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
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 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.
Fear H3372 thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; H8159 for I am thy God: H430 I will strengthen H553 thee; yea, I will help H5826 thee; yea, I will uphold H8551 thee with the right hand H3225 of my righteousness. H6664 Behold, all they that were incensed H2734 against thee shall be ashamed H954 and confounded: H3637 they shall be as nothing; and they H582 that strive H7379 with thee shall perish. H6 Thou shalt seek H1245 them, and shalt not find H4672 them, even them H582 that contended H4695 with thee: they that war H4421 against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. H657 For I the LORD H3068 thy God H430 will hold H2388 thy right hand, H3225 saying H559 unto thee, Fear H3372 not; I will help H5826 thee. Fear H3372 not, thou worm H8438 Jacob, H3290 and ye men H4962 of Israel; H3478 I will help H5826 thee, saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and thy redeemer, H1350 the Holy One H6918 of Israel. H3478
He shall deliver H5337 thee in six H8337 troubles: H6869 yea, in seven H7651 there shall no evil H7451 touch H5060 thee. In famine H7458 he shall redeem H6299 thee from death: H4194 and in war H4421 from the power H3027 of the sword. H2719 Thou shalt be hid H2244 from the scourge H7752 of the tongue: H3956 neither shalt thou be afraid H3372 of destruction H7701 when it cometh. H935 At destruction H7701 and famine H3720 thou shalt laugh: H7832 neither shalt thou be afraid H3372 of the beasts H2416 of the earth. H776 For thou shalt be in league H1285 with the stones H68 of the field: H7704 and the beasts H2416 of the field H7704 shall be at peace H7999 with thee. And thou shalt know H3045 that thy tabernacle H168 shall be in peace; H7965 and thou shalt visit H6485 thy habitation, H5116 and shalt not sin. H2398
Because thou hast made H7760 the LORD, H3068 which is my refuge, H4268 even the most High, H5945 thy habitation; H4583 There shall no evil H7451 befall H579 thee, neither shall any plague H5061 come nigh H7126 thy dwelling. H168 For he shall give his angels H4397 charge H6680 over thee, to keep H8104 thee in all thy ways. H1870 They shall bear thee up H5375 in their hands, H3709 lest thou dash H5062 thy foot H7272 against a stone. H68 Thou shalt tread H1869 upon the lion H7826 and adder: H6620 the young lion H3715 and the dragon H8577 shalt thou trample under feet. H7429 Because he hath set his love H2836 upon me, therefore will I deliver H6403 him: I will set him on high, H7682 because he hath known H3045 my name. H8034
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.