Ezra 1:8

_EVEN THOSE DID CYRUS KING OF PERSIA BRING FORTH BY THE HAND OF MITHREDATH THE TREASURER, AND NUMBERED THEM UNTO SHESHBAZZAR, THE PRINCE OF JUDAH._ By the hand of Mithredath, х_ MITRªDAAT_ (H4990), Mithra, the genius of the sun; Septuagint, Mithradatou, Mithridates - i:e., given to or by Mithra]. Rawlinson ('Ancient Monarchies,' 4:, 330, 334) distinguishes two forms of Iranic or Persian faith: one, a pure and spiritual one, held by the old Persians, and long after by the more intelligent classes; and the other a coarse or more material one. Hence, though none of the early kings mention the name of Mithra, his emblem appears on all the known royal tombs except that of Cyrus. In sculptures, where the emblems of Ormazd and Mithra occur together, the position of the former (the Supreme God) is central, that of the latter toward the right hand of the tablet. The solar emblem (a disk or orb)...

5-11 The same God that raised up the spirit of Cyrus to proclaim liberty to the Jews, raised up their spirits to take the benefit. The temptation was to some to stay in Babylon; but some feared not to return, and they were those whose spirits God raised, by his Spirit and grace. Whatever good we do, is owing to the grace of God. Our spirits naturally bow down to this earth and the things of it; if they move upward in any good affections or good actions, it is God who raises them. The calls and offers of the gospel are like the proclamation of Cyrus. Those bound under the power of sin, may be made free by Jesus Christ. Whosoever will, by repentance and faith, return to God, Jesus Christ has opened the way for him, and raises him out of the slavery of sin into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Many that hear this joyful sound, choose to sit still in Babylon, are in love with th...

Verse Ezra 1:8. _SHESHBAZZAR, THE PRINCE OF JUDAH._] This was probably the Chaldean name of him who was originally called Zerubbabel: the former signifies _joy in affliction_; the latter, _a stranger in_ _Babylon_. The latter may be designed to refer to his _captive state_; the former, to the _prospect of release_. Some think this was quite a different person, a Persian or Chaldean, sent by Cyrus to superintend whatever officers or men Cyrus might have sent to assist the Jews on their return; and to procure them help in the Chaldean provinces, through which they might be obliged to travel....

MITHREDATH - Or, “Mithridates.” The occurrence of this name, which means “given by Mithra” or “dedicated to Mithra,” is an indication that the sun-worship of the Persians was at least as old as the time of Cyrus. SHESHBAZZAR - i. e., Zerubbabel. On his royal descent, see 1 Chronicles 3:19 note....

EXPOSITION THE RESPONSE TO THE DECREE (Ezra 1:5). The response made to the decree fell short of what might have been expected. The "patriarchal chiefs" who responded belonged solely, or mainly, to the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin; the "ten tribes" were for the most part deaf to the invitation addressed to them. Some, however, of Ephraim and Manasseh (1 Chronicles 9:3), and perhaps some of other tribes, were more zealous, and took part in the migration. Many, on the other hand, even of Judah and Benjamin, preferred remaining in Babylonia to undertaking the long and perilous (Ezra 7:22) journey to Palestine, and taking the chance

EVEN THESE DID CYRUS KING OF PERSIA BRING FORTH BY THE HAND OF MITHREDATH THE TREASURER,.... Or Mithridates, a name common with the Persians, from their god Mithras, the sun they worshipped: AND NUMBERED THEM UNTO SHESHBAZZAR PRINCE OF JUDAH; delivered them by tale to him; who, according to the Jewish rabbins, as Jarchi says, was Daniel, who was so called, because he stood in six tribulations; but it does not appear that Daniel went up to Jerusalem with the captivity, as this man did, but remained at Babylon; rather, with Aben Ezra, it is best by him to understand Zerubbabel, who did go up, and was the prince of Judah; and Cyrus, in his letter q to the governors of Syria, expressly says, that he delivered the vessels to Zerubbabel, the prince of the Jews. He had two names, Sheshbazzar, which signifies he rejoiced in tribulation, and Zerubbabel, which signifies either the seed of Babylon...

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. THE RETURN UNDER ZERUBBABEL AND THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The proclamation of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1)_ 2. The response of the chiefs of Judah and Benjamin (Ezra 1:5) 3. The vessels of the house of the LORD restored (Ezra 1:7) Ezra 1:1. Cyrus (meaning “the Sun”) the King of Persia was, according to ancient historians, the son of Cambyses, Prince of Persia, and Mandam, daughter of Astyages, King of the Median Empire. The theory that he was the offspring of Ahasuerus and Esther, and was trained by Mordecai and Nehemiah, lacks all historical foundation. The heart of Cyrus in the beginning of

THE RETURN OF THE JEWS UNDER SHESHBAZZAR WITH THE HOLY VESSELS. The carrying out of the decree. Ezra 1:5. even all. Jerusalem: implying that many did not avail themselves of the opportunity of returning. The lot of many of the exiles was far from unhappy, while the prospect for those who might decide to return was not bright. Ezra 1:6. all they that were round about them: _i.e._ those of their own race. BESIDE ALL THAT WAS WILLINGLY OFFERED: the free-will offerings for the Temple; the other gifts were personal. Ezra 1:7. the vessels. his gods: see 2 Kings 24:13;...

SHESHBAZZAR. the Chaldean name of the prince of Judah. Not Zerubbabel, which means born at Babel. Probably. Nehemiah, for he was the son of Hachaliah and Zidkijah (Nehemiah 10:1), and therefore. "prince of. Judah"....

_by the hand of_ So A.V. and R.V. This phrase in the original is a little difficult. It occurs Ezra 8:26, -I even weighed _into their hand_&c.", 33, -was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed _into the hand_of, &c. (marg. -by"), Esther 6:9, -let the apparel and the horse be delivered _to the hand_of one of the king's most noble princes". It seems better here to render - _into_the hand of". The vessels were brought out and given into the charge of Mithredath, who was to superintend their numbering. _Mithredath the treasurer_ This is the Hebrew form of the old Persian name -Mithradata", familiar to us as Mithridates. On coins we find the more correct transliteration -Mithradates". It was a very common name among the Medo-Persians, cf....