The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah from the family of Jeshua, 973 people.
This verse is recording the number of priests from a specific family line who returned from exile in Babylon.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Ezra, which records the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem after their captivity, Chapter 2 serves as a census listing the families and individuals who resettled in the land. This verse specifically enumerates the priests from the lineage of Jedaiah, particularly those from the house of Jeshua, totaling 973, as part of the broader effort to reestablish the temple and religious order. Such detailed records were essential in ancient Jewish culture to verify priestly descent and ensure the purity of worship practices.
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