Neville Goddard on Ezra 2:1-35 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Ezra 2 in context

Scripture Focus

1Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;

2Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:

3The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.

4The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.

5The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.

6The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.

7The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

8The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.

9The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.

10The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.

11The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.

12The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.

13The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.

14The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.

15The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.

16The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

17The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.

18The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve.

19The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.

20The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.

21The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three.

22The men of Netophah, fifty and six.

23The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.

24The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.

25The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.

26The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.

27The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.

28The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.

29The children of Nebo, fifty and two.

30The children of Magbish, an hundred fifty and six.

31The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.

32The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.

33The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five.

34The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.

35The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.

Ezra 2:1-35

Biblical Context

Ezra 2 records the return of exiles to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel and Jeshua, followed by a census of the people and their families.

Neville's Inner Vision

Viewed through the I AM of Neville’s practice, the long roll of names is not a ledger of history but a map of states you carry inside. The captivity represents a stubborn tense of consciousness—being carried away by fear, doubt, or habit. The declaration 'they came again unto Jerusalem' signals your return to a centered, aware self. Zerubbabel and Jeshua are the leadership of your innermost will and imagination; the families listed are the facets of your character gathering in the inner city of awareness to rebuild your life on the covenant of your own fidelity to I AM. Each tribe, each number, is a movement of inner presence aligning with a future you choose. The act of returning is not geography but reorientation: a covenant to think from a recovered self, to feel the truth of unity, to live as if the promise of renewal is already true. By identifying with this inner reconstruction, you invite a future where your past exclusion becomes an invitation to community, purpose, and hope.

Practice This Now

Close your eyes and imagine the inner city of your awareness being rebuilt by your I AM. Then revise any sense of lack by affirming, I have returned; I am whole; I live by covenant loyalty, here and now.