Ezra 2:1 in Hebrew
וְאֵ֣לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י הַמְּדִינָ֗ה הָֽעֹלִים֙ מִשְּׁבִ֣י הַגֹּולָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶגְלָ֛ה נבוכדנצור מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל לְבָבֶ֑ל וַיָּשׁ֛וּבוּ לִירוּשָׁלִַ֥ם וִֽיהוּדָ֖ה אִ֥ישׁ לְעִירֹֽו׃
Introduction to the Verse
Ezra 2:1 introduces the list of Israelites returning from exile, emphasizing the fulfillment of divine restoration. The verse states:
וְאֵ֣לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י הַמְּדִינָ֗ה – “And these are the people of the province.”
הָֽעֹלִים֙ מִשְּׁבִ֣י הַגֹּולָ֔ה – “Who came up from the captivity of the exile.”
אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶגְלָ֛ה נבוכדנצור מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל – “Whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babel, had exiled.”
A key phrase in this verse is הָעֹלִים מִשְּׁבִי הַגֹּולָה (haʿolim mišebi haggōlah), which highlights the significance of returning from Babylonian exile.
Understanding הָעֹלִים מִשְּׁבִי הַגֹּולָה
1. הָעֹלִים (Haʿolim) – “Those who went up”
– The root ע־ל־ה (ʿ-l-h) means “to go up, ascend.”
– The participle הָעֹלִים refers to those who are returning to the land, signifying both a physical journey and a spiritual elevation.
– This term is often used for pilgrimage to Yerushalayim, emphasizing the holiness of returning to the land.
2. שְּׁבִ֣י (Shevi) – “Captivity”
– This noun comes from שָׁבָה (shavah), meaning “to take captive.”
– It specifically refers to the forced displacement of the Israelites by the Babylonians.
3. הַגֹּולָ֔ה (Haggōlah) – “The Exile”
– The word גֹּולָה (gōlah) refers to the period of exile in Babylon.
– This term is used throughout biblical texts to describe the Jewish diaspora caused by foreign conquest.
The Significance of Returning from Exile
1. Spiritual and National Restoration
– The return from Babylon marks not just a physical migration but a spiritual renewal.
– It fulfills prophecies from Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, who foresaw the return of the exiles.
2. The Political and Religious Context
– The phrase אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶגְלָ֛ה נבוכדנצור (“whom Nebuchadnezzar exiled”) recalls the destruction of Yerushalayim in 586 BCE.
– The Persian king Koresh (Cyrus) later issued a decree allowing the exiles to return (Ezra 1:1-4).
3. The Theme of Aliyah (Ascent)
– The use of הָעֹלִים (“those who went up”) connects this return with the later concept of Aliyah, where Jews throughout history return to Eretz Yisra’el.
The Meaning of הָעֹלִים מִשְּׁבִי הַגֹּולָה in Ezra 2:1
The phrase הָעֹלִים מִשְּׁבִי הַגֹּולָה signifies more than a historical event—it represents spiritual renewal, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the enduring connection between Yisra’el and the land of Yerushalayim.
Ezra 2:1 sets the stage for the rebuilding of the Temple and the re-establishment of Jewish life in the land, marking a key moment in biblical history.
