In Ezra 2:25, a detailed count reveals that 743 exiles from Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth returned, signifying the faithful restoration of God’s people to their ancestral land.
“the sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah and Beeroth, 743” (v.25). This verse enumerates a distinct group of returning exiles, specifically those descending from three locations in the ancient territory of Benjamin: Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth. Historically, these towns were situated near Jerusalem, indicating the inhabitants who originally settled there and later made the journey back from Babylon. Although the verse itself is brief, it highlights the thorough documentation kept by the returning community after their release from exile under the decree of Persian King Cyrus around 538 BC, ensuring each individual’s rightful place in Israel’s heritage.
Kiriath-arim, often referred to in Scripture as Kiriath-jearim, was a significant location in earlier Old Testament narratives because it once housed the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 7:1). Chephirah and Beeroth, close by geographically, functioned as part of a cluster of towns that were allotted to the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:25-28). This tribal identity mattered in post-exilic Israel, since one’s ancestral inheritance shaped their role in religious and civic life. The returning sons from these regions represent a symbol of restoration: They had endured captivity, rooted in human frailty and disobedience, and now they were experiencing a tangible fulfillment of God’s promise to gather His people back into the land (Jeremiah 29:14).
By noting the exact number of 743, Ezra demonstrates the practical outworking of God’s faithfulness: every individual and family had a specific place in the covenant people. Their restoration to formerly abandoned cities foreshadows the New Testament imagery of believers being restored to fellowship with God through Christ (John 14:2-3). Even though they were displaced by judgment for a time, their reestablishment affirms that God’s redemptive plan welcomes all who seek Him and remain faithful despite trials.
These names serve as a reminder that God knew exactly who His people were—and that He actively brought them back to rebuild their lives and His temple.
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Ezra 2:25 meaning
“the sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah and Beeroth, 743” (v.25). This verse enumerates a distinct group of returning exiles, specifically those descending from three locations in the ancient territory of Benjamin: Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth. Historically, these towns were situated near Jerusalem, indicating the inhabitants who originally settled there and later made the journey back from Babylon. Although the verse itself is brief, it highlights the thorough documentation kept by the returning community after their release from exile under the decree of Persian King Cyrus around 538 BC, ensuring each individual’s rightful place in Israel’s heritage.
Kiriath-arim, often referred to in Scripture as Kiriath-jearim, was a significant location in earlier Old Testament narratives because it once housed the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 7:1). Chephirah and Beeroth, close by geographically, functioned as part of a cluster of towns that were allotted to the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:25-28). This tribal identity mattered in post-exilic Israel, since one’s ancestral inheritance shaped their role in religious and civic life. The returning sons from these regions represent a symbol of restoration: They had endured captivity, rooted in human frailty and disobedience, and now they were experiencing a tangible fulfillment of God’s promise to gather His people back into the land (Jeremiah 29:14).
By noting the exact number of 743, Ezra demonstrates the practical outworking of God’s faithfulness: every individual and family had a specific place in the covenant people. Their restoration to formerly abandoned cities foreshadows the New Testament imagery of believers being restored to fellowship with God through Christ (John 14:2-3). Even though they were displaced by judgment for a time, their reestablishment affirms that God’s redemptive plan welcomes all who seek Him and remain faithful despite trials.
These names serve as a reminder that God knew exactly who His people were—and that He actively brought them back to rebuild their lives and His temple.