INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 7 In this chapter we have the lineage and character of Ezra described, Ezra 7:1, his expedition to Jerusalem, and of many others with him, Ezra 7:7, a copy of the commission King Artaxerxes gave him to execute, Ezra 7:11, and his thankfulness, Ezra 7:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 1-5. NOW AFTER THESE THINGS,.... The finishing of the temple, and the dedication of it, and keeping the passover: IN THE REIGN OF ARTAXERXES KING OF PERSIA; in the seventh year of his reign, Ezra 7:7, who is the same with Darius in the preceding chapter; so Jarchi and Aben Ezra; Ezra 6:14. EZ... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezra 7:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezra 7:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezra 7:1... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezra 7:1... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS EZRA WENT UP FROM BABYLON,.... A second time; for that he went up with Zerubbabel is clear from Ne 12:1, and is plainly intimated, Ezra 5:4, AND HE WAS A READY SCRIBE IN THE LAW OF MOSES, WHICH THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL HAD GIVEN; the meaning is, not that he had a quick hand in writing out copies... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WENT UP SOME OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL,.... Perhaps some of the ten tribes, as well as others of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin; who, notwithstanding the edict of Cyrus, chose to remain in Babylon, and in the countries of it, until they saw how things would go in Judea; and hearing that... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CAME TO JERUSALEM IN THE FIFTH MONTH,.... With the above company; this was the month Abib, answering to part of July and part of August: which was in the seventh year of the king; as in the preceding verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH BEGAN HE TO GO UP FROM BABYLON,.... The month Nisan, answering to part of March and part of April; this was New Year's day: AND ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE FIFTH MONTH CAME HE TO JERUSALEM; the first of the month Ab, as in the preceding verse; so that he was ju... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EZRA HAD PREPARED HIS HEART TO SEEK THE LAW OF THE LORD,.... To attain to the knowledge of it, that he might be master of it, and expert in it, and know what was not to be done, and what to be done; he had set his heart upon this, bent his studies this way, and taken a great deal of pains in sea... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THIS IS THE COPY OF THE LETTER THAT THE KING ARTAXERXES GAVE UNTO EZRA THE PRIEST,.... This title relating to his office is justly given him, since he was the son of an high priest, and lineally descended from Aaron, as the above account of his pedigree shows: THE SCRIBE, EVEN A SCRIBE OF THE W... [ Continue Reading ]
ARTAXERXES, KING OF KINGS,.... Having many kings and kingdoms subject and tributary to him; for this was not merely a proud haughty title which the eastern kings p assumed, particularly the Persians; for after Cyrus they were so in fact, who took this title also, and had it put on his sepulchral mon... [ Continue Reading ]
I MAKE A DECREE,.... Which, according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, when signed, might not be changed, Daniel 6:8, THAT ALL THEY OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, AND OF HIS PRIESTS AND LEVITES, IN MY REALM; who remained there, and took not the benefit of the edict of Cyrus, which gave them leave t... [ Continue Reading ]
FORASMUCH AS THOU ART SENT OF THE KING, AND OF HIS SEVEN COUNSELLORS,.... Such a number the kings of Persia used to have from the times of Darius Hystaspis, who was chosen out of seven nobles to be king, and ever after the Persian kings had seven counsellors privileged, as those nobles were, Esther... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TO CARRY THE SILVER AND GOLD, WHICH THE KING AND HIS COUNSELLORS HAVE FREELY OFFERED UNTO THE GOD OF ISRAEL, WHOSE HABITATION IS IN JERUSALEM. In the temple built there; for the service of which, either for purchasing and procuring vessels that were wanting in it, or for sacrifices to be offered... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE SILVER AND GOLD THAT THOU CANST FIND IN ALL THE PROVINCE OF BABYLON,.... Not that he might take it wherever he found it, whether the owners of it were willing he should have it or not; but whatever was freely offered by them, as Jarchi, that he was allowed to take, whatever he could get... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU MAYEST BUY SPEEDILY WITH THIS MONEY,.... Thus freely contributed by one and another: BULLOCKS, RAMS, LAMBS; which were for burnt offerings: WITH THEIR MEAT OFFERINGS, AND THEIR DRINK OFFERINGS; which always went along with the burnt offerings, according to the law of Moses; and which the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHATSOEVER SHALL SEEM GOOD TO THEE, AND TO THY BRETHREN,.... The priests, that he should think fit to take in to his assistance in this work: TO DO WITH THE REST OF THE SILVER AND GOLD; which should be left after the sacrifices were offered up: THAT DO AFTER THE WILL OF YOUR GOD; as they shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VESSELS ALSO THAT WERE GIVEN THEE FOR THE SERVICE OF THE HOUSE OF THY GOD,.... These were vessels of silver, basins of gold, and vessels of fine copper; not what formerly belonged to the temple, they were delivered by Cyrus to Sheshbazzar; but what the present king and his counsellors freely off... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHATSOEVER MORE SHALL BE NEEDFUL FOR THE HOUSE OF THY GOD, WHICH THOU SHALL HAVE OCCASION TO BESTOW,.... For the beautifying and ornamenting the temple, Ezra 7:27, BESTOW IT OUT OF THE KING'S TREASURE HOUSE; where the money collected by tribute, tax, and custom, was deposited; his exchequer, as... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I, EVEN I ARTAXERXES THE KING, DO MAKE A DECREE TO ALL THE TREASURERS WHICH ARE BEYOND THE RIVER,.... The receivers of his tribute, tax, and custom, beyond the river Euphrates, on the side towards the land of Israel: THAT WHATSOEVER EZRA THE PRIEST, THE SCRIBE OF THE LAW OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN; s... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO ONE HUNDRED TALENTS OF SILVER,.... Which amounted to 35,300 pounds sterling; these, according to Jarchi, were to buy the offerings or sacrifices with: AND AN HUNDRED MEASURES OF WHEAT; or corn, the same measure with the homer, each of which held ten ephahs, or seventy five wine gallons, five p... [ Continue Reading ]
WHATSOEVER IS COMMANDED BY THE GOD OF HEAVEN,.... In the law given by Moses to the people of Israel: LET IT BE DILIGENTLY DONE FOR THE HOUSE OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN; for the service of it, particularly sacrifices: FOR WHY SHOULD THERE BE WRATH AGAINST THE REALM OF THE KING AND HIS SONS? through the n... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO WE CERTIFY YOU, THAT TOUCHING ANY OF THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES, SINGERS, PORTERS, NETHINIMS, OR MINISTERS OF THIS HOUSE OF GOD,.... The king had a right and perfect knowledge of the distinct offices and services of those persons, see Ezra 7:7, IT SHALL NOT BE LAWFUL TO IMPOSE TOLL, TRIBUTE, OR C... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU, EZRA, AFTER THE WISDOM OF THY GOD, THAT IS IN THINE HAND,.... Which he had a large share of from the Lord, and could readily make use of to good purpose; and this may be meant of the law of God made with the highest wisdom, and to know and observe which is an instance of wisdom in men, Deu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHOSOEVER WILL NOT DO THE LAW OF THY GOD, AND THE LAW OF THE KING,.... Either the judge who delays judgment, or does not execute it according to the law of God, and of the king; or the people, that do not obey the law of God in matters of religion, and the law of the king in civil things, Judea... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD OF OUR FATHERS,.... This is Ezra's thanksgiving to God for the above decree: WHICH HATH PUT SUCH A THING AS THIS IN THE KING'S HEART; which he rightly took to be of God, who wrought in him to will and to do: TO BEAUTIFY THE HOUSE OF THE LORD WHICH IS IN JERUSALEM; to provid... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HATH EXTENDED MERCY UNTO ME, BEFORE THE KING AND HIS COUNSELLORS, AND BEFORE ALL THE KING'S MIGHTY PRINCES,.... Before Artaxerxes, his seven counsellors, Ezra 7:14 and the nobles of his realm, in being appointed by them to carry their freewill offerings to Jerusalem, and the king's commands to h... [ Continue Reading ]