Ezra 8

1 These are the leaders of the families and the genealogy of those who left Babylon with me during the reign of King Artaxerxes:

2 from the family of Phinehas: Gershom from the family of Ithamar: Daniel

3 from the family of David: Hattush, son of Shecaniah from the family of Parosh: Zechariah, with 150 males whose genealogies were known

4 from the family of Pahath Moab: Eliehoenai, son of Zerahiah, with 200 males

5 from the family of Zattu: Shecaniah, son of Jahaziel, with 300 males

6 from the family of Adin: Ebed, son of Jonathan, with 50 males

7 from the family of Elam: Jeshaiah, son of Athaliah, with 70 males

8 from the family of Shephatiah: Zebadiah, son of Michael, with 80 males

9 from the family of Joab: Obadiah, son of Jehiel, with 210 males

10 from the family of Bani: Shelomith, son of Josiphiah, with 160 males

11 from the family of Bebai: Zechariah, son of Bebai, with 38 males

12 from the family of Azgad: Johanan, son of Hakkatan, with 110 males

13 from the family of Adonikam: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, who arrived later with 60 males

14 from the family of Bigvai: Uthai and Zabbud, with 70 males.

15 I had this group gather by the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there for three days. I noticed laypeople and priests there, but I didn't find any Levites.

16 Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam (who were leading men) and for Joiarib and Elnathan (who were wise).

17 I sent them to Iddo, the leader in Casiphia. I told them to tell Iddo and his relatives, the temple servants in Casiphia, that they should bring us men who can serve in our God's temple.

18 God was guiding us, so Iddo and his relatives brought us someone competent, Sherebiah, who was a descendant of Mahli, Levi, and Israel. They brought us 18 of Sherebiah's sons and relatives.

19 They also brought Hashabiah, Jeshaiah (who was a descendant of Merari), 20 of Jeshaiah's relatives and their sons,

20 and 220 temple servants. [They were descended] from the temple servants whom David and his officials had appointed to work for the Levites. These were all listed by name.

21 Then I announced a fast there at the Ahava River so that we might humble ourselves in the presence of our God to ask him for a safe journey for ourselves, for our little ones, and for all our goods.

22 I was ashamed to ask the king for an armed escort with cavalry to help us against an enemy attack on the way. We had already told the king, "Our God works things out for the good of everyone who dedicates his life to serving him, but his power and his anger oppose everyone who abandons him."

23 So we fasted and asked our God for a safe journey, and he answered our prayer.

24 Then I selected 12 leaders from the priests--Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and 10 of their relatives.

25 I weighed for them the silver, the gold, and the utensils. [These were] the contributions that the king, his advisers, his officials, and all the Israelites had contributed for our God's temple.

26 I weighed [the contributions] for them to guard: about 24 tons of silver, 100 silver utensils weighing 150 pounds apiece, 7,500 pounds of gold,

27 20 gold bowls weighing 18 pounds apiece, and two utensils of fine polished bronze that were as precious as gold.

28 I told them, "You and the utensils are holy to the LORD. The silver and gold are freewill offerings to the LORD God of your ancestors.

29 Guard them carefully. In Jerusalem, inside the storerooms of the LORD's temple, weigh these items. Do this in front of the chief priests, Levites, and the leaders of Israel's families."

30 So the priests and the Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the utensils. They were responsible for bringing these items to the temple of our God in Jerusalem.

31 Then we left the Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. God was guiding us, and he rescued us from our enemies and from ambushes along the way.

32 When we reached Jerusalem, we rested for three days.

33 On the fourth day we weighed the silver, the gold, and the utensils in our God's temple. We put them under the supervision of Meremoth, son of the priest Uriah, as well as Eleazar, the son of Phinehas. The Levites, Jeshua's son Jozabad, and Binnui's son Noadiah, assisted them.

34 Everything was counted and weighed, and the entire weight was recorded at that time.

35 The exiles who had come back from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and 12 male goats for an offering for sin. All of these animals were burnt offerings for the LORD.

36 The exiles delivered the king's orders to the king's satraps and governors [in the province] west of the Euphrates River. These officials then gave their support to the people and the temple of God.

Ezra 8 Commentary

Chapter 8

The companions of Ezra. (1-20) Ezra implores God's blessing. (21-23) Treasures committed to the priests. (24-30) Ezra arrives at Jerusalem. (31-36)

Verses 1-20 Ezra assembles the outcasts of Israel, and the dispersed of Judah. God raised up the spirits of a small remnant to accompany him. What a pity that good men should omit a good work, for want of being spoken to!

Verses 21-23 Ezra procured Levites to go with him; but what will that avail, unless he have God with him? Those who seek God, are safe under the shadow of his wings, even in their greatest dangers; but those who forsake him, are always exposed. When entering upon any new state of life, our care should be, to bring none of the guilt of the sins of our former condition into it. When we are in any peril, let us be at peace with God, and then nothing can do us any real hurt. All our concerns about ourselves, our families, and our estates, it is our wisdom and duty, by prayer to commit to God, and to leave the care of them with him. And, on some occasions, we should decline advantages which are within our reach, lest we should cause others to stumble, and so our God be dishonoured. Let us ask wisdom of God, that we may know how to use or to refuse lawful things. We shall be no losers by venturing, suffering, or giving up for the Lord's sake. Their prayers were answered, and the event declared it. Never have any that sought God in earnest, found that they sought him in vain. In times of difficulty and danger, to set a season apart for secret or for social prayer, is the best method for relief we can take.

Verses 24-30 Do we expect that God should, by his providence, keep that which belongs to us, let us, by his grace, keep that which belongs to him. Let God's honour and interest be our care; and then we may expect that our lives and comforts will be his.

Verses 31-36 Enemies laid wait for the Jews, but God protected them. Even the common perils of journeys, call us to go out with prayer, and to return with praise and thanksgiving. But what shall we render when the Lord has led us safely through the pilgrimage of life, through the gloomy vale of death, out of the reach of all our enemies, into everlasting happiness! Among their sacrifices they had a sin-offering. The atonement sweetens and secures every mercy to us, which will not be truly comfortable, unless sin be taken away, and our peace made with God. Then had the church rest. The expressions here used, direct us to the deliverance of sinners from spiritual bondage, and their pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem, under the care and protection of their God and Saviour.

Chapter Summary

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.