Ezra 1:1-8

1 Now in the first year of Koresh king of Paras, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Yirmeyahu might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Koresh king of Paras, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying,

2 Thus says Koresh king of Paras, All the kingdoms of the eretz has the LORD, the God of heaven, given me; and he has charged me to build him a house in Yerushalayim, which is in Yehudah.

3 Whoever there is among you of all his people, his God be with him, and let him go up to Yerushalayim, which is in Yehudah, and build the house of the LORD, the God of Yisra'el (he is God), which is in Yerushalayim.

4 Whoever is left, in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with animals, besides the freewill-offering for the house of God which is in Yerushalayim.

5 Then rose up the heads of fathers' [houses] of Yehudah and Binyamin, and the Kohanim, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Yerushalayim.

6 All those who were round about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.

7 Also Koresh the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nevukhadnetztzar had brought forth out of Yerushalayim, and had put in the house of his gods;

8 even those did Koresh king of Paras bring forth by the hand of Mitredat the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbatztzer, the prince of Yehudah.

Ezra 1:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF EZRA

This book, in the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions, is called the "First" Book of Ezra, Nehemiah being reckoned the "second"; but with the Jews both were accounted but one book {a}; in the Syriac version, it is called the Writing or Book of Ezra the Prophet; and this title is given him, both by Jews {b} and Christians {c}; in the Arabic version, it is called the First Book of Ezra the Priest, skilful in the Law; and that he was a priest is clear, since he was the son of Seraiah the high priest, who was slain by Nebuchadnezzar, and the younger brother of Josedech, who succeeded his father as high priest, and uncle to Joshua that succeeded him; and he was also a ready scribe in the law of Moses, see Ezr 7:1,6,10-12. That Ezra was the writer of this book is believed by the Jews {d}, and by the generality of Christians; only Huetius {e} thinks that the six first chapters were written by another hand, but his reasons are not satisfactory; and it has been universally received as canonical by all; it agrees with the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah, and serves to illustrate them; it is of use for the continuation of the sacred history, to point at the fulfilment of prophecies concerning the return of the Jews from captivity, and the rebuilding of the temple; and to give us an account of the state of the church in those times, the troubles and difficulties it met with, and what care was taken to keep the tribes and families distinct, that it might be known from whom the Messiah sprung; this book contains an history of seventy years, according to the calculation of Bishop Usher {f}, from A. M. 3468, to A. M. 3538.

{a} Origen apud Euseb. Hist. Eccl. l. 6. c. 25. Hieron. Opera, tom. 3. Epist. ad Paulin. fol. 6. B. & ad Domnion. & Rogat. fol. 7. G. {b} Seder Olam Zuta, p. 108. {c} Lactant. Institut. l. 4. c. 11. {d} T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 15. 1. {e} Demonstr. Evangel. prop. 4. p. 208, 209. {f} Annal. Vet. Test. p. 146, 193.

\\INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 1\\

This chapter informs us of the proclamation of Cyrus king of Persia, for the Jews to return to their own country, and rebuild their temple, Ezr 1:1-4, and that, upon it, the chief of them rose up for that purpose, whose hands were strengthened and supplied by those about them, Ezr 1:5,6 and particularly by Cyrus, who gave orders that the vessels belonging to the temple should be delivered to them, Ezr 1:7-11.