Ezra 8:1

_THESE ARE NOW THE CHIEF OF THEIR FATHERS, AND THIS IS THE GENEALOGY OF THEM THAT WENT UP WITH ME FROM BABYLON, IN THE REIGN OF ARTAXERXES THE KING._ This is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon. The number given here amounts to 1,754. But this is the register of adult males only, and as there were women and children also (Ezra 8:21), the whole caravan may be considered as comprising between 6,000 and 7,000. The name of Zathi, some of whose descendants accompanied Ezra, is omitted in this list, though it is inserted in the catalogue of the first caravan (see Ezra 2:8; Nehemiah 7:13: cf. Ezra 10:27)....

1-20 Ezra assembles the outcasts of Israel, and the dispersed of Judah. God raised up the spirits of a small remnant to accompany him. What a pity that good men should omit a good work, for want of being spoken to!...

CHAPTER VIII _The genealogy of the chief persons who went with Ezra from_ _Babylon_, 1-14. _He gathers them together at Ahava; and finding among them no_ _Levites, he sends confidential persons to the river of Ahava,_ _who return with many Levites and Nethinim_, 15-20. _He proclaims a fast at Ahava for Divine protection on their_ _journey_, 21-23. _He delivers to the care of the priests c., the silver, gold,_ _and sacred vessels, that they might carry them to Jerusalem,_ _and deliver them to the high priest_, 24-30....

EXPOSITION THE NUMBER OF THOSE WHO WENT UP TO JERUSALEM WITH EZRA, AND THE NAMES OF THE CHIEF MEN (Ezra 8:1). This list is parallel with that of Ezra 2:3, and repeats for the most part the same family names, though not quite in the same order. The numbers are in each case very much smaller, never amounting to one-third, and sometimes falling below one-twelfth. At the utmost, three new families are mentioned as furnishing colonists those of Shechaniah ...

THESE ARE NOW THE CHIEF OF THEIR FATHERS, AND THIS IS THE GENEALOGY OF THEM,.... Which follows from hence to the end of Ezra 8:14, THAT WENT UP WITH ME FROM BABYLON; with Ezra the priest and scribe, the writer of this book: IN THE REIGN OF ARTAXERXES THE KING; that is, Darius Hystaspis, in the seventh year of his reign, see Ezra 7:1, though many think Artaxerxes Longimanus is meant....

CHAPTER 8 _ 1. Those who returned with Ezra (Ezra 8:1)_ 2. The gathering at Ahava (Ezra 8:15) 3. The fast proclaimed (Ezra 8:21) 4. The appointment of guardians (Ezra 8:24) 5. The departure and arrival in Jerusalem (Ezra 8:31) Ezra 8:1. The names of those who gathered around Ezra and went up with him are here recorded. In view of the magnificent decree and liberality of Artaxerxes, the company was very small. The majority preferred Babylon, and remained t

A LIST OF HEADS OF FAMILIES. It contains the names of the heads of the families who returned to Palestine with Ezra....

CHIEF. heads: i.e. heads of houses. THEM THAT WENT UP. Most of these names appear in Ezr. and Nehemiah 10. The number is 1,496. If there were no women with them, this might be the cause of the "strange" marriages in Ezra 1. and Nehemiah 10. ARTAXERXES: i.e. Darius (Hystaspis). See App-57 and App-58....

Ezra 8:1-20. The List of those that went up with Ezra to Jerusalem (_a_) 1 14. List of the Heads of Fathers" Houses, accompanying Ezra 1. _These_are _now the chief of their fathers_ R.V. NOW THESE ARE THE HEADS OF THEIR FATHERS "_houses_. Literally, -now these are the heads of their fathers", a shortened form of expression, as in Ezra 2:68. _and_this is _the genealogy of them_ In the following list we have the names both of the houses and of their chiefs or representatives. On the word -genealogy" see Ezra 2:62. The LXX. οἱ ὁδηγοί....

TEXT AND VERSE-BY-VERSE COMMENT B. Lists are given of returnees, and treasures which they carried back; the treasures are delivered. 1. The list of returnees is given. TEXT, Ezra 8:1-14 1 Now these are the heads of their fathers-' households and the genealogical enrollment of those who went up with me from Babylon in the reign of King Artaxerxes: 2 of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush; 3 of the sons of Shecaniah who was of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah and with him 150 males who were in the genealogical list; 4 of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah and 200 males with him; 5 of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel and 300 males with him; 6 and of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan and 50 males with him;...