Definition: The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezra 2:36. It’s a really important part of understanding what happened in ancient Judah during a time of rebuilding. Here's the explanation in simple terms: The Basic Story: The Problem: After the Babylonian exile (a long period when the Israelites were enslaved), there was a lot of mistrust and division among the Jewish people in Judah. Many people felt like they weren’t truly welcome back home. Ezra’s Task: Ezra, a priest, was tasked with restoring the temple – the most important place for worship – and helping the people rebuild it. The Number: The verse says that there were 970 years old children from the house of Jeshua (which is a specific group of priests) who were assigned to oversee the rebuilding efforts. What Does It Mean? Essentially, this means these nine hundred and seventy-three people were responsible for keeping track and overseeing the rebuilding process. They had a very important job – ensuring everything was done correctly and that the temple was rebuilt according to God’s instructions. Important Note: The word “house of Jeshua” is a bit complex, but it refers to a specific lineage of priests who were responsible for many of the religious duties in the temple. In short, this verse tells us about a group of people who played a crucial role in restoring the Jewish Temple after the exile. --- Do you have any other Bible verses you’d like me to explain? Or would you like me to delve into a specific aspect of this story (like its historical context)?