Ezra 8:21-23

Fasting and Prayer for Protection

21 ¹Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river ²Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, ³to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.

22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, ⁴"The hand of our God is for good on ⁵all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him."

23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

Ezra 8:21-23 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. See 2 Chronicles 20:3
• 2. ver. 15, 31
• 3. [Psalms 5:8]
• 4. See Ezra 7:6
• 5. [2 Chronicles 15:2]