Ezra 8:16

Then sent I for Eliezer, &c. "For". (a) The preposition in the original is sometimes found as the sign of the object: thus 2 Chronicles 17:7, A.V., "he sent tohis princes, even to Ben-hail", R.V. "he sent his princes, evenBenhail", &c. This is the alternative rendering ("then sent I Eliezer") of the Vulgate (misi Eliezer et Ariel et Semejam, &c.) and the Syriac, and gives the most natural sense. Ezra 8:16 then gives the general fact, Ezra 8:17 the details of the mission. (b) The rendering of the A.V., R.V. and LXX. (απέστειλα τῷ Ἐλεάζαρ) is quite literal: Ezra 8:16 then contains Ezra's summons to these leading men: Ezra 8:17 the mission, with which he empowers them, upon their coming into his presence. Of these two renderings the first seems to give the better sense. It hardly seems suited to the context to mention that Ezra, who commanded the whole assembly, summoned to his presence certain leading men before sending them upon an important mission. On the other hand it was quite in keeping with Ezra's position to despatch such men upon his errand at once; and while the first verse (Ezra 8:16) records the fact of the message and the names of the leading men, whom he sends, the second verse (Ezra 8:17) describes the object and purpose of the mission. The peculiar usage of the preposition is quite in character with the style of the Hebrew in the books. The probability that this is the correct rendering is increased by the variation in the reading of Ezra 8:17 (see note).

chiefmen] Literally -heads": not -the heads" referred to in Ezra 8:1, but certain leaders.

men of understanding R.V. which were teachers. Marg. which had understanding. The word in the original occurs in Nehemiah 8:7 (R.V. -caused … to understand"); 1 Chronicles 15:22; 1 Chronicles 25:7 (R.V. -skilful"); 2 Chronicles 34:12 (R.V. -that … could skill of").

Joiarib and Elnathan receive a distinguishing epithet corresponding to the -chief men" applied to the other names. It is not probable that a merely general epithet describing mental capacity should be given to two out of the party of ten. The word therefore is better rendered "teachers", describing their position, than -men of understanding", describing their abilities (LXX. συνιέντας, Vulg. sapientes).