2 Esdras 11 — Church Fathers

Douay-Rheims

1 Esdras

Chapter 10

Chapter 12

Tobias

Chapter 11

2 Esdras 11:1-36

A NEW ARRANGEMENT IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE PEOPLE

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1 And the Princes of the people dwelt in Jerusalem: but the rest of the people cast lots, to take one part of ten that should dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the cities. 2 notes

2 And the people blessed all the men that had voluntarily offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem. 2 notes

3 These therefore are the Princes of the Province, which dwelt in Jerusalem, and in the cities of Juda. And every one dwelt in his possession, in their cities, Israel, the Priests, the Levites, the Nathineites, and the children of the servants of Salomon. 2 notes

4 And in Jerusalem there dwelt of the children of Juda, and of the children of Benjamin: of the children of Juda, Athaias the son of Aziam, the son of Zacharias, the son of Amarias, the son of Saphatias, the son of Malaleel: of the children of Phares, 2 notes

5 Maasia the son of Baruch, the son of Cholhoza, the son of Hazia, the son of Adaia, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zacharias, the son of a Silonite. 2 notes

6 All these the children of Phares, which dwelt in Jerusalem, four hundred sixty eight, valiant men. 2 notes

7 And these are the children of Benjamin: Sellum the son of Mosollam, the son of Ioed, the son of Phadaia, the son of Colaia, the son of Masia, the son of Etheel, the son of Isaia, 2 notes

8 and after him Gebbai, Sellai, nine hundred twenty eight. 2 notes

9 and Joel the son of Zechri the overseer of them, and Judas the son of Senua second over the city. 2 notes

10 And of the Priests, Idaia the son of Joarib, Jachin, 2 notes

11 Saraia the son of Helcias, the son of Mosollam, the son of Sadoc, the son of Meraioth, the son of Achitob the Prince of the house of God, 2 notes

12 and their brethren that do the works of the temple: eight hundred twenty two. And Adaia the son of Jeroham, the son of Phelelia, the son of Amsi, the son of Zacharias, the son of Pheshur, the son of Melchias, 2 notes

13 and his brethren the Princes of the fathers: two hundred forty two. And Amassai the son of Azreel, the son of Ahazi, the son of Mosolamoth, the son of Emmer, 2 notes

14 and their brethren exceeding mighty: an hundred twenty eight, and their overseer Zabdiel son of the mighty ones. 2 notes

15 And of the Levites Semeia the son of Hasub, the son of Azaricam, the son of Hasabia, the son of Boni, 2 notes

16 and Sabathai and Jozabed, over all the works, that were without the house of God, of the Princes of the Levites. 2 notes

17 And Mathania the son of Micha, the son of Zebedei, the son of Asaph Prince to praise, and to confess in prayer, and Becbecia second of his brethren, and Abda the son of Samua, the son of Galal, the son of Idithun. 2 notes

18 All the Levites in the holy city two hundred eighty four. 2 notes

19 And the porters, Accub, Telmon, and their brethren, which kept the doors: an hundred seventy two. 2 notes

20 And the rest of Israel the Priests and the Levites in all the cities of Juda, every man in his possession. 2 notes

21 And the Nathineites, that dwelt in Ophel, and Siaha, and Gaspha of the Nathineites. 2 notes

22 And the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem, Azzi the son of Bani, the son of Hasabia, the son of Mathania, the son of Micha. Of the children of Asaph, the singing men in the ministry of the house of God. 2 notes

23 For the king's commandment was upon them, and an order among the singing men day by day. 2 notes

24 And Phathahia the son of Mesezebel of the children of Zara the son of Juda in the hand of the king, according to every word of the people, 2 notes

25 and in the houses through all their countries. Of the children of Juda there dwelt in Cariatharbe, and in her daughters: and in Dibon, and in her daughters, and in Cabseel, and in the villages thereof, 2 notes

26 and in Jesue, and in Molada, and in Bethphaleth, 2 notes

27 and in Hasersual, and in Bersabee, and in her daughters, 2 notes

28 and in Siceleg, and in Mochona, and in her daughters, 2 notes

29 and in Remmon, and in Saraa, and in Jerimuth, 2 notes

30 Zanoa, Odollam, and in their towns, Lachis and in her countries, Azeca, and in her daughters. And they abode in Bersabee unto the vale of Ennom. 2 notes

31 And the children of Benjamin, of Geba, Mecmas, and Hai, and Bethel, and her daughters, 2 notes

32 in Anathoth, Nob, Anania, 2 notes

33 Asor, Rama, Gethaim, 2 notes

34 Hadid, Seboim, and Neballat, Lod, 2 notes

35 and Ono the valley of artificers. 2 notes

36 And of the Levites were portions of Juda, and Benjamin. 2 notes

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2 Esdras 11:1-36 2 entries

A NEW ARRANGEMENT IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE PEOPLE

THE SYMBOLISM OF THE NEW DISTRIBUTION OF THE PEOPLE.

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 672–735)

The arrangement was now completed. It was begun as soon as the city was made, but until the total number of the people had been counted and the feast of the seventh month had been completed, it was impossible to determine who should reside in the holy city itself and who in the other cities. Now it is consistent with the figures of the sacraments that the rulers of the people are reported to have settled in Jerusalem. For it is proper that those in charge of the holy church should surpass the common people in the merits of their life by as much as they surpass them in the greatness of their power. For the remaining cities of Israel represent the devout lifestyle of the common people of God, whereas the act of settling in Jerusalem specifically represents the conduct of those who, having already overcome the struggle of the vices, draw near to the vision of heavenly peace with an unimpeded mind according to the psalmist’s saying: The Lord loves the gates of Zion above all the tabernacles of Jacob.^[1] Thus it follows that the reason that a tenth part of the people chosen by lot take their dwelling in Jerusalem but the remaining nine parts reside in their cities is doubtless that it is a mark of the perfect (namely, of those who wholly keep the precepts of the Decalogue in the love of God and neighbor) to draw near in mind to the heavenly secrets and, so to speak, to imitate the peace of the highest blessedness amid the whirlwinds of this transient life; and yet the door to eternal life also remains open to those who keep God’s general commandments, according to what the Lord declares in the Gospel to the rich man who questioned him.^[2] For such people dwell as it were in cities given to them by the Lord because by keeping the sacred law they remain constantly vigilant to defend themselves from the attacks of the ancient enemy. But those who wish to be perfect and follow the Lord by selling all their belongings and giving them as alms for the poor are those who dwell as it were in the citadel of Jerusalem^[3] and next to the temple of God and the ark of the covenant because they approach the grace of their Creator in a more sublime way. It is well said that their dwelling in the holy city was granted to them not by the foresight of human choice but by the outcome of a lot, just as during Joshua’s time the ownership of the rest of the cities was given to the children of Israel by lot,^[4] no doubt because both the small things of the small man and the great things of the great man come about not through the freedom or industriousness of his own will but by the gift of the hidden judge and provider.

On Ezra and Nehemiah 3.31

THE STAGES OF PROGRESS OF THE FAITHFUL ARE MANY.

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 672–735)

Some of the children of Judah settled in Kiriath and its daughters, and so on until it says, And they made their home in Beersheba as far as the Valley of Hinnom. For Beersheba was the boundary of Judah on the southern side, whereas the valley of the descendants of Hinnom was to the north next to Jerusalem on the east side. Finally, the cities of the descendants of Benjamin are recounted in a similar order, and the sentence that is added after they have been counted, And of the Levites portions of Judah and Benjamin, means that the Levites according to the decree of the Law received a lot on the property of the descendants of Judah and Benjamin. Let this much be said briefly concerning the historical sense. Concerning all these matters, if it delights you to hear also some allegorical meaning that is appropriate for our actions, Judah is interpreted as he who confesses, Benjamin the son of the right hand and Levi accepted.^[1] The reason that the tribes of all of these dwell partly in Jerusalem and partly in cities given to them by God is that the stages of progress of the faithful are many and diverse, and for them there are also many mansions in our Father’s house in heaven, as we have taught above.^[2] Some are content to observe God’s general commandments: not to commit murder, not to commit adultery, not to steal, not to speak false testimony against a neighbor, to honor father and mother, and to love neighbors as themselves.^[3] Others try to lay hold of the narrower stronghold of the perfect life, yet they all, each person according to his own calling, praise and confess the grace of their Creator, and they are children of the everlasting kingdom that is in his right hand and are taken up by him to life when the moment of that separation will come in which two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left behind. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and the other left behind.^[4]

On Ezra and Nehemiah 3.31