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, Ver. 1. _Now after these things_] After that Zerubbabel had done his part in building the altar and temple, Ezra (according to the notation of his name) began his, and... [ Continue Reading ]
The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, Ver. 2. _The son of Shallum_] See 1 Chronicles 6:7,10. Of those two Books of Chronicles this same Ezra is held to be the penman: and it is not improbable.... [ Continue Reading ]
The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, Ver. 3. _The son of Meraioth_] Here is a great leap: six of Ezra's ancestors (likely for brevity sake) being overskipped.... [ Continue Reading ]
The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, Ver. 4. _The son of Zerahiah, &c._] These might be (as one saith of Jesse the father of David) _Viri boni et honesti, minus tamen clari,_ good men, but obscure.... [ Continue Reading ]
The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest: Ver. 5. _The son of Aaron the chief priest_] Ezra then was _ex genere pontificio_ (as those, Act 4:5) _non tamen pontifex._ The title of chief priest is never given unto him.... [ 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. Ver. 6. _This Ezra went up from Babylon_] Together with many others, who were moved... [ 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._ Ver. 7. _And there went up some of the children of Israel_] And but some; for many chose rather... [ Continue Reading ]
And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which [was] in the seventh year of the king. Ver. 8. _And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month_] So that they were four months in coming; and that which upheld them was, that they should shortly see the face of God in Zion, Psalms 84:7. Popish pilgrim... [ 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. Ver. 9. _According to the good hand of his God upon him_] _See Trapp on "_ Ezr 7:6 _"_ In all thy ways acknowle... [ 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. Ver. 10. _For Ezra had prepared his heart_] Which, without due preparation, would not have been drawn to any good. See 1Sa 7:3 Job 11:13 Amos 4:12. An instrument must be tuned... [ 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. Ver. 11. _Even a scribe of the words of the commandments_] This showeth Ezra was not an ordinary scribe ... [ 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. Ver. 12. _Artaxerxes, king of kings_] This is a very high style for any mortal wight; yet ambitiously assumed by monarchs and emperors. It is indeed the proper title of Je... [ 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. Ver. 13. _And of his priests_] _sc._ The God of heaven's priests, Ezra 7:12, and therefore honoured and respected by thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which [is] in thine hand; Ver. 14. _And of his seven counsellors_] Without whom the king did nothing of moment. This king was better affected to his counc... [ 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, Ver. 15. _Which the king and his counsellors have freely offered_] This king, as he had been well bred by his mother, Queen Esther, so he had likely b... [ Continue Reading ]
And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which [is] in Jerusalem: Ver. 16. _And all the silver and gold that thou canst find_] And gold thirsty Babylon... [ Continue Reading ]
That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which [is] in Jerusalem. Ver. 17. _That thou mayest buy speedily_] _Illico._ immediately, God is himself a pure act, and h... [ Continue Reading ]
And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God. Ver. 18. _And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, &c._] The king knew them to be faithful and wise stewards (such as Hanani was, Neh 7:2), and, therefore,... [ Continue Reading ]
The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, [those] deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem. Ver. 19. _The vessels also, &c._] How naturally seemeth this king to care for the service of God! and what pity is it that he should so oft call him your God, and thy God,... [ Continue Reading ]
And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow [it] out of the king's treasure house. Ver. 20. _And whatsoever more, &c._] What could this king say more to seal up his good affection to the work in hand? Shall not this liberal heathen... [ Continue Reading ]
And I, [even] I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which [are] beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, Ver. 21. _Let it be done speedily_] Without shucking and bucking, without... [ 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]. Ver. 22. _Unto an hundred talents of silver_] This was no small sum. How chargeable was the service of God heretofore to... [ 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? Ver. 23. _For why should there be wrath_] Heb. Boiling or foaming anger, great indignation, as it is rendered, and ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them. Ver. 24. _And also we certify you, that touching any of the priests_] These he taketh special orde... [ Continue Reading ]
And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that [is] in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that [are] beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know [them] not. Ver. 25. _And thou, Ezra_] _Qui monet ut facias,_ who warned yo... [ Continue Reading ]
And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether [it be] unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. Ver. 26. _And whosoever will not do the law of thy God_] In the first place, and then the... [ 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: Ver. 27. _Blessed be the Lord God_] _Deo gratias_ to the God of graces, is ever in a good man's mouth. The Jews at this day are bound to sa... [ Continue Reading ]
And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God [was] upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. Ver. 28. _And hath extended mercy unto me_] _sc._ By... [ Continue Reading ]