Ezra 8:21

_THEN I PROCLAIMED A FAST THERE, AT THE RIVER OF AHAVA, THAT WE MIGHT AFFLICT OURSELVES BEFORE OUR GOD, TO SEEK OF HIM A RIGHT WAY FOR US, AND FOR OUR LITTLE ONES, AND FOR ALL OUR SUBSTANCE._ Then I proclaimed a fast there. The dangers to traveling caravans from the Bedouin Arabs that prowl through the desert were in ancient times as great as they still are; and it seems that travelers usually sought the protection of a military escort. But Ezra had spoken so much to the king of the sufficiency of the divine care of his people that he would have blushed to apply for a guard of soldiers; and therefore he resolved that his followers should, by a solemn act of fasting and prayer, commit themselves to the Keeper of Israel. Their faith, considering the many and constant perils of a journey across the Bedouin regions, must have been great, and it was rewarded by the enjoyment of perfect safet...

21-23 Ezra procured Levites to go with him; but what will that avail, unless he have God with him? Those who seek God, are safe under the shadow of his wings, even in their greatest dangers; but those who forsake him, are always exposed. When entering upon any new state of life, our care should be, to bring none of the guilt of the sins of our former condition into it. When we are in any peril, let us be at peace with God, and then nothing can do us any real hurt. All our concerns about ourselves, our families, and our estates, it is our wisdom and duty, by prayer to commit to God, and to leave the care of them with him. And, on some occasions, we should decline advantages which are within our reach, lest we should cause others to stumble, and so our God be dishonoured. Let us ask wisdom of God, that we may know how to use or to refuse lawful things. We shall be no losers by venturing,...

EXPOSITION EZRA 8:21 THEN I PROCLAIMED A FAST THERE. The fight of the civil ruler to "proclaim a fast" was unquestioned among the Jews and Israelites. Jezebel proclaimed one in Ahab's name when she wished to impress the Jezreelites with the notion that a great crime had been committed. Jehoshaphat did the same when he was invaded by the Ammonites, Moabites, and Mehunim (2 Chronicles 20:1). A fast was proclaimed in the fifth year of Jehoiakim when the kingdom of Judah was menaced by Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 36:9). Ezra therefore assumes that he may command one now, in connection with the perils of the coming journey. That we might afflict

THEN I PROCLAIMED A FAST THERE, AT THE RIVER AHAVA,.... After the messengers to Iddo were returned with those they brought with them: THAT WE MIGHT AFFLICT OURSELVES BEFORE OUR GOD; humble themselves before him for their sins, confess them, and declare their repentance of them, and ask forgiveness for them: TO SEEK OF HIM A RIGHT WAY FOR US; to take from thence towards Jerusalem, to be directed by him in it: either by a prophet, or by a vision in a dream, as Eben Ezra; or rather by the guidance of his providence; this they sought in prayer by the river side, where it had been usual with them, and since has been, to perform religious exercises, see Ezekiel 1:1, hence Tertullian z calls the prayers of the Jews "orationes littorales"; they sought not so much which was the shortest and easiest way for them to travel in, as which was the safest:...

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

THE GATHERING TOGETHER OF THE EXILES AT AHAVA. The narrative is told here in the first person. Ezra 8:15. Ahava: _cf._ Ezra 8:21; Ezra 8:31; this seems to have been a place which gave its name to one of the many canals constructed in Babylonia for irrigation purposes. NONE OF THE SONS OF LEVI: as the main object of the return was the resuscitation of the Temple worship the Levites were, of course, indispensable. Ezra 8:17. Casiphia: the exact locality is unknown; there appears to have been a colony of Levites and Nethinim here. Ezra 8:25

The Events of the Journey 21 30. Preparations for the journey. (_a_) 21 23. The rendezvous and solemn fast at Ahava 21. _I proclaimed a fast_ For "fasting" see also on Ezra 9:3; Ezra 10:6. Here however the fast is not proclaimed in connexion with any special commission of sin. Ezra appoints the fast (_a_) as the symbol of submission before God's will and of repentance from sin, (_b_) as the means of intensifying religious fervour in prayer through the restraint laid upon physical appetite, (_c_) as the testimony that -man lives not by bread alone". Viewed in this aspect, the public fast proclaimed by Ezra was a spiritual exercise; from which the pagan notion of propitiating God's favour by voluntary human suffering was altogether absent. Cf....

_VER._ 21. _I PROCLAIMED A FAST_— They had the greater reason to do this, because they carried with them things of considerable value, were apprehensive of enemies who lay in wait for them, and were ashamed to ask any guard of the king, who, being not much instructed in these matters, might possibly think, that what they said of God's favour towards them, and the prophesies concerning their restoration, were but vain boasts, if they should seem to distrust the power and favour of that God of whom they had spoken so magnificently, by making application to the king for his protection and defence. Rather, therefore, than give any such umbrage, they were resolved to commit themselves entirely to God; but then it was necessary that they should beseech _that_ of him, which, without giving offence, they could not request of the king. See Bishop Patrick....

3. Leave-taking ceremonies were conducted. TEXT, EZRA 8:21-23 21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him. 23 So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty. COMMENT _Ezra 8:21_ mentions that they fasted as a mark of their humility, in seeking God's care for their journey. Here we have definite ment

8:21 humble (b-14) Or 'afflict.' right (c-24) Or 'plain.'...