_Things, sixty-eight years after the journey of Zorobabel. (Calmet) --- Salien adds ten years more. (Haydock) --- Artaxerxes Longimanus. (Menochius) (Tirinus) --- Son, or great grandson of Saraias, who had been slain 121 years. Esdras was still living, in the days of Nehemias. Many persons are omitt... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beginning of the Jewish republic._... [ Continue Reading ]
Went up, a second time, 2 Esdras xii. 1. (Worthington) --- Ready. Hebrew mahir, "diligent," &c. (Haydock) --- Scribe, not so much noted for his skill in writing fast, or drawing up deeds, as for his knowledge of the divine law. (Calmet) --- The gospel sometimes gives the title of scribe to the docto... [ Continue Reading ]
_Month. Thus four entire months were spent on the journey, as they did not go the shortest way, and had much baggage, &c. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Heart. Thinking continually (Menochius) how he might keep the law himself, and direct others. (Haydock) --- It would be well if all would thus teach by example, like Jesus Christ, who began to do and then to teach. (Haydock) --- Judgment. Both these terms express the same thing. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of the edict, is a farther explanation of the letter. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kings. This title was placed on the tomb of Cyrus, (Strabo xv.) and denoted a very powerful king. Artaxerxes had many tributaries in Media, Sidon, &c. The kings of Assyria had before assumed such pompous titles, Osee viii. 10. (Calmet) --- The most learned, comes later in the original Chaldean. (Ha... [ Continue Reading ]
_Counsellors. Interpreters of the laws. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] xi. 6.) --- The number seems to have been established at the courts of the Assyrian and Chaldean monarchs, Tobias xii. 15. We find their names, Esther i. 10, 14. The history of this queen happened in the reign of Darius Hystaspes. (Ca... [ Continue Reading ]
_Babylon, which the Chaldeans may freely give. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_By me. Hebrew, "to spend, take it out of the king's treasure-house." Septuagint adds, "and from me."_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER VII. _ Salt was used in all the sacrifices, Leviticus ii. 13. In 3 Esdras no mention is made of oil or salt; but we read, "and all other things in abundance."_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nathinites. 3 Esdras, "sacred slaves." (Haydock) --- Artaxerxes confirms the immunities granted by the law of God, (Numbers iii. 6, 12,) by the kings of Egypt, (Genesis xlvii. 22,) and by all nations to the ministers of religion. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_River. 3 Esdras, "In all Syria and Phenicia." (Haydock) --- Hitherto, it seems, the royal judges had decided all affairs of consequence, which required any public chastisement._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Banishment. Hebrew literally, "eradication" by death or exile, (Calmet) or by being cut off from all society, chap. x. 8. (De Dieu) --- Septuagint, "correction." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed. Here the author beings to write again in Hebrew and in the following verse, Esdras speaks in [the first] person. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]