Ezra 8:22

22 For I shamed to ask of the king help, and horsemen, which should defend us from our enemies in the way (For I was ashamed to ask the king for any help, or for horsemen, who could defend us on the way from our enemies), for we had said to the king, The hand of our God is upon all men that seek him in goodness; and his lordship, and his strength, and his strong vengeance, be on all men that forsake him.

Ezra 8:22 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 8:22

For I was ashamed to require of the kings band of soldiers
and horsemen
Which he might have had, only asking for them; so great was the interest he had in the king's favour:

to help us against the enemy in the way;
the Arabs, Samaritans, and others, that might lie in wait for them, to rob them of their substance:

because we had spoken unto the king:
of the special favour of God to them, his singular providence in the protection of them:

saying, the hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him;
that pray unto him, serve and worship him; his hand is open to them to bestow all needful good upon them, temporal and spiritual, and his power and providence are over them, to protect and defend them from all evil:

but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him;
his word, his ways and worship; his powerful wrath, or the strength and force of it, is exerted against them and they are sure to feel the weight and dreadful effects of it: and now all this being said to the king, after this, to desire a guard to protect them, it would look as if they had not that favour in the sight of God, and did not believe what they had said, but distrusted his power and providence towards them; therefore, rather than reflect any dishonour on God, they chose to expose themselves to danger, seeking his face and favour, and relying on his goodness and power.

Ezra 8:22 In-Context

20 and of [the] Nethinims, which David and the princes had given to the services of (the) deacons, they brought two hundred and twenty Nethinims; all these were called by their names. (and of the Temple workers, whom David and his officials had appointed for service to the Levites, they brought two hundred and twenty Temple workers; all these were called by their names.)
21 And I preached there fasting beside the flood of Ahava, that we should be tormented before the Lord our God, and that we should ask of him the right way to us, and to our sons, and to all our substance. (And I preached, or proclaimed, that we should fast there beside the Ahava River, and that we should be tormented before the Lord our God, and that we should ask him for a safe journey for us, and for our sons, and for all our possessions.)
22 For I shamed to ask of the king help, and horsemen, which should defend us from our enemies in the way (For I was ashamed to ask the king for any help, or for horsemen, who could defend us on the way from our enemies), for we had said to the king, The hand of our God is upon all men that seek him in goodness; and his lordship, and his strength, and his strong vengeance, be on all men that forsake him.
23 And (so) we fasted, and prayed (to) our God for this thing, and it befelled to us wellsomely.
24 And I separated twelve of the princes of (the) priests, Sherebiah, and Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them; (And I separated out, or chose, twelve of the leaders of the priests, Sherebiah, and Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen with them;)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.