Ezra 8:31

_THEN WE DEPARTED FROM THE RIVER OF AHAVA ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH, TO GO UNTO JERUSALEM: AND THE HAND OF OUR GOD WAS UPON US, AND HE DELIVERED US FROM THE HAND OF THE ENEMY, AND OF SUCH AS LAY IN WAIT BY THE WAY._ We departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month. Computing from the time of their setting out to the period of their arrival, they occupied about four months on the way. Their health and security were marvelous during so long a journey. The pilgrim-caravans of the present day perform long journeys through the wildest deserts of the East under the protection of a firman from the Porte, and an escort of soldiers. But for a large body-composed, as that of Ezra, of some thousands of men, women, and children, unaccustomed to travel, undisciplined to order, and without military strength, and with so large an amount of treasure tempting the cup...

31-36 Enemies laid wait for the Jews, but God protected them. Even the common perils of journeys, call us to go out with prayer, and to return with praise and thanksgiving. But what shall we render when the Lord has led us safely through the pilgrimage of life, through the gloomy vale of death, out of the reach of all our enemies, into everlasting happiness! Among their sacrifices they had a sin-offering. The atonement sweetens and secures every mercy to us, which will not be truly comfortable, unless sin be taken away, and our peace made with God. Then had the church rest. The expressions here used, direct us to the deliverance of sinners from spiritual bondage, and their pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem, under the care and protection of their God and Saviour....

The Jews with Ezra left Babylon on the first day of the first month Ezra 7:9. They reached Ahava in nine days, and, having remained there three Ezra 8:15, quitted it, and resumed their journey on the twelfth. They reached Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month Ezra 7:9, four months after the departure from Babylon....

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 WE DEPARTED FROM THE RIVER OF AHAVA, ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH, TO GO UNTO JERUSALEM,.... The month Nisan, answering to part of March and part of April; this was two days before the passover began: AND THE HAND OF OUR GOD WAS UPON US; guiding, directing, and protecting them by his providence: AND HE DELIVERED US FROM THE HAND OF THE ENEMY, AND OF SUCH AS LAY IN WAIT BY THE WAY; either by intimidating them, that they dared not attack them, or by directing them to take a different road, whereby they escaped them, see Ezra 8:22....

FIRST MONTH That is, April....

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 ARRIVAL IN JERUSALEM. Ezra 8:31. on the twelfth day. : _ cf._ Ezra 7:8 f., Ezra 8:15. Ezra 8:35. _Cf._ Zerubbabel's offerings at the dedication of the Temple, Ezra 6:17. Ezra 8:36. the king's commissions: mentioned in Ezra 7:21. SATRAPS. GOVERNORS: the satrap was a higher official, being ruler of a province; the governor (_pekhah_) administered a smaller district....

5. The journey is made, and the goods are delivered at Jerusalem. TEXT, EZRA 8:31-36 31 Then we journeyed from the river Ahava on the twelfth of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was over us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the ambushes by the way. 32 Thus we came to Jerusalem and remained there three days. 33 And on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the utensils were weighed out in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them were the Levities, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui. 34 Everything was numbered and weighed, and all the weight was recorded at that time. 35 The exiles who had come from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bul

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....