For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.
EZRA 6:20KJVWhat does Ezra 6:20 mean?
Ezra 6:20 describes how the priests and Levites purified themselves together so that they were all ceremonially clean, and then they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the Israelites who had returned from exile, for their fellow priests, and for themselves. This verse highlights the careful preparation and unity among the religious leaders as they led the people in observing the Passover after returning from captivity.
The setting is the time after the Jewish people returned from Babylonian exile and rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem. Ezra is narrating how the community, led by priests and Levites, restored important religious practices. The verse emphasizes the shared responsibility of the priests and Levites in making sure everyone could participate in the Passover, showing both their dedication to ritual purity and their service to the whole community.
The Hebrew behind Ezra 6:20
- "Purified" (טָהֵר, ṭāhēr) and "pure" (טָהוֹר, ṭāhôr) both stress the importance of ritual cleanliness. The repetition underlines that every priest and Levite was fully prepared according to the law, not just outwardly but in a way that met all requirements.
- "Killed" (שָׁחַט, shāḥaṭ) means to slaughter, specifically referring to the act of preparing the Passover lamb. This shows the Levites' active role in helping the people observe the festival, which was especially important since not everyone could perform the sacrifice themselves.
- "Passover" (פֶּסַח, pesach) refers to the central festival commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egypt. The mention here connects the returned exiles to their ancestors' story of redemption and God's faithfulness.
- "Children of the captivity" (בְּנֵי הַגּוֹלָה, bənê haggolah) literally means "sons of the exile," highlighting that those participating were the returned exiles, not just any Israelites. This phrase ties the ritual directly to the community's recent history of return and restoration.
Why Ezra 6:20 matters
- This verse clarifies that the priests and Levites took special care to be ritually clean before leading the Passover, emphasizing the seriousness with which they approached their duties.
- By mentioning that the Levites killed the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, their fellow priests, and themselves, the verse shows a spirit of service and unity among the leaders and the people.
- The verse connects the returned exiles' worship to the ancient traditions of Israel, reinforcing their restored identity and continuity with their ancestors despite years of captivity.