Ezra, 2
28. The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three.
28. The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three.
Ezra chapter 2 is a detailed list of exiles that returned from Babylon to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua. The list includes their names, families and the amount of people who have returned. Below are five verses related to the topics covered in Ezra 2, in order of proximity to the chapter:
Nehemiah 7:6: "These are those who have returned from Babylon, who made it to Jerusalem and to the other parts of Judah, each to his city." This verse is similar to the beginning of Ezra Chapter 2, where the list of exiles that returned to Jerusalem is introduced.
Ezekiel 11:17: "Therefore, say, Thus saith the Lord God, I will join you from the midst of the peoples, and I will congregate you from the lands where you were scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel." This verse talks about God's promise to gather his dispersed people and bring them back to the land of Israel, which is exactly what is happening in chapter 2 of Ezra.
Jeremiah 24:5-6: "Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: As these good figs, I will know to those transported from Judah, which I sent from this place to the Land of the Chaldeans, for their benefit. Because I will put upon them My eyes for their good, and I will bring them to this earth, and I will build them, and I will not knock them down; and plant them and I will not tear them. " This verse is similar to Ezekiel 11:17, in which God promises to bring His people back to the land of Israel after exile in Babylon.
Nehemiah 7:73: "And the priests and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the temple servers, and all Israel were based on their cities; and when the seventh month arrived, children of Israel were in their cities. " This verse describes the end of the journey of exiles back to their cities, which is the main theme of Ezra chapter 2.
Nehemiah 11:1: "And the heads of the people dwelt in Jerusalem; but the rest of the people launched Sortes to take one of ten to dwell in the holy city of Jerusalem, and the nine parts in other cities." This verse describes how the people settled in Jerusalem after the return of exile, which is a continuation of the main theme of Ezra 2.
“Se quisermos colher é necessário não só semear, mas espalhar as sementes num bom campo. Quando as sementes se tornarem plantas, devemos cuidá-las para que as novas plantas não sejam sufocadas pelas ervas daninhas.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina