Ezra 8

A register of those that went up with Ezra, vers.1, etc. Ezra viewing the people by the way at Ahava, and finding no Levites among them, sendeth to Casiphia, and getting from thence some wise and understanding Levites, and Nethinims, 15. Proclaimeth a fast, to beg of God a prosperous journey, 21. Delivereth all the Treasures of the chief of the Priests and Levites to keep, and to deliver them in the house of the Lord, 24. He taketh his journey, and cometh to Jerusalem, 31. The treasures are faithfully delivered, where they ought to be, and the kings commissions and commands are delivered unto his Deputies and Governors, and obeyed by them, 33.

1. Now these are the heads of their fathers, with their genealogy, which went up with me from Babel, under the reign of king Arthahsasta.

2. O the children [Or, sons; that is, posterity; and so in the sequel] of Pinehas, Gersom, of the children of Itharmar, Daniel: of the children of David Hattus.

3. Of the children of Sechanja, of the children of Parhos, Zacharja: and with him were reckoned by genealogies in males, and hundred and fifty.

4. Of the children of Pahath, Moab, Eliehoenai, the son of Serahja: and with him two hundred males.

5. Of the children of Sechanja the son of Jahaziel: and with him three hundred males.

6. And of the children of Adia, Ehed the son of Jonathan: and with him fifty males.

7. And of the children of Elam, Jesaja, the son of Athalja: and with him seventy males.

8. And of the children of Sephatja, Zebadja the son of Michael: and with him fourscore males.

9. Of the children of Joab, Obadja the son of Jehiel: and with him two hundred and eighteen males.

10. And of the children of Selomith, the son of Josiphja: and with him a hundred and threescore males.

11. And of the children of Bebai, Zacharja the son of Bebai: and with him twenty and eight males.

12. And of the children of Azgad, Johanan the son of Katan: and with him an hundred ad ten males.

13. And of the last children [That is, the last-born children, as some understand it: or this may be said in respect of the other, that went up first with Zerubbabel] of Adonikam, whose names were these; Eliphelet, Jehiel and Semaja: and with them threescore males.

14. And of the children of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabud: and with them seventy males.

15. And I gathered them together at the river, going to [Others, at, in] Ahava, [some understand by this word Ahava, Adiabena, or, Adiavena, a Country or Province of Assyria, so called (according to their opinion) from the chiefest River Adiava. Others understand by the word River mentioned in the Text, Euphrates, and by Ahava another River, that runneth into the Euphrates, or, which receiveth Euphrates running by it. See below vers 21,31.] and we camped our selves there three days: then I viewed the people, and the Priests, and found there none of the children of Levi. [Meaning, Levites. For there were some there of the priestly stock or line, who were also of the Tribe of Levi. See above v.2. and further above chap.7.7. with the Annotations.]

16. Then sent I to Eliezer, to Ariel, to Semaja, and to Elnathan, and to Nathan, and to Zacharja, and to Mesullam, the heads: and to Jojarib, and to Elnathan, [To wit, for them to come to me, and to receive a charge unto Iddo, as followeth] the teachers. [Hebr. properly, making wise, or, understanding, giving understanding; that is, instructing, teaching. Or, understanding (men:) for the Hebrew word is used both ways. So Dan.11.33. and 12.3.]

17. And I gave them charge unto Iddo, the head in that place [This Iddo seemeth to have been the chiefest teacher, or, master of the Levites, that were there] Casiphia: [this is held to be the land of the Caspians, where the great sea was, called Mare Caspium, or, Hyrcanum, between the Caspian and Hyrcanian mountains: from whence (although it was a great way off from thence) yet by the blessing of God, the benefits and help of the Kings command, and the ordinary Pension-Post-houses, (which were every way appointed to conduct them, and to further them in their journey) they speedily came to Jerusalem] and I put the words into their mouth; [as 2 Sam.14.3, etc.] for to say to Iddo, his brother, [Hebr. Achin: some take that to be a proper name] (and) (to) the Nethinims [see above chap.2.on vers.43. Others, appointed. Hebr. given, or, given up] in the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.

18. And they brought unto us, according to the good hand of our God upon us, [As above chap.7.9. and below vers.31.] a man of understanding, of the children of Machli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel: namely, [Hebr. and] Serebja, with his sons and brethren, eighteen.

19. And Hasabja, and with him Jeseja, of the children of Merari: (with) his brethren, and their sons, twenty.

20. And of the Nethinims, whom David and the Princes had given for the service of the Levites, [When he appointed the courses of the Levites, 1 Chron.25. & 26. See also Jos.9 21. And 1 Chron.9.2.] two hundred and twenty Nethinims, which were all named by name.

21. Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava. [Others, of Ahava: so below vers.31.] that we might humble our selves [compare Lev.16.on vers.29.] before the face of our God, to request of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. [That he would be pleased to conduct, defend, and bring us in safety and with good success unto Jerusalem.]

22. For I was ashamed to desire of the King an host and horse-men, to help us against the enemy, in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying; The hand of our God is upon all them for good, [To defend them] that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all (them) that forsake him. [To restrain, or to destroy them by his almighty and avenging hand.]

23. So we fasted, and requested that thing of our God, and he let himself to be intreated of us. [Or, he was intreated of us. See Gen.25.on v.21.]

24. Then I separated twelve of the chief of the Priests; Serebja, Hasabja, and ten of their brethren with them.

25. And I weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, being the offering of the house of our God, which the king and his counsellors, and his Princes, and all Isarel, that were found there, had offered.

26. I then weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, [See Exod.25.on vers.39.] and an hundred silver vessels in talents; [or, of talents: which may be thus understood, that every piece weighed a talents:

27. And twenty golden cups, at a thousand drams: [See above chap.2.on vers.69.] and two vessels of bight good [some very bright] copper, desireable as gold.

28. And I said unto them; Ye are holy [Hebr. an holiness] unto the LORD, and these vessels are holy: also this silver, and this gold, the free-will gift unto the LORD God of your Fathers.

29. Watch (ye,) and keep it, until ye weigh it up in presence [Hebr. before the face] of the chief of the Priests and Levites, and of the Princes of the Fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem in the chambers of the house of the LORD. [See 1 Kings 6.on vers.5. Nehem.10.39. and 12.4,5,9.]

30. Then the Priests. And the Levites received the weight of the silver, and of the gold, and of the vessels; to bring (them) to Jerusalem, unto the house of our God.

31. So we departed from the River Ahava, on the twelfth (day) of the first month, [See above chap.7.on vers.9.] to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was over us, [as vers.18.] and delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of him that laid wait (for us) by the way.

32. And we came to Jerusalem: and we abode there three days, [That is, we staid so long, and rested our selves thoroughly.]

33. Now on the fourth day was the silver, and the gold, and the vessels weighed in the house of our God, unto the hand of Meremoth, the son of Uria the Priests; and with him (was) Eleazar the son of Pinehas: and with them Jozabad the son of Jesua; and Noadja the son of Binnui, the Levites.

34. According to the number, and according to the weight of them all: and all the weight was written down at that time.

35. (And) those that had been carried away, [Hebr. the children of the carrying away, or, captivity: as above often] which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt-offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin-offering: all for a burnt-offering unto the LORD.

36. After that they delivered the kings laws [That is, commands, commissions, orders, ordinances] unto the kings deputies and governors on this side the river, [Euphrates] and they furthered [Hebr. heaved up, lifted up] the people, and the house of God. [That is, they helped them, and were assistant and beneficial unto them in all things, according to the Kings order and command. See above chap.1.on vers.4.]