Ezra Chapter 21

Other Translations

lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

1 And the chiefs of the people dwelt in Jerusalem: and the rest of the people cast lots, to bring one of [every] ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the [other] cities.

2 And the people blessed all the men that volunteered to dwell in Jerusalem.

3 Now these [are] the chiefs of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem, and in the cities of Juda; [every] man dwelt in his possession in their cities: Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nathinim, and the children of the servants of Solomon.

4 And there dwelt in Jerusalem [some] of the children of Juda, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Juda; Athaia son of Azia, the son of Zacharia, the son of Samaria, the son of Saphatia, the son of Maleleel, and [some] of the sons of Phares;

5 and Maasia son of Baruch, son of Chalaza, son of Ozia, son of Adaia, son of Joarib, son of Zacharias, son of Seloni.

6 All the sons of Phares who dwelt in Jerusalem [were] four hundred and sixty-eight men of might.

7 And these [were] the children of Benjamin; Selo son of Mesulam, son of Joad, son of Phadaia, son of Coleia, son of Maasias, son of Ethiel, son of Jesia.

8 And after him Gebe, Seli, nine hundred and twenty-eight.

9 And Joel son of Zechri [was] overseer over them: and Juda son of Asana was second in the city.

10 Of the priests: both Jadia son of Joarib, and Jachin.

11 Saraia, son of Elchia, son of Mesulam, son of Sadduc, son of Marioth, son of Ætoth, was over the house of God.

12 And their brethren doing the work of the house were eight hundred and twenty-two: and Adaia son of Jeroam, son of Phalalia, son of Amasi, son of Zacharia, son of Phassur, son of Melchia,

13 and his brethren, chiefs of families, two hundred and forty-two: and Amasia son of Esdriel, son of Mesarimith, son of Emmer,

14 and his brethren, mighty men of war, a hundred and twenty-eight: and [their] overseer [was] Badiel son of [one of the] great men.

15 And of the Levites; Samaia, son of Esricam,

17 Matthanias son of Micha, and Jobeb son of Samui,

18 two hundred and eighty-four.

19 And the porters; Acub, Telamin, and their brethren, a hundred and seventy-two.

22 And the overseer of the Levites [was] the son of Bani, son of Ozi, the son of Asabia, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph the singers [some were] over the house of God,

23 for so was the king's commandment concerning them.

24 And Phathaia son of Baseza was in attendance on the king in every matter for the people,

25 and with regard to villages in their country district: and [some] of the children of Juda dwelt in Cariatharboc,

26 and in Jesu,

27 and in Bersabee:

30 and their villages [were] Lachis and her lands: and they pitched their tents in Beersabee.

31 And the children of Benjamin [dwelt] from Gabaa [to] Machmas.

36 And of the Levites there were divisions to Juda [and] to Benjamin.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).