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:
Among the priests' descendants were the families of Habaiah, Koz, and Barzillai. The family of Barzillai got their name because their ancestor married a woman from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and took on that family name.
This verse lists three priestly families who returned from exile, including one family that had taken their name from their ancestor's wife's family.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Ezra, which recounts the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem after their captivity, this verse is part of a genealogical list documenting the families and priests who resettled. It specifically mentions priests whose lineage was questioned because they had married into another family and adopted that name, potentially disqualifying them from temple service under Jewish law. This reflects the strict emphasis on genealogical purity in ancient Israelite society to maintain the integrity of religious roles.
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