Ezra 2:70

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 2:70. _DWELT IN THEIR CITIES_] They all went to those cities which belonged originally to their respective families....

ALL ISRAEL - That the Israelites of the ten tribes returned to Palestine with Zerubbabel is apparent: (1) from 1 Chronicles 9:3; (2) from the enumeration of twelve chiefs (Nehemiah 7:7; Nehemiah 1 Esd. 5:8); and (3) from various expressions in Ezra Ezra 2:2, Ezra 2:59; Ezra 3:1....

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

SO THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES, AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE, AND THE SINGERS, AND THE NETHINIMS, DWELT IN THEIR CITIES,.... Which were assigned to them out of the several tribes, and in which they or their forefathers had dwelt before the captivity: AND ALL ISRAEL IN THEIR CITIES; as those of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, so of the other ten, as many as returned and joined those who were left in the land....

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 ...

ALL ISRAEL. See note on Ezra 2:2, and 1 Kings 12:17....

This verse runs more smoothly as it appears in Nehemiah 7:73 -So the priests and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel dwelt in their cities". The verse sums up the whole list. The words -and some of the people" seem to be in the wrong place between -the Levites" and -the singers"; but the mention of -the singers" before -the porters" agrees more closely with the order of the list given in the present chapter than the order given in Nehemiah 7:73. An awkwardness is presented by the words -in their cities" occurring twice, especially as the distinction drawn between -some of the people with the priests and Levites" and -all Israel" is not obvious. Some have seen in the words -all Israel" an expression intended to combine those

9. Their location in the land is stated. TEXT, EZRA 2:70 70 Now the priests and the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities. COMMENT Their dwelling within (walled) cities was probably required by the need for mutual defense, assistance, and encouragement. Note that they think of themselves as all Israel, and not a remnant of a few tribes. WORD STUDIES ZERUBBABEL: a seed of Babylon: a reminder that God preserved a seed of His people through the Babylonian Captivity, from which His nation would once again spring to life, TEMPLE SERVANTS (Ezra 2:43): literally, the Nethinim: those given. The word is a plural form; it comes from the word Nathan. These were the persons