_NOW AFTER THESE THINGS, IN THE REIGN OF ARTAXERXES KING OF PERSIA, EZRA THE SON OF SERAIAH, THE SON OF AZARIAH, THE SON OF HILKIAH,_ In the reign of Artaxerxes - i:e., him who was surnamed Longimanus. An interval of 50 years intervenes between the close of the last chapter and this; i:e., between... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE SON OF SHALLUM, THE SON OF ZADOK, THE SON OF AHITUB,_ NO JFB COMMENTARY ON THESE VERSES.... [ Continue Reading ]
_THIS EZRA WENT UP FROM BABYLON; AND HE WAS A READY SCRIBE IN THE LAW OF MOSES, WHICH THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL HAD GIVEN: AND THE KING GRANTED HIM ALL HIS REQUEST, ACCORDING TO THE HAND OF THE LORD HIS GOD UPON HIM._ This Ezra ... was a ready scribe in the law of Moses. The term "scribe" does not mea... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THERE WENT UP SOME OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND OF THE PRIESTS, AND THE LEVITES, AND THE SINGERS, AND THE PORTERS, AND THE NETHINIMS, UNTO JERUSALEM, IN THE SEVENTH YEAR OF ARTAXERXES THE KING._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND HE CAME TO JERUSALEM IN THE FIFTH MONTH, WHICH WAS IN THE SEVENTH YEAR OF THE KING._ CAME TO JERUSALEM IN THE FIFTH MONTH - i:e., corresponding to the end of our July or beginning of our August. Since he left Babylon on New Year's Day (Ezra 7:9), the journey must have occupied not less than fou... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH BEGAN HE TO GO UP FROM BABYLON, AND ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE FIFTH MONTH CAME HE TO JERUSALEM, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD HAND OF HIS GOD UPON HIM._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR EZRA HAD PREPARED HIS HEART TO SEEK THE LAW OF THE LORD, AND TO DO IT, AND TO TEACH IN ISRAEL STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS._ Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord ... His reigning desire had been to study the divine law, its principles, institutions, privileges, and requirements; a... [ Continue Reading ]
_NOW THIS IS THE COPY OF THE LETTER THAT THE KING ARTAXERXES GAVE UNTO EZRA THE PRIEST, THE SCRIBE, EVEN A SCRIBE OF THE WORDS OF THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD, AND OF HIS STATUTES TO ISRAEL._ This is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave. The measure which this document authorized, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_ARTAXERXES, KING OF KINGS, UNTO EZRA THE PRIEST, A SCRIBE OF THE LAW OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN, PERFECT PEACE, AND AT SUCH A TIME._ Artaxerxes, king of kings. That title might have been assumed as, with literal truth, applicable to him, since many of the tributary princes of his empire still retained t... [ Continue Reading ]
_I MAKE A DECREE, THAT ALL THEY OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, AND OF HIS PRIESTS AND LEVITES, IN MY REALM, WHICH ARE MINDED OF THEIR OWN FREEWILL TO GO UP TO JERUSALEM, GO WITH THEE._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_FORASMUCH AS THOU ART SENT OF THE KING, AND OF HIS SEVEN COUNSELLORS, TO INQUIRE CONCERNING JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF THY GOD WHICH IS IN THINE HAND;_ Sent of the king, and of his seven counselors. This was the fixed number of the privy council of the king of Persia (see the not... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND TO CARRY THE SILVER AND GOLD, WHICH THE KING AND HIS COUNSELLORS HAVE FREELY OFFERED UNTO THE GOD OF ISRAEL, WHOSE HABITATION IS IN JERUSALEM,_ No JFB commentary on these verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
_UNTO AN HUNDRED TALENTS OF SILVER, AND TO AN HUNDRED MEASURES OF WHEAT, AND TO AN HUNDRED BATHS OF WINE, AND TO AN HUNDRED BATHS OF OIL, AND SALT WITHOUT PRESCRIBING HOW MUCH._ An hundred talents of silver - 22,000 British pounds, according to the rate of the silver talent of Babylon. Fourthly, Ar... [ Continue Reading ]
_WHATSOEVER IS COMMANDED BY THE GOD OF HEAVEN, LET IT BE DILIGENTLY DONE FOR THE HOUSE OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN: FOR WHY SHOULD THERE BE WRATH AGAINST THE REALM OF THE KING AND HIS SONS?_ NO JFB COMMENTARY ON THESE VERSES.... [ Continue Reading ]
_BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD OF OUR FATHERS, WHICH HATH PUT SUCH A THING AS THIS IN THE KING'S HEART, TO BEAUTIFY THE HOUSE OF THE LORD WHICH IS IN JERUSALEM:_ Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers. This devout thanksgiving is in unison with the whole character of Ezra, who discerns the hand of God in... [ Continue Reading ]