Ezra 8:23

_FOR I WAS ASHAMED TO REQUIRE OF THE KING A BAND OF SOLDIERS AND HORSEMEN TO HELP US AGAINST THE ENEMY IN THE WAY: BECAUSE WE HAD SPOKEN UNTO THE KING, SAYING, THE HAND OF OUR GOD IS UPON ALL THEM FOR GOOD THAT SEEK HIM; BUT HIS POWER AND HIS WRATH IS AGAINST ALL THEM THAT FORSAKE HIM._ NO JFB COMMENTARY ON THESE VERSES....

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

SO WE FASTED, AND BESOUGHT OUR GOD FOR THIS,.... Sought the Lord by fasting and prayer for a good journey, and preservation in it: AND HE WAS ENTREATED OF US; accepted their prayer, as Jarchi, so that they came safe to Jerusalem....

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

_for this_ either prayed for this favour, or as in Ezra 9:15, -because of this", i.e. on the ground of this mingled faith and self-abasement. _and he was intreated of us_ This phrase occurs also in Genesis 25:21; 2 Samuel 21:14; 2Sa 24:25; 2 Chronicles 33:13....

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

PARTICULARS OF EZRA'S COMPANY 1. Them that went up] The sum of the numbers given is 1,496. Only males are mentioned, and if no women accompanied them, the absence of such doubtless increased the tendency that the people manifested to intermarry with heathen families....

THE *JEWS RETURN TO JERUSALEM EZRA _ROBERT BRYCE_ CHAPTER 8 V1 This is the list of the families and the chief men in the families. They came with me from Babylonia during the rule of King Artaxerxes. V2 Gershom from the *descendants of Phinehas, Daniel from the *descendants of Ithamar, From the *descendants of David, Hattush, V3 from the *descendants of Shecaniah....