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
Speak H1696 unto Aaron H175 and to his sons, H1121 that they separate H5144 themselves from the holy things H6944 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and that they profane H2490 not my holy H6944 name H8034 in those things which they hallow H6942 unto me: I am the LORD. H3068 Say H559 unto them, Whosoever H376 he be of all your seed H2233 among your generations, H1755 that goeth H7126 unto the holy things, H6944 which the children H1121 of Israel H3478 hallow H6942 unto the LORD, H3068 having his uncleanness H2932 upon him, that soul H5315 shall be cut off H3772 from my presence: H6440 I am the LORD. H3068
They shall be holy H6944 unto their God, H430 and not profane H2490 the name H8034 of their God: H430 for the offerings H801 of the LORD H3068 made by fire, H801 and the bread H3899 of their God, H430 they do offer: H7126 therefore they shall be holy. H6918 They shall not take H3947 a wife H802 that is a whore, H2181 or profane; H2491 neither shall they take H3947 a woman H802 put away H1644 from her husband: H376 for he is holy H6918 unto his God. H430 Thou shalt sanctify H6942 him therefore; for he offereth H7126 the bread H3899 of thy God: H430 he shall be holy H6918 unto thee: for I the LORD, H3068 which sanctify H6942 you, am holy. H6918
This shall be the service H5656 of the sons H1121 of Kohath H6955 in the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 about the most H6944 holy things: H6944 And when the camp H4264 setteth forward, H5265 Aaron H175 shall come, H935 and his sons, H1121 and they shall take down H3381 the covering H4539 vail, H6532 and cover H3680 the ark H727 of testimony H5715 with it: And shall put H5414 thereon the covering H3681 of badgers' H8476 skins, H5785 and shall spread H6566 over H4605 it a cloth H899 wholly H3632 of blue, H8504 and shall put H7760 in the staves H905 thereof. And upon the table H7979 of shewbread H6440 they shall spread H6566 a cloth H899 of blue, H8504 and put H5414 thereon the dishes, H7086 and the spoons, H3709 and the bowls, H4518 and covers H7184 to cover withal: H5262 and the continual H8548 bread H3899 shall be thereon: And they shall spread H6566 upon them a cloth H899 of scarlet, H8438 H8144 and cover H3680 the same with a covering H4372 of badgers' H8476 skins, H5785 and shall put H7760 in the staves H905 thereof. And they shall take H3947 a cloth H899 of blue, H8504 and cover H3680 the candlestick H4501 of the light, H3974 and his lamps, H5216 and his tongs, H4457 and his snuffdishes, H4289 and all the oil H8081 vessels H3627 thereof, wherewith they minister H8334 unto it: And they shall put H5414 it and all the vessels H3627 thereof within a covering H4372 of badgers' H8476 skins, H5785 and shall put H5414 it upon a bar. H4132 And upon the golden H2091 altar H4196 they shall spread H6566 a cloth H899 of blue, H8504 and cover H3680 it with a covering H4372 of badgers' H8476 skins, H5785 and shall put H7760 to the staves H905 thereof: And they shall take H3947 all the instruments H3627 of ministry, H8335 wherewith they minister H8334 in the sanctuary, H6944 and put H5414 them in a cloth H899 of blue, H8504 and cover H3680 them with a covering H4372 of badgers' H8476 skins, H5785 and shall put H5414 them on a bar: H4132 And they shall take away the ashes H1878 from the altar, H4196 and spread H6566 a purple H713 cloth H899 thereon: And they shall put H5414 upon it all the vessels H3627 thereof, wherewith they minister H8334 about it, even the censers, H4289 the fleshhooks, H4207 and the shovels, H3257 and the basons, H4219 all the vessels H3627 of the altar; H4196 and they shall spread H6566 upon it a covering H3681 of badgers' H8476 skins, H5785 and put H7760 to the staves H905 of it. And when Aaron H175 and his sons H1121 have made an end H3615 of covering H3680 the sanctuary, H6944 and all the vessels H3627 of the sanctuary, H6944 as the camp H4264 is to set forward; H5265 after H310 that, the sons H1121 of Kohath H6955 shall come H935 to bear H5375 it: but they shall not touch H5060 any holy thing, H6944 lest they die. H4191 These things are the burden H4853 of the sons H1121 of Kohath H6955 in the tabernacle H168 of the congregation. H4150
But thus do H6213 unto them, that they may live, H2421 and not die, H4191 when they approach H5066 unto the most H6944 holy things: H6944 Aaron H175 and his sons H1121 shall go in, H935 and appoint H7760 them every H376 one H376 to his service H5656 and to his burden: H4853 But they shall not go in H935 to see H7200 when the holy things H6944 are covered, H1104 lest they die. H4191
And his offering H7133 was one H259 silver H3701 charger, H7086 the weight H4948 thereof was an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, one H259 silver H3701 bowl H4219 of seventy H7657 shekels, H8255 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary; H6944 both H8147 of them were full H4392 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering: H4503
This was the dedication H2598 of the altar, H4196 in the day H3117 when it was anointed, H4886 by the princes H5387 of Israel: H3478 twelve H6240 H8147 chargers H7086 of silver, H3701 twelve silver H3701 bowls, H4219 twelve H6240 H8147 spoons H3709 of gold: H2091 Each H259 charger H7086 of silver H3701 weighing an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, each H259 bowl H4219 seventy: H7657 all the silver H3701 vessels H3627 weighed two thousand H505 and four H702 hundred H3967 shekels, after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary: H6944 The golden H2091 spoons H3709 were twelve, H6240 H8147 full H4392 of incense, H7004 weighing ten H6235 shekels apiece, H3709 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary: H6944 all the gold H2091 of the spoons H3709 was an hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 shekels. All the oxen H1241 for the burnt offering H5930 were twelve H8147 H6240 bullocks, H6499 the rams H352 twelve, H8147 H6240 the lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 twelve, H8147 H6240 with their meat offering: H4503 and the kids H8163 of the goats H5795 for sin offering H2403 twelve. H8147 H6240 And all the oxen H1241 for the sacrifice H2077 of the peace offerings H8002 were twenty H6242 and four H702 bullocks, H6499 the rams H352 sixty, H8346 the he goats H6260 sixty, H8346 the lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 sixty. H8346 This was the dedication H2598 of the altar, H4196 after H310 that it was anointed. H4886
And of Levi H3878 he said, H559 Let thy Thummim H8550 and thy Urim H224 be with thy holy H2623 one, H376 whom thou didst prove H5254 at Massah, H4532 and with whom thou didst strive H7378 at the waters H4325 of Meribah; H4809
And Solomon H8010 made H6213 all the vessels H3627 that pertained unto the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068 the altar H4196 of gold, H2091 and the table H7979 of gold, H2091 whereupon the shewbread H3899 H6440 was, And the candlesticks H4501 of pure H5462 gold, H2091 five H2568 on the right H3225 side, and five H2568 on the left, H8040 before H6440 the oracle, H1687 with the flowers, H6525 and the lamps, H5216 and the tongs H4457 of gold, H2091 And the bowls, H5592 and the snuffers, H4212 and the basons, H4219 and the spoons, H3709 and the censers H4289 of pure H5462 gold; H2091 and the hinges H6596 of gold, H2091 both for the doors H1817 of the inner H6442 house, H1004 the most H6944 holy H6944 place, and for the doors H1817 of the house, H1004 to wit, of the temple. H1964 So was ended H7999 all the work H4399 that king H4428 Solomon H8010 made H6213 for the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 And Solomon H8010 brought in H935 the things which David H1732 his father H1 had dedicated; H6944 even the silver, H3701 and the gold, H2091 and the vessels, H3627 did he put H5414 among the treasures H214 of the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
Because their office H4612 was to wait H3027 on the sons H1121 of Aaron H175 for the service H5656 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 in the courts, H2691 and in the chambers, H3957 and in the purifying H2893 of all holy things, H6944 and the work H4639 of the service H5656 of the house H1004 of God; H430
And when they had finished H3615 it, they brought H935 the rest H7605 of the money H3701 before H6440 the king H4428 and Jehoiada, H3077 whereof were made H6213 vessels H3627 for the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 even vessels H3627 to minister, H8335 and to offer H5927 withal, and spoons, H3709 and vessels H3627 of gold H2091 and silver. H3701 And they offered H5927 burnt offerings H5930 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 continually H8548 all the days H3117 of Jehoiada. H3077
Also Cyrus H3566 the king H4428 brought forth H3318 the vessels H3627 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 which Nebuchadnezzar H5019 had brought forth H3318 out of Jerusalem, H3389 and had put H5414 them in the house H1004 of his gods; H430 Even those did Cyrus H3566 king H4428 of Persia H6539 bring forth H3318 by the hand H3027 of Mithredath H4990 the treasurer, H1489 and numbered H5608 them unto Sheshbazzar, H8339 the prince H5387 of Judah. H3063 And this is the number H4557 of them: thirty H7970 chargers H105 of gold, H2091 a thousand H505 chargers H105 of silver, H3701 nine H8672 and twenty H6242 knives, H4252 Thirty H7970 basons H3713 of gold, H2091 silver H3701 basons H3713 of a second H4932 sort four H702 hundred H3967 and ten, H6235 and other H312 vessels H3627 a thousand. H505 All the vessels H3627 of gold H2091 and of silver H3701 were five H2568 thousand H505 and four H702 hundred. H3967 All these did Sheshbazzar H8339 bring up H5927 with them of the captivity H1473 that were brought up H5927 from Babylon H894 unto Jerusalem. H3389
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.