The number of priests from the family of Jedaiah, of the house of Joshua, who returned from the Babylonian exile.
The number 973 appears in the Bible in connection with the lists of returnees after the Babylonian exile. Both in Ezra 2:36 and Nehemiah 7:39 it is stated that the priests from the family of Jedaiah, of the house of Joshua, numbered 973 persons who returned to Judah. The fact that this number is given identically in both lists underscores the accuracy of the registration of priestly families. The lineage of Jedaiah was among the most prominent priestly lines, and the large number of returning priests testifies to God's faithfulness in preserving and restoring the priesthood after the exile. The restoration of the priestly order was crucial for resuming temple service in Jerusalem, and these figures demonstrate continuity in Israel's worship across the great catastrophe that the exile represented. Jedaiah (Hebrew: יְדַעְיָה) means 'the LORD knows' or 'the LORD is aware,' and the name highlights God's care for His people and servants. The family belonged to the priestly order tracing back to the descendants of Aaron. The lists of returnees in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 are considered parallel texts documenting the Jewish exiles' return under Zerubbabel around 538–520 BC. Accurate registration of priestly families was essential to ensure that only legitimate priests could serve in the rebuilt temple. The fact that Jedaiah's family belonged to 'the house of Joshua' links them to the high priest Joshua (Jeshua), son of Jehozadak, who led the priesthood at the time of the return and is also mentioned in the prophet Zechariah's visions (Zech 3:1–10) as a symbol of purification and restoration.*