikam according to Ezra 2:13 was 666, and according to Neh 7:18-667. Sons of Vagoia (according to 1 Esdras and according to Neh 7:19—Bigvai) was according to 1 Esdras 2056, according to Nehemiah 2607.

1 Esdras 5:15. of the sons of Atir from Hezekiah ninety-two; of the sons of Kilan and Azinana sixty-seven; of the sons of Azara four hundred thirty-two; 15-17. Verses 15-39 are not in the Syriac text. Sons of Atir according to 1 Esdras and according to Neh 7:21 was 98. Instead of the names Kilan, Azinana, Annis, Aroma, Vassaia, Arsiphurisa and Betirus in Ezra 2:17-20 and in Neh 7:22-24 completely different names stand.

1 Esdras 5:16. of the sons of Annis one hundred one; of the sons of Aroma thirty-two; of the sons of Vassaia three hundred twenty-three; of the sons of Arsiphurifa one hundred two; 1 Esdras 5:17. of the sons of Betirus three thousand five; of the sons of Bethlemonians one hundred twenty-three; 17. Sons of Bethlemonians: according to Ezra 2:21 and according to Neh 7:26 inhabitants or residents of Bethlehem.

1 Esdras 5:18. from Netophah fifty-five; from Anathoth one hundred fifty-eight; from Bethsamona forty-two; 18. From Netophah according to Ezra 2:22 was 56 people, and according to Neh 7:26-65. From Bethsamona according to Ezra 2:24 and Neh 7:28 from Beth-Azmaveth.

1 Esdras 5:19. from Kiriathirim twenty-five; from Kafir and Virog seven hundred forty-three; 19. Kiriathirim—Kiriatharim. The number of inhabitants of the city in Ezra 2:25; Neh 7:29 is not indicated. Virog, or in other manuscripts Beeroth—Beeroth Ezra 2:25; Neh 7:29.

1 Esdras 5:20. Hadiaseans and Ammideans four hundred twenty-two; from Kiram and Gabbis six hundred twenty-one; 20. The words of the first half of verse 20 are not found in 1 Esdras and Nehemiah. By Hadiaseans are understood the inhabitants of Kedesh (Josh 15:23), by Ammideans the inhabitants of Humtah (Josh 15:54).—Kiram, probably, is Ramah; Gabbis is Geba.

1 Esdras 5:21. from Macalon one hundred twenty-two; from Betolia fifty-two; sons of Niphis one hundred fifty-six; 21. Makkalon—Michmash. Betolia—Bethel. Niphis—Nebo. According to Ezra 2:29 and Neh 7:33, inhabitants of Nebo were 52 (not 152).

1 Esdras 5:22. sons of Kalamolala and Onus seven hundred twenty-five; sons of Ierechi two hundred forty-five; 22. Regarding the sons of Kalamolala and Onus there is no mention in 1 Esdras and Nehemiah. Sons of Ierechi: probably the inhabitants of Jericho are meant. Instead of the number 245, the best manuscripts read 345 as in Ezra 2:34 and Neh 7:36.

1 Esdras 5:23. sons of Sanaas three thousand three hundred one. 23. Sanas—Senaa Ezra 2:35 and Neh 7:38. Instead of the number 3301 the majority of manuscripts read 3330. According to 1 Esdras the inhabitants of Senaa were 3630, and according to Неем 3930. Regarding a city that had such a large number of inhabitants, however, nothing is known.

1 Esdras 5:24. Priests, sons of Ieddu son of Jeshua, with the sons of Sanasiv, nine hundred seventy-two; sons of Emmirufa one thousand fifty-two; 24. Ieddu, according to Ezra 2:36 and Neh 7:39—Jedaiah. Their number according to 1 Esdras and Nehemiah was 973. Emmirufa—probably Immer (Ezra 2:37; Neh 7:40).

1 Esdras 5:25. sons of Phassur one thousand forty-seven; sons of Charmi one thousand seventeen. 25. Phassur—Pashur. The sons of Pashur according to 1 Esdras 2:38 and Nehemiah 7:41 were 1247. Charmi—Harmi (Ezra 2:39; Neh 7:42).

1 Esdras 5:26. Levites, sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel and Bani and Sudia, seventy-four. 26. Bani and Sudia: in Ezra 2:40 instead of these words it says: “of the sons of Hodaviah” (Neh 7:43: Hodevim).

1 Esdras 5:27. Temple singers, sons of Asaph, one hundred forty. 27. Many manuscripts instead of the number 140 read 148, as in Neh 7:44. According to Ezra 2:41 the sons of Asaph were 128.

1 Esdras 5:28. Gatekeepers, sons of Salum, sons of Atar, sons of Tolman, sons of Dakuv, sons of Atit, sons of Tovis, all one hundred thirty-nine. 28. The number of gatekeepers is indicated in agreement with Ezra 2:42, but the names of their representatives are given in an altered form. According to Neh 7:45, the number of gatekeepers was 138. Tovis—Shobai in 1 Esdras.

1 Esdras 5:29. Temple servants, sons of Isava, sons of Asifa, sons of Tavaofus, sons of Kiras, sons of Sudas, sons of Falai, sons of Lavanus, sons of Agrava, 1 Esdras 5:30. sons of Akuda, sons of Uta, sons of Kitava, sons of Akkava, sons of Sivaia, sons of Anan, sons of Kafua, sons of Geddur, 1 Esdras 5:31. sons of Iaira, sons of Desan, sons of Noeva, sons of Haseva, sons of Kazira, sons of Ozii, sons of Finoe, sons of Asara, sons of Vasfaia, sons of Assana, sons of Mani, sons of Nafisi, sons of Akufa, sons of Akhiva, sons of Asuva, sons of Farakema, sons of Vasalema, 1 Esdras 5:32. sons of Meeddus, sons of Kufa, sons of Kharea, sons of Varkhuе, sons of Serara, sons of Thomai, sons of Nasi, sons of Atefa, 29-32. The names of the Nethinim, compared with Ezra 2:43 and following, Neh 7:46 and following, are given in a different transliteration or are entirely different.

1 Esdras 5:33. sons of the slaves of Solomon, sons of Assapfiousfius, sons of Pharir, sons of Ieili, sons of Lozones, sons of Isdail, sons of Saphia, 1 Esdras 5:34. sons of Agia, sons of Fakharef, sons of Savia, sons of Sarophi, sons of Miseia, sons of Gasus, sons of Addus, sons of Suva, sons of Aferre, sons of Varodis, sons of Safaga, sons of Alloma, 33-34. Sons of the slaves of Solomon, that is, descendants of ancient Canaanite peoples reduced to temple service. The names given in 2 Esdras again differ from those named in Ezra 2:55-57; Neh 7:57-59.

1 Esdras 5:35. all the temple servants and the sons of the slaves of Solomon three hundred seventy-two. 1 Esdras 5:36. These are those who came from Thermeleth and Theleris: their leader was Charraphalan and Allar. 36. Thermeleth—Tel-Melikh Ezra 2:59. Theleris—probably Tel-Harsha in 1 Esdras. Instead of the words their leader is Charraphalan and Allar in Ezra 2:59 and Neh 7:61 is a place-name.

1 Esdras 5:37. But they could not show their fathers’ houses and lineage, whether they were from Israel: the sons of Delias son of Baenanus, the sons of Nekodanus, six hundred fifty-two. 37. In Ezra 2:60 instead of Delias is read Delaiah, instead of Nekodanus—Nekoda. In verse 37 there is no mention of the sons of Tobiah named in Ezra 2:60.

1 Esdras 5:38. Among the priests were those performing the priestly service, but not found on the register: the sons of Obdia, the sons of Akuos, the sons of Iaddu, who took as wife Agia, from the daughters of Berzellias, and was named after his name. 38. Among the priests were those performing the priestly service (those seeking the priesthood). Fritzsche translates: “those coveting the priesthood.” Instead of the words: sons of Obdia, sons of Akuos, in Ezra 2:61 is read: “sons of Habaiah (Neh 7:63; Hobavim) sons of Hakkoz.” Iaddu in 1 Esdras and Nehemiah is not named.

1 Esdras 5:39. And since their family records were not found on the register when searched out, they were set apart from the priesthood. 1 Esdras 5:40. And Nehemiah and Atharia said to them that they should not participate in the holy things until there should arise a high priest clothed in the Urim and Thummim. 40. And Nehemiah and Atharia said to them. In Ezra 2:63; Neh 7:65: “and the Tirshatha said to them.” Instead of the Persian title of the governor, which in this passage refers to Zerubbabel in 2 Esdras, the names of Nehemiah and Atharia are mentioned, obviously in error.

1 Esdras 5:41. All the Israelites from twelve years and upward, besides male and female slaves, were forty-two thousand three hundred sixty; their male and female slaves were seven thousand three hundred forty-seven; singers and psalm-singers two hundred forty-five. 41. All the Israelites from twelve years upward: from the age of twelve a Hebrew boy became a “son of the law” (see Luke 2:42). The total number of those who returned is given in agreement with Ezra 2:64 and Neh 7:66. But if one counts the separate numbers, the sum is 33,934—greater than in 1 Esdras (29,818) and in Nehemiah (81,101). This discrepancy is very difficult to explain. The number of singers, according to Ezra 2:65, was 200.

1 Esdras 5:42. Camels four hundred thirty-five, horses seven thousand thirty-six, donkeys two hundred forty-five, pack animals five thousand five hundred twenty-five. 42. The horses of those who returned were according to Ezra 2:66 and Neh 7:68-736. The same number is in some manuscripts of 1 Esdras. The pack animals according to 1 Esdras were 6,720 (instead of 5,525). The discrepancy in numbers, often observed in biblical texts, is explained by the fact that this was where scribal errors most readily occurred.

1 Esdras 5:43. Some of the clan leaders, when they came to the house of God in Jerusalem, made a vow to erect this house in its place according to their ability. 43. When they came to the house of God (to the place where the temple once was). The words “according to their ability” are better connected with verse 44.

1 Esdras 5:44. and to give into the treasury of the temple for its construction one thousand minas of gold and five thousand minas of silver and one hundred priestly garments. 44. In Ezra 2:69 and Neh 7:70-72 a different amount of offerings is indicated.

1 Esdras 5:45. And the priests and the Levites and some of the people settled in Jerusalem and its district, and the singers and the gatekeepers and all Israel in their villages. 1 Esdras 5:46. When the seventh month came and the sons of Israel were each in their own possession, they all gathered with one mind to the open place at the first gate to the east. 46. Apparently verse 46 is based on Neh 8:1. The gathering of the people took place at an open place at the first gate to the east. The First Gate is mentioned in Zech 14:10. It is identified with the ancient gates on the eastern side of the city (Nehemiah 3:6), with the Corner Gate (2 Chr 26:9), or with the present-day Damascus Gate. But it is possible that we are speaking not of gates of the wall, but of the temple gates.

1 Esdras 5:47. And Jeshua son of Jozadak and his priestly brothers and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his brothers rose up and built the altar of the God of Israel, 1 Esdras 5:48. to offer upon it the whole offerings as prescribed in the book of Moses, the man of God. 1 Esdras 5:49. And there gathered to them people from the other nations that were in the land, and they built an altar on its place, because they were at enmity with them, and all the peoples of the land overpowered them; and they offered sacrifices at their time and whole offerings to the Lord, morning and evening. 49. And there gathered to them people from the other nations that were in the land. The words apparently represent a faulty rendering of the remark of the writer of 1 Esdras: “they were fearful of the foreign peoples.”—And they built an altar—the reference is to the Judeans.

1 Esdras 5:50. And they kept the feast of Booths as prescribed by the law, offering the daily sacrifices as was appropriate, 1 Esdras 5:51. and afterward the continual offerings and the sacrifices of the Sabbaths and the new moons and all the sacred festivals. 1 Esdras 5:52. And all those who made vows to God began to bring sacrifices to God from the new moon of the seventh month, although the temple had not yet been built. 1 Esdras 5:53. And they gave silver to the stonemasons and carpenters and food and drink, and carts to the Sidonians and the Tyrians, so that they would bring cedar logs from Lebanon, to be conveyed by sea to the port of Joppa, in accordance with the command given them by Cyrus king of Persia. 1 Esdras 5:54. And in the second year in the second month, upon arriving at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak and their brothers and the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity, 1 Esdras 5:55. laid the foundation of the house of God at the new moon of the second month of the second year after their arrival in Judea and Jerusalem. 1 Esdras 5:56. And they appointed the Levites from twenty years old to oversee the work of the Lord: and Jeshua and his sons and brothers, and Kadmiel and his brother and the sons of Imadabun and the sons of Joda son of Eliahud, with their sons and brothers, all the Levites, with one mind urged forward the work in the house of the Lord. And the builders built the temple of the Lord. 1 Esdras 5:57. And the priests stood in their vestments with musical instruments and trumpets and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, singing to the Lord and praising him according to the ordinances of David king of Israel. 1 Esdras 5:58. and they proclaimed in songs, praising the Lord, that his mercy and his glory were forever over all Israel. 1 Esdras 5:59. And all the people sounded the trumpets and cried out with a loud voice, praising the Lord for the restoration of the house of the Lord. 1 Esdras 5:60. But the elders of the priests and the Levites and the clan leaders, who had seen the former temple, came to the building site weeping and crying out loudly, 1 Esdras 5:61. and many with trumpets and joyful loud acclamations, 1 Esdras 5:62. so that the people could not hear the trumpets because of the clamor of the people; although the assembly sounded the trumpets loudly, so that it was heard from afar. 1 Esdras 5:63. And the enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin heard it and came to learn what the trumpet sound meant. 61-63. Unclear description of the days of celebration. In verse 62 it is reported that the shout of the people drowned out the sound of the trumpets, but at the same time it says that the sound of the trumpets was heard so far that it attracted the attention of the neighbors. 63. The enemies of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin—the Samaritans.

1 Esdras 5:64. And they learned that those who had come from the captivity were building the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel. 1 Esdras 5:65. And they came to Zerubbabel and Jeshua and to the clan leaders and said to them: Let us build together with you; 1 Esdras 5:66. for we also, like you, obey the Lord your God and bring him sacrifices from the days of Asvacapha king of Assyria, who brought us here. 66. From the days of Asvacapha king of Assyria. According to Ezra 4 “from the days of Asardan,” that is, Esarhaddon.

1 Esdras 5:67. Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the leaders of the tribes of Israel said to them: You shall not build the house of the Lord our God together with us; 1 Esdras 5:68. we alone will build it for the Lord God of Israel, according to what Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us. 1 Esdras 5:69. Then the peoples of the land attacked those living in Judea and besieged them, hindering the building. 1 Esdras 5:70. and by deceit drawing away the people and stirring up disturbances, they prevented the completion of the building during all the time of the life of King Cyrus and stopped the building for two years until the reign of Darius. 69-70. The presentation of the events is different from 1 Esdras. The statement in verse 70 that the building was stopped for two years is inaccurate, since according to Ezra 4 the building was stopped until the second year of Darius, that is, approximately for 15 years.