1 These are now the chief H7218 of their fathers, H1 and this is the genealogy H3187 of them that went up H5927 with me from Babylon, H894 in the reign H4438 of Artaxerxes H783 the king. H4428
2 Of the sons H1121 of Phinehas; H6372 Gershom: H1647 of the sons H1121 of Ithamar; H385 Daniel: H1840 of the sons H1121 of David; H1732 Hattush. H2407
3 Of the sons H1121 of Shechaniah, H7935 of the sons H1121 of Pharosh; H6551 Zechariah: H2148 and with him were reckoned by genealogy H3187 of the males H2145 an hundred H3967 and fifty. H2572
4 Of the sons H1121 of Pahathmoab; H6355 Elihoenai H454 the son H1121 of Zerahiah, H2228 and with him two hundred H3967 males. H2145
5 Of the sons H1121 of Shechaniah; H7935 the son H1121 of Jahaziel, H3166 and with him three H7969 hundred H3967 males. H2145
6 Of the sons H1121 also of Adin; H5720 Ebed H5651 the son H1121 of Jonathan, H3129 and with him fifty H2572 males. H2145
7 And of the sons H1121 of Elam; H5867 Jeshaiah H3470 the son H1121 of Athaliah, H6271 and with him seventy H7657 males. H2145
8 And of the sons H1121 of Shephatiah; H8203 Zebadiah H2069 the son H1121 of Michael, H4317 and with him fourscore H8084 males. H2145
9 Of the sons H1121 of Joab; H3097 Obadiah H5662 the son H1121 of Jehiel, H3171 and with him two hundred H3967 and eighteen H8083 H6240 males. H2145
10 And of the sons H1121 of Shelomith; H8019 the son H1121 of Josiphiah, H3131 and with him an hundred H3967 and threescore H8346 males. H2145
11 And of the sons H1121 of Bebai; H893 Zechariah H2148 the son H1121 of Bebai, H893 and with him twenty H6242 and eight H8083 males. H2145
12 And of the sons H1121 of Azgad; H5803 Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Hakkatan, H6997 and with him an hundred H3967 and ten H6235 males. H2145
13 And of the last H314 sons H1121 of Adonikam, H140 whose names H8034 are these, Eliphelet, H467 Jeiel, H3273 and Shemaiah, H8098 and with them threescore H8346 males. H2145
14 Of the sons H1121 also of Bigvai; H902 Uthai, H5793 and Zabbud, H2072 H2139 and with them seventy H7657 males. H2145
15 And I gathered them together H6908 to the river H5104 that runneth H935 to Ahava; H163 and there abode we in tents H2583 three H7969 days: H3117 and I viewed H995 the people, H5971 and the priests, H3548 and found H4672 there none of the sons H1121 of Levi. H3878
16 Then sent H7971 I for Eliezer, H461 for Ariel, H740 for Shemaiah, H8098 and for Elnathan, H494 and for Jarib, H3402 and for Elnathan, H494 and for Nathan, H5416 and for Zechariah, H2148 and for Meshullam, H4918 chief men; H7218 also for Joiarib, H3114 and for Elnathan, H494 men of understanding. H995
17 And I sent H6680 them with commandment H3318 unto Iddo H112 the chief H7218 at the place H4725 Casiphia, H3703 and I told H7760 H6310 them what H1697 they should say H1696 unto Iddo, H112 and to his brethren H251 the Nethinims, H5411 H5411 at the place H4725 Casiphia, H3703 that they should bring H935 unto us ministers H8334 for the house H1004 of our God. H430
18 And by the good H2896 hand H3027 of our God H430 upon us they brought H935 us a man H376 of understanding, H7922 of the sons H1121 of Mahli, H4249 the son H1121 of Levi, H3878 the son H1121 of Israel; H3478 and Sherebiah, H8274 with his sons H1121 and his brethren, H251 eighteen; H8083 H6240
19 And Hashabiah, H2811 and with him Jeshaiah H3470 of the sons H1121 of Merari, H4847 his brethren H251 and their sons, H1121 twenty; H6242
20 Also of the Nethinims, H5411 whom David H1732 and the princes H8269 had appointed H5414 for the service H5656 of the Levites, H3881 two hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 Nethinims: H5411 all of them were expressed H5344 by name. H8034
21 Then I proclaimed H7121 a fast H6685 there, at the river H5104 of Ahava, H163 that we might afflict H6031 ourselves before H6440 our God, H430 to seek H1245 of him a right H3477 way H1870 for us, and for our little ones, H2945 and for all our substance. H7399
22 For I was ashamed H954 to require H7592 of the king H4428 a band of soldiers H2428 and horsemen H6571 to help H5826 us against the enemy H341 in the way: H1870 because we had spoken H559 unto the king, H4428 saying, H559 The hand H3027 of our God H430 is upon all them for good H2896 that seek H1245 him; but his power H5797 and his wrath H639 is against all them that forsake H5800 him.
23 So we fasted H6684 and besought H1245 our God H430 for this: and he was intreated H6279 of us.
24 Then I separated H914 twelve H8147 H6240 of the chief H8269 of the priests, H3548 Sherebiah, H8274 Hashabiah, H2811 and ten H6235 of their brethren H251 with them,
25 And weighed H8254 unto them the silver, H3701 and the gold, H2091 and the vessels, H3627 even the offering H8641 of the house H1004 of our God, H430 which the king, H4428 and his counsellors, H3289 and his lords, H8269 and all Israel H3478 there present, H4672 had offered: H7311
26 I even weighed H8254 unto their hand H3027 six H8337 hundred H3967 and fifty H2572 talents H3603 of silver, H3701 and silver H3701 vessels H3627 an hundred H3967 talents, H3603 and of gold H2091 an hundred H3967 talents; H3603
27 Also twenty H6242 basons H3713 of gold, H2091 of a thousand H505 drams; H150 and two H8147 vessels H3627 of fine H2896 H6668 copper, H5178 precious H2532 as gold. H2091
28 And I said H559 unto them, Ye are holy H6944 unto the LORD; H3068 the vessels H3627 are holy H6944 also; and the silver H3701 and the gold H2091 are a freewill offering H5071 unto the LORD H3068 God H430 of your fathers. H1
29 Watch H8245 ye, and keep H8104 them, until ye weigh H8254 them before H6440 the chief H8269 of the priests H3548 and the Levites, H3881 and chief H8269 of the fathers H1 of Israel, H3478 at Jerusalem, H3389 in the chambers H3957 of the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
30 So took H6901 the priests H3548 and the Levites H3881 the weight H4948 of the silver, H3701 and the gold, H2091 and the vessels, H3627 to bring H935 them to Jerusalem H3389 unto the house H1004 of our God. H430
31 Then we departed H5265 from the river H5104 of Ahava H163 on the twelfth H8147 H6240 day of the first H7223 month, H2320 to go H3212 unto Jerusalem: H3389 and the hand H3027 of our God H430 was upon us, and he delivered H5337 us from the hand H3709 of the enemy, H341 and of such as lay in wait H693 by the way. H1870
32 And we came H935 to Jerusalem, H3389 and abode H3427 there three H7969 days. H3117
33 Now on the fourth H7243 day H3117 was the silver H3701 and the gold H2091 and the vessels H3627 weighed H8254 in the house H1004 of our God H430 by the hand H3027 of Meremoth H4822 the son H1121 of Uriah H223 the priest; H3548 and with him was Eleazar H499 the son H1121 of Phinehas; H6372 and with them was Jozabad H3107 the son H1121 of Jeshua, H3442 and Noadiah H5129 the son H1121 of Binnui, H1131 Levites; H3881
34 By number H4557 and by weight H4948 of every one: and all the weight H4948 was written H3789 at that time. H6256
35 Also the children H1121 of those that had been carried away, H1473 which were come out H935 of the captivity, H7628 offered H7126 burnt offerings H5930 unto the God H430 of Israel, H3478 twelve H8147 H6240 bullocks H6499 for all Israel, H3478 ninety H8673 and six H8337 rams, H352 seventy H7657 and seven H7651 lambs, H3532 twelve H8147 H6240 he goats H6842 for a sin offering: H2403 all this was a burnt offering H5930 unto the LORD. H3068
36 And they delivered H5414 the king's H4428 commissions H1881 unto the king's H4428 lieutenants, H323 and to the governors H6346 on this side H5676 the river: H5104 and they furthered H5375 the people, H5971 and the house H1004 of God. H430
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezra 8
Commentary on Ezra 8 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 8
Ezr 8:1-14. Ezra's Companions from Babylon.
1. this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon—The number given here amounts to 1754. But this is the register of adult males only, and as there were women and children also (Ezr 8:21), the whole caravan may be considered as comprising between six thousand and seven thousand.
Ezr 8:15-20. He Sends to Iddo for Ministers for the Temple Service.
15. I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava—This river has not been ascertained. It is probable that the Ahava was one of the streams or numerous canals of Mesopotamia communicating with the Euphrates [Cyclopædia of Biblical Literature]. But it was certainly in Babylonia on the banks of that stream; and perhaps the place appointed for general rendezvous was in the neighborhood of a town of the same name. The emigrants encamped there for three days, according to Oriental custom, while the preparations for the departure were being completed and Ezra was arranging the order of the caravan.
I … found there none of the sons of Levi—that is, the ordinary Levites. Notwithstanding the privilege of exemption from all taxes granted to persons engaged in the temple service, none of the Levitical tribes were induced to join the settlement in Jerusalem; and it was even not without difficulty Ezra persuaded some of the priestly families to accompany him.
16-20. then sent I for Eliezer … with commandment unto Iddo the chief—Ezra sent this deputation, either by virtue of authority which by his priestly character he had over the Levites, or of the royal commission with which he was invested. The deputation was despatched to Iddo, who was a prince or chief of the Nethinims—for the Persian government allowed the Hebrews during their exile to retain their ecclesiastical government by their own chiefs, as well as to enjoy the privilege of free worship. Iddo's influence procured and brought to the camp at Ahava thirty-eight Levites, and two hundred twenty Nethinims, the descendants of the Gibeonites, who performed the servile duties of the temple.
Ezr 8:21-36. A Fast Proclaimed.
21. Then I proclaimed a fast there—The dangers to travelling caravans from the Bedouin Arabs that prowl through the desert were in ancient times as great as they still are; and it seems that travellers 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. 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 safety during the whole way.
24-32. Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests … and weighed unto them the silver, &c.—The custody of the contributions and of the sacred vessels was, during the journey, committed to twelve of the chief priests, who, with the assistance of ten of their brethren, were to watch closely over them by the way, and deliver them into the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. The treasures in silver and gold, according to the value of the Babylonian talent, amounted to about £515,000 sterling.
27. two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold—Almost all commentators agree in maintaining that the vessels referred to were not made of copper, but of an alloy capable of taking on a bright polish, which we think highly probable, as copper was then in common use among the Babylonians, and would not be as precious as gold. This alloy, much esteemed among the Jews, was composed of gold and other metals, which took on a high polish and was not subject to tarnish [Noyes].
31. 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 marvellous 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 cupidity of the marauding, plundering tribes of the desert—to accomplish a journey so long and so arduous in perfect safety, is one of the most astonishing events recorded in history. Nothing but the vigilant care of a superintending Providence could have brought them securely to their destination.
33-36. Now on the fourth day was the silver … weighed in the house of our God—The first three days after their arrival in Jerusalem were undoubtedly given to repose; on the next, the treasures were weighed and handed over to the custody of the officiating priests of the temple. The returned exiles offered burnt offerings, and Ezra delivered the royal commission to the satraps and inferior magistrates; while the Levitical portion of them lent all the assistance they could in performing the additional work which the arrival of so many new worshippers occasioned.