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1 These are the people of the province who returned from captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had taken these people as prisoners to Babylon. They now returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to their own town.
2 These are the people who returned with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the list of names and numbers of men from Israel who returned:
3 the descendants of Parosh 2172
4 the descendants of Shephatiah 372
5 the descendants of Arah 775
6 the descendants of Pahath Moab of the family of Jeshua and Joab 2812
7 the descendants of Elam 1254
8 the descendants of Zattu 945
9 the descendants of Zaccai 760
10 the descendants of Bani 642
11 the descendants of Bebai 623
12 the descendants of Azgad 1222
13 the descendants of Adonikam 666
14 the descendants of Bigvai 2056
15 the descendants of Adin 454
16 the descendants of Ater through the family of Hezekiah 98
17 the descendants of Bezai 323
18 the descendants of Jorah 112
19 the descendants of Hashum 223
20 the descendants of Gibbar 95
21 from the town of Bethlehem 123
22 from the town of Netophah 56
23 from the town of Anathoth 128
24 from the town of Azmaveth 42
25 from the towns of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth 743
26 from the towns of Ramah and Geba 621
27 from the town of Micmash 122
28 from the towns of Bethel and Ai 223
29 from the town of Nebo 52
30 from the town of Magbish 156
31 from the other town named Elam 1254
32 from the town of Harim 320
33 from the towns of Lod, Hadid, and Ono 725
34 from the town of Jericho 345
35 from the town of Senaah 3630
36 These are the priests: the descendants of Jedaiah through the family of Jeshua 973
37 the descendants of Immer 1052
38 the descendants of Pashhur 1247
39 the descendants of Harim 1017
40 These are the people from the tribe of Levi: The descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel through the family of Hodaviah 74
41 These are the singers: The descendants of Asaph 128
42 These are the descendants of the Temple gatekeepers: The descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai 139
43 These are the descendants of the special Temple servants: Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
44 Keros, Siaha, Padon,
45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,
46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,
47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,
48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,
49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai,
50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephussim,
51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
54 Neziah, and Hatipha.
55 These are the descendants of Solomon's servants: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,
56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,
57 Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth Hazzebaim, and Ami
58 The Temple servants and descendants of Solomon's servants 392
59 Some people came to Jerusalem from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer. But these people could not prove that their families were from the family of Israel:
60 The descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda 652
61 From the family of priests there were descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (If a man married a daughter of Barzillai from Gilead, he was counted as a descendant of Barzillai.)
62 These people searched for their family histories, but they could not find them. Their names were not included in the list of priests. They could not prove that their ancestors were priests, so they could not serve as priests.
63 The governor ordered them not to eat any of the holy food until there was a priest who could use the Urim and Thummim to ask God what to do.
64 All together, there were 42,360 people in the group who came back. This is not counting their 7337 men and women slaves. They also had 200 men and women singers with them.
65
66 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels, and 6720 donkeys.
67
68 When the group arrived at the place in Jerusalem where the Lord's Temple had been, the family leaders gave their gifts for building this house of God again. They wanted to build it in this same place.
69 They gave as much as they were able. These are the things they gave for building the Temple: 1100 pounds of gold, about 4 tons of silver, and 100 coats that priests wear.
70 So the priests, Levites, and some of the other people moved to Jerusalem and the area around it. This group included the Temple singers, gatekeepers, and the Temple servants. The other Israelites settled in their own hometowns.
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.