Ezra 1:1
By the first year of Cyrus is to be understood the first year of his sovereignty over the Jews, or 538 B.C.... [ Continue Reading ]
By the first year of Cyrus is to be understood the first year of his sovereignty over the Jews, or 538 B.C.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN - Or, “Yahweh, the God of heaven.” In the original Persian, the document probably ran - “ Ormazd, the God of heaven.” The Hebrew transcript took “Yahweh” as the equivalent of “Ormazd.” The Persian notion of a single Supreme Being - Ahura-Mazda, “the much-knowing, or much-besto... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE MEN OF HIS PLACE HELP HIM - i. e., “Let the pagan population help him” (see Ezra 1:6). THE FREEWILL OFFERING - Probably that made by Cyrus himself Ezra 1:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
Only a portion of the Israelites took advantage of the permission of Cyrus. Many remained in Babylon, since they were disinclined to relinquish their property. They who returned were persons whom God had especially stirred up to make sacrifices for His glory.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOUSE OF HIS GODS - Rather, “of his god” Daniel 1:2, i. e., Merodach, “his lord” (see 2 Chronicles 36:7 note).... [ Continue Reading ]
MITHREDATH - Or, “Mithridates.” The occurrence of this name, which means “given by Mithra” or “dedicated to Mithra,” is an indication that the sun-worship of the Persians was at least as old as the time of Cyrus. SHESHBAZZAR - i. e., Zerubbabel. On his royal descent, see 1 Chronicles 3:19 note.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHARGERS - The word in the original thus translated occurs only in this passage. Its meaning is doubtful. Some derive it from a Hebrew root, “to hollow out,” and translate “cup” or “vessel.” KNIVES - This is another doubtful word, only used here. The etymology points to some employment of basket-wo... [ Continue Reading ]
The sum of the numbers as they stand in the present Hebrew text is 2,499, instead of 5,400. In the Apocryphal Book of Esdras the sum given is 5,469, and with this sum the items in that place exactly agree (1 Esdras 2:13, 14). Most commentators propose to correct Ezra by the passage of Esdras; but th... [ Continue Reading ]