Ezra 2:61

Ezr 2:61 And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:

Ver. 61. And was called after their name] After the name of his wife’s father, that noble Gileadite; as holding it a greater honour to be allied to Barzillai than to be looked upon as a priest. It was therefore just upon such proud and insolent people, that as they had once scorned the priesthood, so the priesthood should now scorn them.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Ezr 2:61-62. And was called after their name — Namely, Barzillai; a name which he preferred before that of his own family, accounting it, as appears, a greater honour to be allied to so noble a family than to be a priest of the Lord. But by this vain ambition he deprived himself of the honour and advantage of the priesthood, as is here noted. They sought their register — The Jews were generally very exact in their genealogies, from their own choice and interest, that they might preserve the distinctions of the several tribes and families, which was necessary both to make out their titles to offices or inheritances, and to govern themselves thereby in the matter of marriages, and from the special providence of God, that so it might be certainly known of what tribe and family the Messiah was born.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2:61-63 were not found: The lack of a genealogy was problematic for three families (2:61-62). They were excluded from priestly privileges or responsibilities until the high priest received divine direction through the use of the Urim and Thummim to determine the will of God (see Exod 28:30; Num 27:21). Although using the Urim and Thummim resembled throwing dice or drawing straws, when done by the priest, the result was a divine decision rather than blind chance.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Of him is made mention, 2 Sam. 17:27 and 19:31, and because the Priest’s office was had in contempt, these would have changed their estate by their name, and so by God’s just judgment lost both the estimation of the world and the dignity of their office.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

the children of Barzillai--He preferred that name to that of his own family, deeming it a greater distinction to be connected with so noble a family, than to be of the house of Levi. But by this worldly ambition he forfeited the dignity and advantages of the priesthood.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(61) Barzillai the Gileadite.—See the well-known history in 2Sa_17:27.

After their name.—Rather, after her name, she having been probably an heiress.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

61. Habaiah] This name appears in Neh_7:63 as ‘Hobaiah’. R.V.

Koz] R.V. ‘Hakkoz’. This name appears as that of the seventh priestly course in 1Ch_24:10.

of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite] Barzillai, the rich and noble Gileadite who assisted David during his flight from his son Absalom. Barzillai’s son Chimham accompanied David to Jerusalem on his return (2Sa_17:27; 2Sa_19:32 ff.; 1Ki_2:7). Chimham probably founded a family called after his own name, which resided at Bethlehem (Jer_41:17). Barzillai’s position and estates in Gilead were inherited by his daughters, through whom their father’s name was preserved. One of them was married to a priest, who thereupon received the family name. His descendants however were unable to make out their claim to belong to the priesthood; possibly on account of the confusion resulting from the altered name.

The R.V. places a full stop at the close of this verse.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore. But the sums before given make no more, with Zerubbabel, and the ten principal men, than 29,829, so that there are more than 12,000 wanting; wherefore, in answer to the question, where are the 12,000? the Jews say in their chronology (a) these are they of the other tribes, who set up the altar on its bases, and gave money to the masons, &c. Ezr 3:1, this was a much larger number than were carried captive; see Kg2 24:14, but not to be compared with the number that came out of Egypt, Exo 12:37. An Arabic writer (b) makes them 50,000, but wrongly.

(a) Seder Olam Rabba, c. 29. p. 86. (b) Abulpharag. Hist. Dynast. Dyn. 5. p. 82.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Their name. The priest, Berzellai, assumed the name of the family, from which he had chosen a wife. (Haydock) --- It was that of the famous old man, who was so hospitable to David, 2 Kings xix. 31. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

To wit, Barzillai; which name he preferred before that of his own family, accounting it, as it seems, a greater honour to be allied to so noble a family, than to be a priest of the Lord. But by this ambition he deprived himself of the honour and advantage of the priesthood, as it is here noted, Ezr 2:62.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

61. The children of Barzillai — So called, as is immediately explained, because their ancestor, a priest, had married a daughter of the distinguished Gileadite, who showed great kindness to David. 2Sa_17:27; 2Sa_19:32-39; 1Ki_2:7.

Their name — The name of the daughters. Hence the confusion in their genealogy.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Of the children of the priests. Some of those who claimed to be descendants of Aaron, and therefore priests, had also lost the evidence of their descent. This loss was held to disqualify them from the exercise of the priestly office (ver. 62).

HOMILIES BY J.A. MACDONALD Vers. 61-63.

The privileges of the priesthood.

We are here forcibly reminded

I THAT THE PRIESTHOOD HAD ITS PRIVILEGES. These were

1. They were sanctified to the service of God.

(1) Distinguished from the tribes whose inheritance was in the soil. (see Num_18:20)

(2) Distinguished among the Levites. They were sons of Aaron. Were served by the Levites. While they served in the holy places, at the altar, within the veil. (see Num_18:7)

2. They ate of the most holy things.

(1) As Levites, they had tithes from the nation.

(2) As priests, they had tithes from the Levites. (Num_18:20, Num_18:21, Num_18:26-28)

(3) They partook of the altar. (see Lev_6:16, 26 7:6, etc.)

(4) They ate the shew-bread of the Presence, viz., of the Shekinah, the visible glory of God. All this symbolically expressed near fellowship with God.

II THE LAW PRIESTS WERE TYPES OF TRUE CHRISTIANS.

1. In their birth, as sons of Aaron.

(1) Aaron was a type of Christ. See arguments in Epistle to the Hebrews.

(2) Christians are of the family of Christ. (see Eph_3:14, Eph_3:15; Gal_4:4-7) Have we the spiritual birth?

2. In their office, as priests of God.

(1) Christians are a spiritual priesthood. (see Isa_61:6; 1Pe_2:5, 1Pe_2:9; Rev_1:6)

(2) They have a spiritual consecration. (see 2Co_1:21; 1Jn_2:20, 1Jn_2:27)

(3) They offer spiritual sacrifices. Themselves. (Rom_12:1) Sacrifices of prayer, of praise, of service. (see Hos_14:2; Heb_13:15)

3. In the privileges of their office.

(1) They draw nigh to God. The law priest entered the holy place. We enter the most holy. (see Heb_10:19-22)

(2) They feast with God. This glorious fellowship is now expressed in the Lord"s Supper.

III THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO THESE PRIVILEGES MUST BE ABLE TO SHOW A VALID TITLE,

1. As to the priesthood under the law.

(1) Case of the children of Habai and Koz. These not elsewhere otherwise mentioned. Here acknowledged as sons of Aaron. Their reputed descendants could not show their genealogy from them.

(2) Case of the children of Barzillai"s daughter. Honourable mention made of Barzillai. (see 2Sa_17:27-29 2Sa_19:31-39) This accounts for descendants of his daughter assuming his name rather than that of their father.

(3) They were therefore excluded (Hebrews, polluted) from the priesthood. Lost the sanctity; also the privileges.

2. As to the priesthood under the gospel.

(1) As with the aspirants through Habai and Koz, the reputation of being of the family of Jesus will not avail. Have you evidence of spiritual birth?

(2) As with the aspirants bearing the honourable name of Barzillai, respectability will not avail in place of a spiritual title. We must be real.

(3) The Tirshatha will scrutinize our claims. We must all pass the scrutiny of the judgment.

3. But is it possible for us to make up a valid title?

(1) What does the Tirshatha say (see ver. 68)?

(2) The Urim and Thummim were wanting then. These were used in the breastplate of the high priest for obtaining responses from the Shekinah of God in the temple. Neither these "lights and perfections" nor the Shekinah to illuminate them were found in the second temple.

(3) We have a High Priest who stands up with these, even Jesus, who ministers in the grander temple. Through his glorious Spirit, the true Shekinah, we have in our breasts the most perfect illuminations. By these we ascertain our spiritual birth with its titles. Have we this most sacred, this most indubitable assurance? J.A.M.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Priests who could not prove themselves members of the priesthood. Comp. Neh 7:63-65. - Three such families are named: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai. These could not discover their family registers, and were excluded from the exercise of priestly functions. Of these three names, that of Hakkoz occurs as the seventh order of priests; but the names alone did not suffice to prove their priesthood, this being also borne by other persons. Comp. Neh 3:4. The sons of Barzillai were the descendants of a priest who had married a daughter, probably an heiress (Num), of Barzillai the Gileadite, so well known in the history of David (Sa2 17:27; Sa2 19:32-39; Kg1 2:7), and had taken her name for the sake of taking possession of her inheritance (the suffix שׁמם refers to בּנות; see on Num 27:1-11). That by contracting this marriage he had not renounced for himself and his descendants his priestly privileges, is evident from the fact, that when his posterity returned from captivity, they laid claim to these privileges. The assumption, however, of the name of Barzillai might have cast such a doubt upon their priestly origin as to make it necessary that this should be proved from the genealogical registers, and a search in these did not lead to the desired discovery. כּתבם is their ספר יחשׂ, Neh 7:5, the book or record in which their genealogy was registered. The title of this record was המּתיחשׁים, the Enregistered: the word is in apposition to כּתבם, and the plural נמצאוּ agrees with it, while in Neh 7:64 the singular נמצא agrees with כתבם. They were declared to be polluted from the priesthood, i.e., they were excluded from the priesthood as polluted or unclean. The construction of the Pual יגאלוּ with מן is significant.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

Habaiah ... Hakkoz ... Barzillai

These are men's names. (See: How to Translate Names)

their genealogical records

the records that told who their ancestors were

could not find them

"could not find their names in the records of the priests"

they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean

This can be translated in active form. The abstract noun "priesthood" can be translated as the verb "work as priests." AT: "the other priests treated them as if they were unclean and did not allow them to work as priests" (See: Active or Passive and Abstract Nouns)

unclean

not fit to be priests

Urim and Thummim

two items like dice that the priests used to decide what God wanted them to do

translationWords

priest

descend

Gilead

name

defile

govern

holy

sacrifice

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

who took Each one of the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite took a wife.

and was called by their name And the name of Barzillai was called on their name because they took of his daughters.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.