_A.M. 3547. B.C. 457._ The company that went up with Ezra, Ezra 8:1. He sends for the Levites, Ezra 8:16. Proclaims a fast, Ezra 8:21. Delivers the treasure he brought to the priests and Levites, Ezra 8:24. Goes on to Jerusalem, Ezra 8:31; Ezra 8:32. The treasure delivered in there, Ezra 8:33; Ezra... [ Continue Reading ]
_That went up with me from Babylon_ Multitudes of the Jews, who loved their ease better than their religion, thinking themselves well where they were, and either not believing that Jerusalem would better their condition, or being deterred by a prospect of the difficulties they might meet with on the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of the sons of Phinehas of Ithamar_ By the _sons_, he means the _families_ of these two persons, two of which he particularly names, those of Gershom and Daniel: not Daniel the prophet, but some eminent person of Ithamar's line.... [ Continue Reading ]
_By genealogy of the males_ Though _the males_ only be expressed, yet doubtless they carried the women along with them, as they did _the little ones, Ezra 8:21_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of the sons of Elam_, &c. Concerning these, and the families that follow, to Ezra 8:15, it may be observed, that out of them many went up with Zerubbabel, in the reign of Cyrus, as appears by the account given in the second chapter, and that now more went up with Ezra out of the very same families.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of the last sons of Adonikam_ It seems the rest went before, so that now all the sons of that family returned.... [ Continue Reading ]
_To the river that runneth to Ahava_ Or the river of Ahava, as it is called, Ezra 8:21; Ezra 8:31. By comparing of these places, it seems that Ahava was the name both of the river and of the town or place by which it ran. Either this was that river of Assyria, which other writers call Adiava, or Dia... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then sent I for Eliezer_, &c. To come to me, and go along with me to Jerusalem. He sent for these eleven persons, that he might employ them in a message to a place where he knew there were a great many Levites, as it follows in the next verse. _Also for Joiarib and Elnathan, men of understanding_ W... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I sent them unto Iddo the chief_ Chief among the Levites, who dwelt at the place here mentioned, and there had the free exercise of their religion, as this and many other passages in this book plainly enough prove. For we find the people resorting to Ezekiel in their captivity, and him preachin... [ Continue Reading ]
_By the good hand of our God_ That is, by the blessing of God _upon us, they brought us a man of understanding_, &c. They did not return without their errand; but, though the warning was short, they brought about forty Levites to attend Ezra. By this it appears they were not averse to go, but were s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed_ The Gibeonites, who were devoted to the service of the Levites by Joshua and the princes of his time, (Joshua 9:21,) and are said to have been appointed by David and his princes, because they were confirmed by them in their former off... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then I proclaimed a fast there_ Ezra had procured Levites to go along with him, but what would that avail unless he had God with him? this is therefore his chief care. No doubt he had himself begged of God direction in this affair, from the first time he had it in his thoughts: but for public merci... [ Continue Reading ]
_For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers,_ &c. He might have obtained from the king any thing that he desired; but he had so openly declared that he depended solely upon God for safe conduct, that he was ashamed to ask a guard of the king to secure them on their journey from thei... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he was entreated of us_ They had some comfortable assurance in their own minds that their prayers were answered; and the event showed that they were, for they escaped all the dangers they had been afraid of, and in due time arrived safe in Judea.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests_ With whom he might intrust the gifts that had been offered for the temple. Having committed the keeping of them to God, he also committed the keeping of them, under God, to proper men, whose business it should be to _watch_ over and take care of... [ Continue Reading ]
_And weighed unto them the silver and the gold_ Because he expected to receive it from them again by weight. In all trusts, but especially sacred ones, we ought to be punctual, and preserve a right understanding on both sides. In Zerubbabel's time the vessels were delivered by number, here by weight... [ Continue Reading ]
_Six hundred and fifty talents of silver_ Making, at f375 sterling to the talent, f243,750 sterling. _And silver vessels a hundred talents_ Making near f40,000 sterling. _And of gold_ (probably in coin) _a hundred talents_ Which at f4,500 per talent, make f450,000 sterling. _Also twenty basins of go... [ Continue Reading ]
_I said, Ye are holy unto the Lord; the vessels are holy also _ Being men consecrated to God's service, you are bound, above all others, to be faithful in the discharge of your duty, especially being intrusted with holy things, which must be carefully delivered at Jerusalem, just as they were commit... [ Continue Reading ]
_The hand of our God was upon us_ To protect and strengthen us in so dangerous and long a journey. _And he delivered us from the hand of the enemy_ There were not only many enemies who hated them, and were desirous to cut them off; but many robbers, who watched for a booty, whom God either diverted... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the weight was written at that time_ There was a public record made of it; and the persons before mentioned, who brought the money and the vessels, were discharged by a public instrument signed by them that received it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which were come out of the captivity_ Namely, those new- comers whom God had safely conducted thither. _Offered burnt-offerings unto the God of Israel_ Whereby they acknowledged the Lord for their God, and expressed their gratitude for their restoration. _Twelve he-goats for a sin-offering_ For it... [ Continue Reading ]
_They delivered the king's commissions to the lieutenants, and they furthered the people_ Even the enemies of the Jews became their friends, yielded to Ezra's commission, and, instead of hindering the people of God, furthered them, purely out of complaisance to the king. When he appeared moderate, t... [ Continue Reading ]