Ezra 6:17

For the dedication of the house of God they offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and a sin offering for all Israel of twelve male goats, one for each tribe of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator addresses the post-exilic community at the moment immediately following the completion of the Second Temple. This verse records the specific livestock counts presented by the returned exiles to consecrate the rebuilt sanctuary.

The words — The Hebrew חֲנֻכַּת (chanukat) denotes a formal dedication or inauguration, while הַקְרִיבוּ (hakrivu) specifies the act of bringing sacrifices. The text literally lists one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve male goats offered for Israel's purification.

The thread — The twelve goats representing each tribe parallel Ezra 8:35, while the sacrificial structure mirrors the temple rededication in 2 Chronicles 29:21 and the tribal enumeration in Revelation 7:4.

Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to acknowledge that covenant restoration depends on precise, representative worship rather than personal devotion. It establishes that communal atonement must be administered through appointed mediators and exact offerings.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

Cross-references

Ezra 8:35 Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and a sin offering of 12 male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD.
2 Chronicles 29:21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And the king commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD.
Revelation 7:4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel:
2 Chronicles 7:5 And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
2 Chronicles 29:31 Then Hezekiah said, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.” So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.
Leviticus 4:3 If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the LORD a young bull without blemish as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.
Leviticus 4:13 Now if the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly so that they violate any of the LORD’s commandments and incur guilt by doing what is forbidden,
Leviticus 4:22 When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the commandments of the LORD his God, he incurs guilt.
Leviticus 4:28 When he becomes aware of the sin he has committed, he must bring an unblemished female goat as his offering for that sin.
Numbers 7:2 And the leaders of Israel, the heads of their families, presented an offering. These men were the tribal leaders who had supervised the registration.