Ezra 7:1-10. A brief Summary of Events 1 5. Ezra's Genealogy _Now after these things_ An interval of 58 years is passed over in silence (516 458). One allusion has already been made to the reign of Xerxes (ch. Ezra 4:6). But with this exception the Compiler apparently found nothing to record of his... [ Continue Reading ]
_Phinehas, the son of Eleazar_ his religious zeal (Numbers 25:7-11) was celebrated in the records and songs of Israel (Psalms 106:30). As High-priest he appears probably on two occasions Joshua 22:13; Joshua 22:30; Joshua 22:32; Judges 20:28. _Aaron the chief priest_ Literally the -head-priest" (hak... [ Continue Reading ]
Arrival at Jerusalem 6. _went up from Babylon_ i.e. to Jerusalem, cf. Ezra 1:11; Ezra 2:1. It will be observed that this description of Ezra is given in the 3rd person. At Ezra 7:27 there is a change to the 1st person. _and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses_ Cf. Ezra 7:10; Ezra 7:12. -the... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there went up_some _of the children of Israel_ FOR "some of" compare Ezra 2:70. some _of the children of Israel_ i.e. a portion of the lay element of the Jewish community at Babylon, mainly of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, cf. Ezra 2:2 -the men of the people of Israel". The division into... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he came_ This verse resumes Ezra 7:6. -He came" at the same time with those enumerated in Ezra 7:7. The importance of this journey to Jerusalem centres in Ezra. _the fifth month_ This was the month Ab, the Assyrian Abu, corresponding roughly with our -August".... [ Continue Reading ]
_began he to go up_ R.V. marg. Heb. _that was the foundation of the going up_. The R.V. and A.V. paraphrase the words. The Hebrew text is intelligible; but (1) the word as here vocalized is very unusual, (2) the metaphor is ponderous and awkward, (3) the construction, shown in a literal translation... [ Continue Reading ]
_For Ezra had prepared_(R.V. SET) _his heart_&c. The precise meaning of the -for" which determines the connexion of the verse, is not very evident. The verse _either_explains the preceding clause and attributes God's favour towards Ezra during the journey to the latter's devotion to the Divine Law,... [ Continue Reading ]
Artaxerxes" Commission to Ezra 11. _Now_ Cf. Ezra 7:1. This verse serves as a brief introduction. _the copy of the letter_ See on Ezra 4:7; Ezra 4:11; Ezra 4:23. _Ezra the priest, the scribe_ See note on Ezra 7:1-5 for Ezra's priestly lineage. He is called -the priest" ch. Ezra 10:10; Ezra 10:16;... [ Continue Reading ]
_king of kings_ title common in inscriptions of Persian monarchs. (Cf. of Nebuchadnezzar, Ezekiel 26:7; Daniel 2:37.) No mere hyperbole, when the great empire included so many subject kingdoms. _a scribe_ R.V. THE SCRIBE. _the God of heaven_ See note on Ezra 1:2. _perfect_peace, _and at such a tim... [ Continue Reading ]
The contents of the letter are given in Aramaic.... [ Continue Reading ]
Permission to Jews to return with Ezra to Jerusalem. _I make a decree_ The same phrase as in Ezra 4:19; Ezra 6:8; Ezra 6:11. _all they of the people of Israel_ Cf. Cyrus's decree Ezra 1:3 -Whosoever there is among all his people". Here, by the side of -the priests and Levites", the expression, as... [ Continue Reading ]
Object of the commission: (_a_) to investigate. _of the king, and of his seven counsellers_ R.V. marg. Aram. - _from before the king_". -The counsellers" are mentioned again Ezra 7:15; Ezra 7:28. -The seven" here spoken of should be compared with -the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw t... [ Continue Reading ]
(_b_) To carry (i) the gifts of the king and his council. _to carry_ The LXX. mistaking two very similar letters (reading כ for ב) render εἰς οἶκον κυρίου. _whose habitation_is _in Jerusalem_ i.e. whose temple is in Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
(ii) The gifts of the king's subjects in Babylon, (iii) freewill offerings of Jewish priests and people. _that thou canst find_ R.V. THAT THOU SHALT FIND. Permission is granted to Ezra to ask for contributions from the people of the province of Babylon. Many would be ready to assist the Jews who ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Purpose of the gifts and offerings: (i) sacrifices. _that thou mayest buy speedily_ R.V. THEREFORE THOU SHALT BUY WITH ALL DILIGENCE; -therefore", i.e. because of the gifts received from the crown, the Babylonians and the Jews. -with all diligence", see note on Ezra 5:8. The sacrifices here mentio... [ Continue Reading ]
(ii) General purposes. that _do after the will of your God_ R.V. THAT DO YE AFTER &c. The command is given to Ezra and his brethren, i.e. the priests. They who disposed of the money expended upon the sacrifices, were to determine as to the disposition of the remainder. _the will of your God_ with... [ Continue Reading ]
_The vessels also_… those] R.V. AND THE VESSELS. The vessels here mentioned are probably those enumerated chap. Ezra 8:25-27, gifts (ἀναθήματα) to the Temple from the king and from individuals. Quite separate from the sacred vessels (Ezra 1:7) restored by Cyrus. _for the service of_&c. A word occur... [ Continue Reading ]
Permission to draw, for further expenditure, upon the king's treasury, i. e. upon the sums in the local treasury, which the satrap paid annually out of the tribute money into the king's treasury at Susa or Ecbatana. _out of the king's treasure house_ See note on Ezra 6:8 -of the king's goods even o... [ Continue Reading ]
Credit to Ezra to be granted on local treasuries W. of the Euphrates. Limit of credit stated in Ezra 7:22. _treasurers_ Officials to be found in each satrapy and province, (LXX. ταῖς γάζαις. Vulg. -custodibus arcæ publicæ"). On -gizbar" a treasurer cf. Ezra 1:8. _beyond the river_ i.e. this decree... [ Continue Reading ]
_unto an hundred talents_of _silver_ or £37, 500. Money reckoned by weight. A -kikkar" or talent of silver was of value about £375. A talent contained 60 manim or 3000 shekels, cf. on Ezra 2:69. _an hundred measures_of _wheat_ The -measure" or -cor", equivalent to 8 bushels or 1 quarter. We learn f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whatsoever_is _commanded_&c. literally, "Whatsoever is from the commandment", same word as in Ezra 6:14. _let it be diligently done_ R.V. LET IT BE DONE EXACTLY. The word in the original -adrazda", occurs only here; if, as is very probable, of Babylonian origin, it will mean "strenuously", being c... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nethinims_ R.V. NETHINIM, cf. Ezra 2:43. _ministers_ R.V. SERVANTS. The word in the original connected with that rendered "service" (Ezra 7:19). The expression "or servants" would cover any other branch (e.g. Solomon's servants, Ezra 2:55) of attendants on the Temple. _toll, tribute, or custom_ R... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezra again addressed, empowered to appoint judges for Jews in the country W. of the Euphrates and to inflict penalties for the violation of the law. _after the wisdom of God, that_is _in thine hand_ cf. Ezra 7:14, -the law of by God which is in thy hand". Law in its obligation, wisdom in its spirit... [ Continue Reading ]
Penalty for Contumacy. _whosoever will not do_ i.e. whoever of the Israelite race or of those that had attached themselves to the Jewish religion. _speedily_ R.V. WITH ALL DILIGENCE. _death … banishment … confiscation … imprisonment_ The king hands over to Ezra plenary powers of punishment. _ban... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed_be _the Lord God of our fathers_ R.V. BLESSED BE THE LORD, THE GOD OF OUR FATHERS. A similar phrase occurs in Ezra 8:28; Ezra 10:11. We find it elsewhere in 1 Chronicles 29:18; 2 Chronicles 20:6. Cf. Acts 3:13. The thanksgiving of Ezra relates to the blessing which had been vouchsafed not... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezra's Thanksgiving Abrupt transition from the letter of Artaxerxes to Ezra's thanks giving. Compare chap. Ezra 6:8, the transition from the quotation of Cyrus's decree to the words of Darius. These two verses contain Ezra's outburst of praise to God for the favours conceded by Darius. The Hebrew... [ Continue Reading ]
_hath extended mercy unto me_ First usage of the 1st person, which continues to close of chap. 9. -Hath extended mercy", cf. Ezra 9:9; Genesis 39:21. _his counsellers_ see on Ezra 7:14. _as the hand … was upon_ R.V. ACCORDING TO THE HAND: see on Ezra 7:6. _out of Israel_ i.e. of the laity, cf. Ez... [ Continue Reading ]