Ezra 8

Chap. VIII. Ver. 1—36. Ezra collects and exumines at Ahava the peovle who accompanied him—Sends for Levites—- All arrive safe at Jerusalem.—On FEzra’s arrival at Ahava, with his colony of Jews, they pitched their tents on the banks of the river three days, and finding that there were no Levites among them, he wrote’to Iddo, a chief in the Caspian mountains, who sent not only a number of Levites, but also Nethinims, who were probably at work in the silver mines there. re the venerable leader proclaimed a fast to implore the divine favour and protection in their journey. In such cases, it was natural tc save asked a military convoy; but Fzra was ashamed to do tnis, because he had told the king, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him; but his nar SEH sa aS

Notes on the verses

Kuowing that if he did not, God wou d be cut off trom him or his Ver, 28. Twas strensthened.—|In what the king decreed he saw the hand of God: he, therefore, gave Him the praise, aud took courage.}—Bagwould be disple ed, nod that the kingposterity. |-— Bagster Ava cume, who were brought by the king of Assyria to Palestine, (2 Kings 17:24)."-— Dr. Clarke. Ver. 17. Casiphia means, 24 most comme atators are mountains, where co agrees the Caspian probably the Nethinims were employed in working silver nines: keseph signifies siiver,