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Joshua 21:18
Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.

Nehemiah 7:27
The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.

Isaiah 10:30
Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth.

128
The number 128 represents the count of men from Anathoth who returned from exile. This specific number indicates a relatively small group, reflecting the overall diminished population of the Israelites returning from Babylon. The precision of this number underscores the careful record-keeping and the importance of each family and individual in the restoration process. It also highlights the fulfillment of God's promise to bring His people back to their land, as prophesied by Jeremiah and other prophets. The return of even a small number of people from each town or family was significant in re-establishing the identity and heritage of the Israelite community.

• Ezra records, “the men of Anathoth, 128” (Ezra 2:23). The list focuses on the men because they stood as heads of households, representing entire families before God, much asNumbers 1:2 and1 Chronicles 9:1 highlight male leaders in earlier censuses.

• Their inclusion underlines accountability: every household had to decide whether to leave comfortable exile and obey the call to return (comparePsalm 137:5–6, where a choice of loyalty is set before each individual).

• The fact that these men are named in God’s Word reminds us of His personal knowledge of each believer (Luke 12:7) and His care for even the smallest act of obedience (John 10:3).

• The little preposition stresses belonging. These men were “of” a specific place and of a specific people. AsRomans 9:4–5 celebrates Israel’s unique privileges, the wording here shows covenant identity is rooted in real geography and history.

• Being “of” somewhere also signals accountability to that community.Joshua 24:15 captures the idea: “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” Each family from Anathoth made that choice.

• For us,Titus 2:14 calls believers “a people for His own possession,” inviting similar intentional belonging.

• Anathoth lay in Benjamin’s territory and served as Jeremiah’s hometown (Jeremiah 1:1). That prophetic heritage makes its appearance here rich with meaning.

• Jeremiah once bought a field in Anathoth to prove God would restore the land after exile (Jeremiah 32:6–15). Now, generations later, descendants actually return—fulfilling the promise.

•Nehemiah 11:32 later lists Anathoth among post-exilic settlements, confirming God’s faithfulness to restore even small towns.

• The mention reminds us that no locale is too minor for God’s redemptive plan (Isaiah 49:6).

• The number is modest, yet every one counts.Romans 11:5 speaks of a “remnant chosen by grace,” and here that remnant totals 128 from Anathoth.

• Small does not mean insignificant. Gideon’s 300 (Judges 7:7) and the 120 in the upper room (Acts 1:15) show God delights to work through limited numbers so His power is obvious.

• The exact figure underscores accuracy: God knows the precise tally of those who obey Him (Malachi 3:16).

• It also encourages stewardship—Psalm 90:12 urges us to “number our days,” reminding us that counting can foster wisdom.

Ezra 2:23 may read like a brief census note, yet each element overflows with meaning. The men represent families ready to act in faith. The phrase “of” underscores covenant belonging. Anathoth ties the list to Jeremiah’s prophecies, showcasing God’s unwavering faithfulness to restore His people and their land. The precise count of 128 proves that every obedient person, however few, is registered in heaven’s records. Together, the words encourage us to heed God’s call, embrace our identity in His people, and trust that He remembers every step we take in faithful response.

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