CHAPTER VII _In the_ seventh _year of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, Ezra goes up_ _to Jerusalem; and with him certain of the priests, Levites,_ _porters, and Nethinim: his character_, 1-10. _The letter and decree of Artaxerxes in behalf of the Jews_, 11-26. _Ezra's thanksgiving to God for these... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 7:6. _A READY SCRIBE_] סופר מחיר _sopher machir_ does not merely signify a _speedy writer_ or an _excellent penman_, but one who was eminently skilful in expounding the _law_. In this sense the word γραμματευς, _scribe_, is repeatedly used in the New Testament, and we find that both in th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 7:8. _HE CAME TO JERUSALEM IN THE FIFTH MONTH_] From the following verse we learn that Ezra and his company set off from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and thus we find they were upwards of _four months_ on their journey. They could not travel fast, as they were a great comp... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 7:10. _EZRA HAD PREPARED HIS HEART_] Here is a fine character of a minister of God: _He prepares_, הכין hechin, he fixes, purposes, and determines, לבבו _lebabo, with his heart _- with all his powers and affections, to _seek_ the _law of God_, and _to do it_ himself, that he may be proper... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _ARTAXERXES, KING OF KINGS_] This letter, from the beginning of this verse to the end of Ezra 7:12, is in the _Aramitic_ or _Chaldee_ language. This title of the king would, in Persian, run thus: [Persian] _Ardsheer shahinshah_, or [Persian] _padshah_, "Ardsheer, king of kings;" "_great_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _THEIR OWN FREE-WILL_] None shall be _forced_ either to _go_ or to _stay_. He who loves his God will avail himself of this favourable opportunity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _HIS SEVEN COUNSELLORS_] It is very likely that the privy counsel of the king consisted of _seven_ persons simply. The _names_ of these seven counsellors or chamberlains may be found in the book of Esther, Esther 1:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _AND ALL THE SILVER AND GOLD_] The king and his counsellors had already made a present to the house of the God of Israel; and Ezra is now empowered to receive any contribution which any of the inhabitants of the province of Babylon may think proper to give.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _AFTER THE WILL OF YOUR GOD_] He gave them the fullest liberty to order every thing according to their own institutions, binding them to no form or mode of worship.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _A HUNDRED TALENTS OF SILVER_] The talent of silver was 450_£_. _A HUNDRED MEASURES OF WHEAT_] A hundred _cors_; each _cor_ was a little more than _seventy-five gallons, one quart_, and _a pint_, wine measure. _A HUNDRED BATHS OF WINE_] Each _bath_ was _seven gallons_ and _five_ _pints_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _WHY SHOULD THERE BE WRATH_] As he believed he was appointed by the Almighty to do this work, he therefore wished to do it heartily, knowing that if he did not, God would be displeased, and that the kingdom would be cut off from _him_ or his _posterity_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _IT SHALL NOT BE LAWFUL TO IMPOSE TOLL_] As these persons had no private revenues, it would have been unreasonable to have laid them under _taxation_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _WHETHER_ IT BE _UNTO DEATH_] These include almost _every_ species of punishment which should be inflicted on culprits in any civilized state. With this verse the _Chaldee_ part of this chapter ends.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 7:28. _AND I WAS STRENGTHENED_] In what the king decreed he saw the hand of God; he therefore gave him the praise, and took courage. There is a most amiable spirit of piety in these reflections. Ezra simply states the case; shows what the king had determined, and tells what he said; and t... [ Continue Reading ]