Ezra 8:21

21 And I proclaimed there a fast, at the river Aue, that should humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our children, and for all our property.

Ezra 8:21 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 8:21

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava
After the messengers to Iddo were returned with those they brought with them:

that we might afflict ourselves before our God;
humble themselves before him for their sins, confess them, and declare their repentance of them, and ask forgiveness for them:

to seek of him a right way for us;
to take from thence towards Jerusalem, to be directed by him in it: either by a prophet, or by a vision in a dream, as Eben Ezra; or rather by the guidance of his providence; this they sought in prayer by the river side, where it had been usual with them, and since has been, to perform religious exercises, see ( Ezekiel 1:1 ) ( 3:15 ) ( Acts 16:13 ) , hence Tertullian ^F26 calls the prayers of the Jews "orationes littorales"; they sought not so much which was the shortest and easiest way for them to travel in, as which was the safest:

and for our little ones and for all our substance;
for the safe conveyance of them; this shows, that though males only are numbered, as before, yet they had their wives and children with them; for little ones cannot be supposed without women to take care of them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 Ad nationes, l. 1. c. 13. Vid. lib. de jejuniis, c. 16.

Ezra 8:21 In-Context

19 And Asebia, and Isaia of the sons of Merari, his brethren and his sons, twenty.

20 And of the Nathinim; whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites two hundred and twenty Nathinim; all were gathered by names.

21 And I proclaimed there a fast, at the river Aue, that should humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our children, and for all our property.

22 For I was ashamed to ask of the king a guard and horsemen to save us from the enemy in the way: for we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our God upon all that seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath upon all that forsake him.

23 So we fasted, and asked of our God concerning this; and he hearkened to us.