Ezra 1:6

6 Their neighbors rallied behind them enthusiastically with silver, gold, tools, pack animals, expensive gifts, and, over and above these, Freewill-Offerings.

Ezra 1:6 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 1:6

And all they that were about them
Their neighbours, the Chaldeans:

strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods,
and with beasts, and with precious things;
which they either did of themselves at their own motion, or by the direction and example of Cyrus, ( Ezra 1:4 ) and perhaps many of them to ingratiate themselves into the favour of their new monarch:

besides all that was willingly offered:
by the rich Jews, who thought fit, at least for the present, to remain in Babylon.

Ezra 1:6 In-Context

4 Those who stay behind, wherever they happen to live, will support them with silver, gold, tools, and pack animals, along with Freewill-Offerings for The Temple of God in Jerusalem.
5 The heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites - everyone, in fact, God prodded - set out to build The Temple of God in Jerusalem.
6 Their neighbors rallied behind them enthusiastically with silver, gold, tools, pack animals, expensive gifts, and, over and above these, Freewill-Offerings.
7 Also, King Cyrus turned over to them all the vessels and utensils from The Temple of God that Nebuchadnezzar had hauled from Jerusalem and put in the temple of his gods.
8 Cyrus king of Persia put Mithredath the treasurer in charge of the transfer; he provided a full inventory for Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah, including the following:
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.