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Ezra 8:20 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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

Cross Reference

Ezra 2:43 STRONG

The Nethinims: H5411 the children H1121 of Ziha, H6727 the children H1121 of Hasupha, H2817 the children H1121 of Tabbaoth, H2884

Ezra 7:7 STRONG

And there went up H5927 some of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and of the priests, H3548 and the Levites, H3881 and the singers, H7891 and the porters, H7778 and the Nethinims, H5411 unto Jerusalem, H3389 in the seventh H7651 year H8141 of Artaxerxes H783 the king. H4428

1 Chronicles 9:2 STRONG

Now the first H7223 inhabitants H3427 that dwelt in their possessions H272 in their cities H5892 were, the Israelites, H3478 the priests, H3548 Levites, H3881 and the Nethinims. H5411

Ezra 8:17 STRONG

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

Philippians 4:3 STRONG

And G2532 I intreat G2065 thee G4571 also, G2532 true G1103 yokefellow, G4805 help G4815 those women G846 which G3748 laboured G4866 with me G3427 in G1722 the gospel, G2098 with G3326 Clement G2815 also, G2532 and G2532 with other G3062 my G3450 fellowlabourers, G4904 whose G3739 names G3686 are in G1722 the book G976 of life. G2222

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.