Ezra 8

1 And these the heads of their families, the leaders that went up with me in the reign of Arthasastha the king of Babylon.

2 Of the sons of Phinees; Gerson: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Attus.

3 Of the sons of Sachania, and the sons of Phoros; Zacharias: and with him a company a hundred and fifty.

4 Of the sons of Phaath-Moab; Eliana the son of Saraia, and with him two hundred that were males.

5 And of the sons of Zathoes; Sechenias the son of Aziel, and with him three hundred males.

6 And of the sons of Adin; Obeth the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.

7 And of the sons of Elam; Isaeas the son of Athelia, and with him seventy males.

8 And of the sons of Saphatia; Zabadias the son of Michael, and with him eighty males.

9 And of the sons of Joab; Abadia the son of Jeiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.

10 And of the sons of Baani; Selimuth the son of Josephia, and with him a hundred and sixty males.

11 And of the sons of Babi; Zacharias the son of Babi, and with him twenty-eight males.

12 And of the sons of Asgad; Joanan the son of Accatan, and with him a hundred and ten males.

13 And of the sons of Adonicam last, and these their names, Eliphalat, Jeel, and Samaea, and with them sixty males.

14 And of the sons of Baguae, Uthai, and Zabud, and with him seventy males.

15 And I gathered them to the river that comes to Evi, and we encamped there three days: and I reviewed the people and the priests, and found none of the sons of Levi there.

16 And I sent men of understanding to Eleazar, to Ariel, to Semeias, and to Alonam, and to Jarib, and to Elnatham, and to Nathan, and to Zacharias, and to Mesollam, and to Joarim, and to Elnathan.

17 And I forwarded them to the rulers with the money of the place, and I put words in their mouth to speak to their brethren the Athinim with the money of the place, that they should bring us singers for the house of our God.

18 And they came to us, as the good hand of our God was upon us, even a man of understanding of the sons of Mooli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, and at the commencement came his sons and his brethren, eighteen.

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.

24 And I gave charge to twelve of the chiefs of the priests, to Saraia, to Asabia, and ten of their brethren with them.

25 And I weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of the first-fruits of the house of our God, which the king, and his councillors, and his princes, and all Israel that were found, had dedicated.

26 I even weighed into their hands six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and a hundred silver vessels, and a hundred talents of gold;

27 and twenty golden bowls, about a thousand drachms, and superior vessels of fine shining brass, as gold.

28 And I said to them, Ye holy to the Lord; and the vessels holy; and the silver and the gold are freewill-offerings to the Lord God of our fathers.

29 Be watchful and keep them, until ye weigh before the chief priests and the Levites, and the chiefs of families in Jerusalem, at the chambers of the house of the Lord.

30 So the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring to Jerusalem into the house of our God.

31 And we departed from the river of Aue on the twelfth day of the first month, to come to Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and delivered us from the hand of the enemy and adversary in the way.

32 And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.

33 And it came to pass on the fourth day that we weighed the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, in the house of our God, into the hand of Merimoth the son of Uria the priest; and with him Eleazar the son of Phinees, and with them Jozabad the son of Jesus, and Noadia the son of Banaia, the Levites.

34 All things by number and weight, and the whole weight was written .

35 At that time the children of the banishment that came from the captivity offered whole-burnt-offerings to the God of Israel, twelve calves for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, twelve goats for a sin-offering; all whole-burnt-offerings to the Lord.

36 And they gave the king's mandate to the king's lieutenants, and the governors beyond the river: and they honoured the people and the house 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.