Ezra 2:68

And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:

Ezra 2:68 (KJV)

Context

Ezra chapter 2 records the return of the exiled Israelites from Babylon to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel. The chapter provides a detailed census, listing the names, ancestral houses, and places of origin of those who came back. Verses 62 and 63 note that some priests could not prove their lineage; they were excluded from the priesthood until a priest could be found who could consult the Urim and Thummim, and the governor instructed that they should not partake of the most holy things until such a priest was available. Verse 64 states that the whole congregation together numbered forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty (42,360). Verse 65 adds that servants and maidservants numbered seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven (7,337), included in the overall total.

Meaning

Verse 68 records the generous contributions of “some of the chief of the fathers” who, upon arriving at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, offered freely for the rebuilding of the house of God. The phrase “chief of the fathers” refers to the heads of fathers’ houses, the leaders of extended families among the returning exiles. Their offering was a freewill offering, given willingly and spontaneously, not required by law or compulsion. The expression “to set it up in his place” means to rebuild the temple on its original site, the very spot where it had stood before its destruction by the Babylonians. This verse highlights the financial support given for the temple’s restoration and the principle of willing, generous giving for the work of God.

Biblical connections

The following verse, Ezra 2:69, notes that the leaders gave “after their ability,” showing that their offerings were proportional to what God had given them. This act of giving was part of the people’s obedience to God’s call to return and rebuild, and it set an example for the rest of the community. A quotation often linked to Ezra 2:68—”So they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass“—actually belongs to Ezra 10. Ezra 10 describes the community’s covenant to separate from foreign wives, a response to intermarriage that was viewed as contrary to covenantal requirements. The people pledged to dissolve those marriages and, as a sign of contrition, offered a ram as a trespass offering (see Ezra 10:2-3, 16). The phrase “put away” refers specifically to the dissolution of those marriages. While the Old Testament contains regulations concerning intermarriage, it also affirms the overall sanctity of marriage.

Application

The leaders’ freewill offerings demonstrate that giving for God’s work is not merely a duty but a free response of the heart to the opportunity to restore worship. Their example encourages believers to give willingly and proportionally, supporting the work of God with gratitude for what He has provided.

Reflection

Thus, Ezra 2 provides a demographic snapshot of the returning exiles and records the contributions toward rebuilding the temple, whereas Ezra 10 records the later communal decision to address intermarriage through repentance and sacrifice. Together the chapters illuminate the challenges the Israelites faced as they sought to rebuild their society and religious life after the Babylonian captivity.