Ezra 1:9

_AND THIS IS THE NUMBER OF THEM: THIRTY CHARGERS OF GOLD, A THOUSAND CHARGERS OF SILVER, NINE AND TWENTY_ _ AND THIS IS THE NUMBER OF THEM: THIRTY CHARGERS OF GOLD, A THOUSAND CHARGERS OF SILVER, NINE AND TWENTY KNIVES,_ Thirty chargers of gold, х_ 'ªGARTªLEEY_ (H105)] - large basins, slaughter basins; but, according to some, fruit baskets. [Septuagint, psukteeres.] NINE AND TWENTY KNIVES, х_ MACHªLAAPIYM_ (H4252)] - slaughter knives....

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...

CHARGERS - The word in the original thus translated occurs only in this passage. Its meaning is doubtful. Some derive it from a Hebrew root, “to hollow out,” and translate “cup” or “vessel.” KNIVES - This is another doubtful word, only used here. The etymology points to some employment of basket-work....

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

AND THIS IS THE NUMBER OF THEM,.... Of the vessels delivered, as follows: THIRTY CHARGERS OF GOLD, A THOUSAND CHARGERS OF SILVER; these, according to Ben Melech, were vessels in which water was put to wash hands in; but rather they were, as Aben Ezra observes from the Jerusalem Talmud r, vessels in which they gathered the blood of lambs and bullocks slain for sacrifices: NINE AND TWENTY KNIVES; which, because the handles of them were of gold or silver, were valuable, and might be very large knives, and what the priests used in slaying and cutting up the sacrifices. r T. Hieros. Yoma, fol. 41. 1....

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;...

CHARGERS. basons or bowls. Hebrew. _'agartal._ In Numbers _Ke'arah,_ plate or dish. Eng. "charger", from French _charger,_ to load. Hence used of both. dish and. horse....

_chargers_ The word in the original does not occur elsewhere in the Bible. Its meaning is very uncertain: (1) the old Jewish interpretation quoted by Aben Ezra derived it from two words meaning -to collect" and -a lamb", and understood it to be applied to -vessels intended to receive the blood of victims"; (2) the LXX. translates by -wine-coolers" (ψυκτῆρες); (3) Esdras by -libation-vessels" (σπονδεῖα); (4) another rendering, based upon a similar root in Arabic, Syriac and Ethiopic, is -baskets". _knives_ The word in the original occurs here only in the Bible. Vulg. -cultri". This rendering is very uncertain. Other interpretations are (1) -censers", (θυΐσκαι) in 1 Esdras. (2) (?) -changes of raiment" so apparently the LXX. παρηλλαγμένα possibly cf. Judges 14:19. (3) -vessels adorned with network" so Ewald comparing a similar word in...

2. The people return and begin to rebuild. TEXT, EZRA 1:5-11 5 Then the heads of fathers-' households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go and rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. 6 And all those about them encouraged them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with cattle, and with valuables, aside from all that was given as a freewill offering. 7 Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods; 8 and Cyrus, king of Persia, had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. 9 Now this was their number: 30 gold dishes, 1,000 silver dishes, 29 duplicates;...