Ezra 1:6

And allthey that were about them R.V. round about them. A general expression which would include both the heathen neighbours, alluded to (in Ezra 1:3) by the edict, and the Jewish neighbours, not contemplated in the edict, who preferred to remain in the land of the Captivity.

strengthened their hands The use of this expression differs slightly in the grammar of the original from such passages as Nehemiah 2:18, -So they strengthened their hands for the good work"; Jeremiah 23:14, -they strengthen the hands of evil doers". In those passages the idea is simply that of -invigorating" and -adding strength". Here the employment of a preposition introduces a shade of variety into the metaphor. The idea is that of -grasping", -laying firm hold on the hand with the view of strengthening or supporting". The Jews who sought to return were like a convalescent essaying to walk and needing assistance. Cf. Isaiah 51:18, -There is none that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up".

vessels of silver, with gold we should expect -with vessels of gold", cf. Ezra 1:9.

with goods see Ezra 1:4.

and with precious things A rare word in the original, -migdânoth". It occurs in 2 Chronicles 21:3 = A.V. and R.V. precious things, 2 Chronicles 32:23 = A.V. presents, R.V. precious things. And in a well-known passage, Genesis 24:53 = A.V. and R.V. precious things. The Latin here -in supellectili" is a mere guess. The LXX. rendering - ἐν ξενίοις " = with gifts agrees with their rendering δῶρα in Gen., and δόματα in 2 Chronicles 32. In 2 Chronicles 21:3 they render by ὅπλα.

beside allthat was willingly offered i.e. these gifts were over and above the free-will offerings. The clause in the original is peculiar, -beside over and above all onewillingly offered". The relative is omitted as in Ezra 1:4, but is implied in -all". The verb is active in meaning (cf. Ezra 2:68; Ezra 3:5) and is here used impersonally.