Ezra 2:69

_THEY GAVE AFTER THEIR ABILITY UNTO THE TREASURE OF THE WORK THREESCORE AND ONE THOUSAND DRAMS OF GOLD, AND FIVE THOUSAND POUND OF SILVER, AND ONE HUNDRED PRIESTS' GARMENTS._ Drams of gold - rather darics, a Persian coin (see the note at 1 Chronicles 29:7). PRIESTS' GARMENTS - (cf. Nehemiah 7:70.) This, in the circumstances, was a very appropriate gift. In general, it may be remarked that presents of garments, or of any other useable commodities, however singular it may seem to us, are in unison with the established notions and customs of the East....

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....

Verse Ezra 2:69. _THREESCORE AND ONE THOUSAND DRAMS OF GOLD_] דרכמונים _darkemonim_, drakmons or darics; a Persian coin, always of gold, and worth about 1_£_. 5_s_., not less than _£_76,250 sterling in gold. _FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS OF SILVER_] מנים _manim_, manehs or minas. As a _weight_, the _maneh_ was 100 shekels; as a coin, 60 shekels in value, or about 9_£_.; 5000 of these manehs therefore will amount to _£_45,000, making in the whole a sum of about _£_120,000; and in this are not included the 100 _garments for priests_. Thus we find that God, in the midst of judgment, remembered mercy, and gave them favour in the land of their captivity....

The numbers here and in Nehemiah (see the marginal reference) vary....

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

THEY GAVE AFTER THEIR ABILITY UNTO THE TREASURE OF THE WORLD THREESCORE AND ONE THOUSAND DRACHMS OF GOLD,.... These "darcemons or darics" were a Persian coin; one of which, according to Brerewood k, was of the value of fifteen shillings of our money, and so this quantity of them amounted to 45,750 pounds; but according to Bishop Cumberland l they were of the value of twenty shillings and four pence of our money, and so came to upwards of 61,000 pounds; these everyone, according to his ability, put into the common stock or treasury for the work of building the temple; the Vulgate Latin m reads 40,000: AND FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS OF SILVER; and an Hebrew "mina", or pound, being of our money seven pounds, ten shillings, according to Brerewood n, amounted to 31,250 pounds: but others o, reckoning a drachm of gold at ten shillings, and a mina or pound of silver at nine pounds, make the whole to...

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 ...

TREASURE. treasury....

This passage is given in greater accuracy of detail in Nehemiah 7:70-72....