Ezra 8

Ezr 8:1-14.

EZRA'S

COMPANIONS FROM

BABYLON.

1. this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon--The

number given here amounts to 1754. But this is the register of adult

males only, and as there were women and children also

(Ezr 8:21),

the whole caravan may be considered as comprising between six thousand

and seven thousand.

Ezr 8:15-20.

HE

SENDS TO

IDDO FOR

MINISTERS FOR THE

TEMPLE

SERVICE.

15. I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava--This

river has not been ascertained. It is probable that the Ahava was one

of the streams or numerous canals of Mesopotamia communicating with the

Euphrates [Cyclopædia of Biblical Literature]. But it was certainly in

Babylonia on the banks of that stream; and perhaps the place appointed

for general rendezvous was in the neighborhood of a town of the same

name. The emigrants encamped there for three days, according to

Oriental custom, while the preparations for the departure were being

completed and Ezra was arranging the order of the caravan.

I . . . found there none of the sons of Levi--that is, the ordinary

Levites. Notwithstanding the privilege of exemption from all taxes

granted to persons engaged in the temple service, none of the Levitical

tribes were induced to join the settlement in Jerusalem; and it was

even not without difficulty Ezra persuaded some of the priestly

families to accompany him.

16-20. then sent I for Eliezer . . . with commandment unto Iddo the

chief--Ezra sent this deputation, either by virtue of authority which

commission with which he was invested. The deputation was despatched to

Iddo, who was a prince or chief of the Nethinims--for the Persian

government allowed the Hebrews during their exile to retain their

ecclesiastical government by their own chiefs, as well as to enjoy the

privilege of free worship. Iddo's influence procured and brought to the

camp at Ahava thirty-eight Levites, and two hundred twenty Nethinims,

the descendants of the Gibeonites, who performed the servile duties of

the temple.

Ezr 8:21-36.

A

FAST

PROCLAIMED.

21. Then I proclaimed a fast there--The dangers to travelling caravans

from the Bedouin Arabs that prowl through the desert were in ancient

times as great as they still are; and it seems that travellers usually

sought the protection of a military escort. But Ezra had spoken so much

to the king of the sufficiency of the divine care of His people that he

would have blushed to apply for a guard of soldiers. Therefore he

resolved that his followers should, by a solemn act of fasting and

prayer, commit themselves to the Keeper of Israel. Their faith,

considering the many and constant perils of a journey across the

Bedouin regions, must have been great, and it was rewarded by the

enjoyment of perfect safety during the whole way.

24-32. Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests . . . and

weighed unto them the silver, &c.--The custody of the contributions

and of the sacred vessels was, during the journey, committed to twelve

of the chief priests, who, with the assistance of ten of their

brethren, were to watch closely over them by the way, and deliver them

into the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. The treasures in silver and

gold, according to the value of the Babylonian talent, amounted to

about £515,000 sterling.

27. two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold--Almost all

commentators agree in maintaining that the vessels referred to were not

made of copper, but of an alloy capable of taking on a bright polish,

which we think highly probable, as copper was then in common use among

the Babylonians, and would not be as precious as gold. This alloy, much

esteemed among the Jews, was composed of gold and other metals, which

took on a high polish and was not subject to tarnish

[NOYES].

31. we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first

month--Computing from the time of their setting out to the period of

their arrival, they occupied about four months on the way. Their health

and security were marvellous during so long a journey. The

pilgrim-caravans of the present day perform long journeys through the

wildest deserts of the East under the protection of a firman from the

Porte, and an escort of soldiers. But for a large body, composed as

that of Ezra--of some thousands of men, women, and children,

unaccustomed to travel, undisciplined to order, and without military

strength, and with so large an amount of treasure tempting the cupidity

of the marauding, plundering tribes of the desert--to accomplish a

journey so long and so arduous in perfect safety, is one of the most

astonishing events recorded in history. Nothing but the vigilant care

of a superintending Providence could have brought them securely to

their destination.

33-36. Now on the fourth day was the silver . . . weighed in the house

of our God--The first three days after their arrival in Jerusalem were

undoubtedly given to repose; on the next, the treasures were weighed

and handed over to the custody of the officiating priests of the

temple. The returned exiles offered burnt offerings, and Ezra delivered

the royal commission to the satraps and inferior magistrates; while the

Levitical portion of them lent all the assistance they could in

performing the additional work which the arrival of so many new

worshippers occasioned.