Ezra 8:11-21

11 And of the Bnei Bevai, Zecharyah ben Bevai, and with him 28 zakhar.
12 And of the Bnei Azgad, Yochanan ben Hakkatan, and with him 110 zakhar.
13 And of the younger Bnei Adonikam, whose shmot are these, Eliphelet, Ye’i’el, and Shemayah, and with them 60 zakhar.
14 Of the banim also of Bigvai, Utai, and Zakkur, and with them 70 zakhar.
15 And I gathered them together by the river that runneth to Ahava, and there abode we in tents three days; and I reviewed the people, and the Kohanim, and found there none of the Bnei Levi.
16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemayah, and for Elnatan, and for Yariv, and for Elnatan, and for Natan, and for Zecharyah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Yoyariv, and for Elnatan, men of discernment.
17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place called Casiphya, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Netinim, at the place Casiphya, that they should bring unto us ministers for the Beis Eloheinu.
18 And by the good Yad of Eloheinu upon us they brought us an Ish Seichel, of the Bnei Machli, ben Levi, ben Yisroel; and Sherevyah, with his banim and his brethren, eighteen;
19 And Chashavyah, and with him Yeshayah of the Bnei Merari, his brethren and their banim, twenty;
20 Also of the Netinim, whom Dovid and the sarim (princes) had appointed for the Avodas HaLevi’im, two hundred and twenty Netinim; all of them were registered by shemot.
21 Then I proclaimed a tzom there, at the Ahava River, that we might afflict ourselves before Eloheinu, to seek of Him a derech yesharah for us, and for our little ones, and for all our possessions.

Ezra 8:11-21 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.

The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.