Ezra 8:15-20

Ezra Sends for Levites

15 Now I assembled them at ¹the river that runs to Ahava, where we camped for three days; and when I observed the people and the priests, I ²did not find any Levites * there.

16 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, teachers.

17 I sent them to Iddo the leading man at the place Casiphia; and I told * * them what to say to Iddo and his brothers, ³the temple servants at the place Casiphia, that is, to bring ministers to us for the house of our God.

18 ⁴According to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a ⁵man of insight of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, and his sons and brothers, 18 * men;

19 and Hashabiah and Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, 20 men;

20 and 220 * of ⁶the temple servants, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, all of them designated by name.

Ezra 8:15-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 8

In this chapter we are told who and how many went up with Ezra to Jerusalem, Ezr 8:1-14, the gathering of them together at a river, from whence he sent to Babylon for Levites to come to him, who did, Ezr 8:15-20, the proclaiming a fast for a safe and prosperous journey, Ezr 8:21-23, the delivery of the vessels and money given him into the hands of priests, to take the care and charge thereof, Ezr 8:24-30, their safe arrival at Jerusalem, where they deposited the gifts in the temple, offered sacrifices to God, and delivered the king's commissions to his lieutenants and governors, Ezr 8:31-36.

Cross References

• 1. Ezra 8:21, 31
• 2. Ezra 7:7; Ezra 8:2
• 3. Ezra 2:43
• 4. Ezra 7:6, 28
• 5. 2 Chronicles 30:22
• 6. Ezra 2:43; Ezra 7:7

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "heads"
• [b]. Lit "head"
• [c]. Lit "put words in their mouth to say"
• [d]. So Gr; Heb "Iddo his brother"
• [e]. So Gr; Heb "with him Jeshaiah"