The number of descendants from the priestly line of Immer who returned from the Babylonian exile.
The number 1052 appears in the returnee lists in Ezra 2:37 and Nehemiah 7:40, where it indicates the number of descendants of Immer—one of the prominent priestly families in Israel. These lists document who returned from the Babylonian exile to Judah and Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua. That Immer's family numbered 1052 people places them among the larger priestly families that returned home, underscoring this family's significance in rebuilding the temple service. The lists in Ezra and Nehemiah serve as a theological testimony to God's faithfulness in preserving His people and especially the priesthood through the exile. Immer was one of the 24 priestly divisions (mishmarot) established under David (1 Chr 24:14). The name Immer (אִמֵּר) may mean "he has said" or "lamb," and the family is also mentioned in connection with Pashur ben Immer, a priest and temple overseer during Jeremiah's time (Jer 20:1). The returnee lists in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 are nearly identical and are regarded by scholars as two versions of the same base list. The fact that both give exactly 1052 for Immer's descendants strengthens the reliability of the text. These lists served an important function in documenting legitimate lineage, especially for priests who had to prove their ancestry to serve in the temple. In rabbinic tradition, the continuity of priestly service was seen as crucial for Israel's spiritual restoration after the exile. The return of the priestly families and their documented numbers were understood as a sign that God upheld His covenant with the tribe of Levi.*