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
And the LORD H3068 called H7121 unto Moses, H4872 and spake H1696 unto him out of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 saying, H559 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto them, If any man H120 of you bring H7126 an offering H7133 unto the LORD, H3068 ye shall bring H7126 your offering H7133 of the cattle, H929 even of the herd, H1241 and of the flock. H6629 If his offering H7133 be a burnt sacrifice H5930 of the herd, H1241 let him offer H7126 a male H2145 without blemish: H8549 he shall offer H7126 it of his own voluntary will H7522 at the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation H4150 before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And he shall put H5564 his hand H3027 upon the head H7218 of the burnt offering; H5930 and it shall be accepted H7521 for him to make atonement H3722 for him. And he shall kill H7819 the bullock H1121 H1241 before H6440 the LORD: H3068 and the priests, H3548 Aaron's H175 sons, H1121 shall bring H7126 the blood, H1818 and sprinkle H2236 the blood H1818 round about H5439 upon the altar H4196 that is by the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation. H4150 And he shall flay H6584 the burnt offering, H5930 and cut H5408 it into his pieces. H5409 And the sons H1121 of Aaron H175 the priest H3548 shall put H5414 fire H784 upon the altar, H4196 and lay the wood H6086 in order H6186 upon the fire: H784
Then Hezekiah H3169 answered H6030 and said, H559 Now ye have consecrated H4390 H3027 yourselves unto the LORD, H3068 come near H5066 and bring H935 sacrifices H2077 and thank offerings H8426 into the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 And the congregation H6951 brought in H935 sacrifices H2077 and thank offerings; H8426 and as many as were of a free H5081 heart H3820 burnt offerings. H5930 And the number H4557 of the burnt offerings, H5930 which the congregation H6951 brought, H935 was threescore and ten H7657 bullocks, H1241 an hundred H3967 rams, H352 and two hundred H3967 lambs: H3532 all these were for a burnt offering H5930 to the LORD. H3068
For thou, O God, H430 hast proved H974 us: thou hast tried H6884 us, as silver H3701 is tried. H6884 Thou broughtest H935 us into the net; H4686 thou laidst H7760 affliction H4157 upon our loins. H4975 Thou hast caused men H582 to ride H7392 over our heads; H7218 we went H935 through fire H784 and through water: H4325 but thou broughtest us out H3318 into a wealthy H7310 place. I will go H935 into thy house H1004 with burnt offerings: H5930 I will pay H7999 thee my vows, H5088 Which my lips H8193 have uttered, H6475 and my mouth H6310 hath spoken, H1696 when I was in trouble. H6862 I will offer H5927 unto thee burnt sacrifices H5930 of fatlings, H4220 with the incense H7004 of rams; H352 I will offer H6213 bullocks H1241 with goats. H6260 Selah. H5542
What shall I render H7725 unto the LORD H3068 for all his benefits H8408 toward me? I will take H5375 the cup H3563 of salvation, H3444 and call H7121 upon the name H8034 of the LORD. H3068 I will pay H7999 my vows H5088 unto the LORD H3068 now in the presence of all his people. H5971 Precious H3368 in the sight H5869 of the LORD H3068 is the death H4194 of his saints. H2623 O LORD, H3068 truly H577 I am thy servant; H5650 I am thy servant, H5650 and the son H1121 of thine handmaid: H519 thou hast loosed H6605 my bonds. H4147 I will offer H2076 to thee the sacrifice H2077 of thanksgiving, H8426 and will call H7121 upon the name H8034 of the LORD. H3068 I will pay H7999 my vows H5088 unto the LORD H3068 now in the presence of all his people, H5971 In the courts H2691 of the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 in the midst H8432 of thee, O Jerusalem. H3389 Praise H1984 ye the LORD. H3050
That he would grant G1325 unto us, G2254 that we being delivered G4506 out of G1537 the hand G5495 of our G2257 enemies G2190 might serve G3000 him G846 without fear, G870 In G1722 holiness G3742 and G2532 righteousness G1343 before G1799 him, G846 all G3956 the days G2250 of our G2257 life. G2222
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.