Esdras 1:3-11

3 ¿Quién hay entre vosotros de todo su pueblo? Sea Dios con él, y suba a Jerusalén que está en Judá, y edifique la Casa al SEÑOR Dios de Israel (él es Dios), la cual está en Jerusalén.

4 Y a cualquiera que hubiere quedado de todos los lugares donde fuere extranjero, los varones de su lugar le ayuden con plata, y oro, y hacienda, y con bestias; con dones voluntarios para la Casa de Dios, la cuál está en Jerusalén.

5 Entonces se levantaron los cabezas de las familias de Judá y de Benjamín, y los sacerdotes y levitas; de todos aquellos cuyo espíritu despertó Dios para subir a edificar la Casa del SEÑOR, la cual está en Jerusalén.

6 Y todos los que estaban en sus alrededores confortaron las manos de ellos con vasos de plata y de oro, con hacienda y bestias, y con cosas preciosas, a más de lo que se ofreció voluntariamente.

7 Y el rey Ciro sacó los vasos de la Casa del SEÑOR, que Nabucodonosor había traspasado de Jerusalén, y puesto en la casa de su dios.

8 Los sacó, pues , Ciro rey de Persia, por mano de Mitrídates tesorero, el cual los dio por cuenta a Sesbasar príncipe de Judá.

9 Y ésta es la cuenta de ellos: treinta tazones de oro, mil tazones de plata, veintinueve cuchillos,

10 treinta tazas de oro, otras cuatrocientas diez tazas de plata, y otros mil vasos.

11 Todos los vasos de oro y de plata, cinco mil cuatrocientos. Todos los hizo llevar Sesbasar con los que subieron del cautiverio de Babilonia a Jerusalén.

Esdras 1:3-11 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.