Ezra 2:68

_AND SOME OF THE CHIEF OF THE FATHERS, WHEN THEY CAME TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD WHICH IS AT JERUSALEM, OFFERED FREELY FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD TO SET IT UP IN HIS PLACE:_ Some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord ... offered freely ... The sight of a place hallowed by the most endearing and sacred associations, but now lying in desolation and ruins, made the well-springs of their piety and patriotism gush out afresh; and before taking any active measures for providing accommodation to themselves and their families, the chief among them raised a large sum by voluntary contributions toward the restoration of the temple....

64-70 Let none complain of the needful expenses of their religion. Seek first the kingdom of God, his favour and his glory, then will all other things be added unto them. Their offerings were nothing, compared with the offerings of the princes in David's time; yet, being according to their ability, were as acceptable to God. The Lord will carry us through all undertakings entered on according to his will, with an aim to his glory, and dependence on his assistance. Those who, at the call of the gospel, renounce sin and return to the Lord, shall be guarded and guided through all perils of the way, and arrive safely at the mansions provided in the holy city of God....

EXPOSITION THE OFFERINGS MADE BY THE RETURNED EXILES ON THEIR ARRIVAL AT JERUSALEM (Ezra 2:68-15). It has been customary among the pious of all ages and countries to make thank-offerings to the Almighty on the accomplishment of any important or dangerous work. The long journey of the exiles from Babylonia to Jerusalem involved considerable risk (see Ezra 8:22, Ezra 8:31), and its successful termination naturally called forth their gratitude. The character of the offerings made is indicative of the fact, otherwise probable

AND SOME OF THE CHIEF OF THE FATHERS, WHEN THEY CAME TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD THAT IS AT JERUSALEM,.... That is, when they came to the place where it formerly stood, and where were still the ruins of it: OFFERED FREELY FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD, TO SET IT UP IN ITS PLACE; to rebuild it upon the spot where it formerly stood; this they did besides the freewill offerings they brought with them from Babylon....

CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The leaders (Ezra 2:1)_ 2. The names of the returning exiles (Ezra 2:3) 3. The priests (Ezra 2:36) 4. The Levites and singers (Ezra 2:40) 5. The porters and Nethinim (Ezra 2:42) 6. Solomon's servants (Ezra 2:55) 7. Those of doubtful descent (Ezra 2:59) 8. The number of the whole company ...

THE FREE-WILL OFFERINGS OF THE HEADS OF FAMILIES, AND THE SETTLEMENT OF THE EXILES (_cf._ Nehemiah 7:70). The gifts are, of course, for the Temple and its worship. Ezra 2:68. when they came to the house of Yahweh: these words would imply that the Temple was already in existence; if not a gloss they are an oversight of the Chronicler, especially in view of the words which follow, to set it up in its place. Ezra 2:69. This is obviously an exaggeration; all that we learn of the returned exiles shows them to have been poor. Ezra 2:70. priests-' garments: these were made of linen ...

SOME. a portion. Ezra mentions what _one_ portion gave. Nehemiah (Ezr 7:70) mentions what _he and two other_ portions gave. Hence the numbers "perforce" cannot be the same, and there is no "discrepancy". CHIEF. heads. THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ GOD. Hebrew. _Elohim._ (with Art.). the [true] God. App-4....

some _of the chief of the fathers_ R.V. SOME OF THE HEADS OF FATHERS" HOUSES, see note on Ezra 1:5. _when they came to the house of the Lord which_is _at Jerusalem_ i.e. on their arrival at Jerusalem, where they were to rebuild the Temple. -The house of the Lord", the site and the building are identified by the writer; if still in ruins, the house was about to be rebuilt, cf. Ezra 1:4-5; Ezra 3:8-9. In the writer's mind -the house of the Lord" is always standing at Jerusalem. _offered freely_ R.V. OFFERED WILLINGLY. There was no reason for the A.V. to alter the rendering given in Ezra 1:6. The freewill offering was offered will

8. Their offerings for restoring the Temple are recorded. TEXT, EZRA 2:68-69 68 And some of the heads of fathers-' households, when they arrived at the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to restore it on its foundation. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work 61,000 gold drachmas, and 5,000 silver minas, and 100 priestly garments. COMMENT It is interesting that the drachma in particular is a Persian coin (another subtle reminder of their contact with Persia):[18] the mina is a unit of weight used in Israel, Babylon, and Persia. We may see a hint that coins are beginning to be used to simplify monetary exchange, but their use has not become universal. [18] An example is portrayed in G. A. Barton's _Archaeology and The Bible,_ Plate 63, Figure 189. Accor

THE NAMES AND NUMBER OF THOSE WHO RETURNED 1. The province] i.e. the Persian province of Judæa (Ezra 5:8). HAD CARRIED AWAY] in 597 b.c. and 586 b.c. EVERY ONE UNTO HIS CITY] i.e. to the provincial towns. This process can only have taken place very gradually....