Esdras 1:1-8

1 No primeiro ano de Ciro, rei da Pérsia, para que se cumprisse a palavra do Senhor proferida pela boca de Jeremias, despertou o Senhor o espírito de Ciro, rei da Pérsia, de modo que ele fez proclamar por todo o seu reino, de viva voz e também por escrito, este decreto:

2 Assim diz Ciro, rei da Pérsia: O Senhor Deus do céu me deu todos os reinos da terra, e me encarregou de lhe edificar uma casa em Jerusalém, que é em Judá.

3 Quem há entre vós de todo o seu povo (seja seu Deus com ele) suba para Jerusalém, que é em Judá, e edifique a casa do Senhor, Deus de Israel; ele é o Deus que habita em Jerusalém.

4 E todo remanescente, seja qual for o lugar em que é peregrino, seja ajudado pelos homens desse lugar com prata, com ouro, com bens e com animais, afora a oferta voluntária para a casa de Deus, que está em Jerusalém.

5 Então se levantaram os chefes das casas paternas de Judá e Benjamim e os sacerdotes, e os levitas, todos aqueles cujo espírito Deus despertara, para subirem a edificar a casa do Senhor, que está em Jerusalém.

6 E todos os seus vizinhos os ajudaram com utensílios de prata, com ouro, com bens, com animais e com coisas preciosas, afora tudo o que se ofereceu voluntariamente.

7 Também o rei Ciro tirou os utensílios que pertenciam � casa do Senhor e que Nabucodonozor tinha trazido de Jerusalém e posto na casa de seus deuses.

8 Ciro, rei da Pérsia, tirou-os pela mão de Mitredate, o tesoureiro, que os entregou contados a Sesbazar, príncipe de Judá.

Esdras 1:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF EZRA

This book, in the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions, is called the "First" Book of Ezra, Nehemiah being reckoned the "second"; but with the Jews both were accounted but one book {a}; in the Syriac version, it is called the Writing or Book of Ezra the Prophet; and this title is given him, both by Jews {b} and Christians {c}; in the Arabic version, it is called the First Book of Ezra the Priest, skilful in the Law; and that he was a priest is clear, since he was the son of Seraiah the high priest, who was slain by Nebuchadnezzar, and the younger brother of Josedech, who succeeded his father as high priest, and uncle to Joshua that succeeded him; and he was also a ready scribe in the law of Moses, see Ezr 7:1,6,10-12. That Ezra was the writer of this book is believed by the Jews {d}, and by the generality of Christians; only Huetius {e} thinks that the six first chapters were written by another hand, but his reasons are not satisfactory; and it has been universally received as canonical by all; it agrees with the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah, and serves to illustrate them; it is of use for the continuation of the sacred history, to point at the fulfilment of prophecies concerning the return of the Jews from captivity, and the rebuilding of the temple; and to give us an account of the state of the church in those times, the troubles and difficulties it met with, and what care was taken to keep the tribes and families distinct, that it might be known from whom the Messiah sprung; this book contains an history of seventy years, according to the calculation of Bishop Usher {f}, from A. M. 3468, to A. M. 3538.

{a} Origen apud Euseb. Hist. Eccl. l. 6. c. 25. Hieron. Opera, tom. 3. Epist. ad Paulin. fol. 6. B. & ad Domnion. & Rogat. fol. 7. G. {b} Seder Olam Zuta, p. 108. {c} Lactant. Institut. l. 4. c. 11. {d} T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 15. 1. {e} Demonstr. Evangel. prop. 4. p. 208, 209. {f} Annal. Vet. Test. p. 146, 193.

\\INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 1\\

This chapter informs us of the proclamation of Cyrus king of Persia, for the Jews to return to their own country, and rebuild their temple, Ezr 1:1-4, and that, upon it, the chief of them rose up for that purpose, whose hands were strengthened and supplied by those about them, Ezr 1:5,6 and particularly by Cyrus, who gave orders that the vessels belonging to the temple should be delivered to them, Ezr 1:7-11.