Ezra 8:24-30

24 I selected 12 of the leading priests, along with Sherebiah, Hashabiah,^[a] and 10 of their brothers.

25 I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles-the contribution for the house of our God that the king, his counselors, his leaders, and all the Israelites who were present had offered.

26 I weighed out to them 24 tons^[b] of silver, silver articles weighing 7,500 pounds,^[c] 7,500 pounds^[d] of gold,

27 20 gold bowls worth 1,000 gold coins,^[e] and two articles of fine gleaming bronze, as valuable as gold.

28 Then I said to them, "You are holy to the Lord, and the articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the Lord God of your fathers.

29 Guard [them] carefully until you weigh [them] out in the chambers of the Lord's house before the leading priests, Levites, and heads of the Israelite families in Jerusalem."^[f]

30 So the priests and Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the articles that had been weighed out, to bring [them] to the house of our God in Jerusalem.

Ezra 8:24-30 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Neh 10:9-12
• [b] Lit 650 talents
• [c] Lit 100 talents
• [d] Lit 100 talents
• [e] Or 1,000 drachmas
• [f] Neh 13:4-9