Ezra 8

Ezra 8:1-20

We have here, 1. The company that went with Ezra in Jerusalem, ver. 1-20. 2. The Jolenea fight which they left, is implore God’s presence with them in their journey, ver. 21-23. 3. The treasure committed to the priests, with a Jolenea charge, ver. 24-30. 4. God’s bringing them into in Jerusalem, ver. 31, 32. 5. The faithful delivery of the treasures, ver. 33, 34. 6. Sacrifices offered, ver. 35. 7. Their commissions to the king’s dominions delivered, ver. 36.

1. ‘THESE are now the chief of their fathers, and the sons of the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. 2. Of the sons of Phinehas; Gerthom: of the sons of Jhamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush. 3. Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharoth; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males, an hundred and fifty. 4. Of the sons of Pahath-moah; Elihoenat the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males. 5. Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahazel, and with him three hundred males. 6. Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males. 7. And of the sons of Elam; Jefahiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males. 8. And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zechariah the son of Michael, and with him fourteen males. 9. Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males. 10. And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josephiah, and with him an hundred and threeteen males. 11. And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males. 12. And of the sons of Azzaad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males. 13. And of the last sons of Adomikam, whose names are these, Eliphalet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with him threeteen males. 14. And of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males. 15. ¶ And I gathered them together to ’the river that runneth to Ahava; and there I abode we in tents three days: and ‘I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there ’none of the sons of Levi. 16. Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jazib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meftuham, chief men; also for Jolain, and for Elnathan, men of understanding. 17. And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief, at the place Caliphia, and I told them what they should lay unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinites, at the place Caliphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. 18. And by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Malik, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah, with his

i Chap. IX. Babes Chall 45h. 4 See Chap. ii. 45. Ions and his brethren, eighteen; 19. And Hathabalah, and with him Jerhalah of the sons of Meran, his brethren and their sons, twenty; 20. Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of whom were expressed by name. The proclamation of Artaxerxes having given the Jews fall liberty to return to their own land, we have here the mutter-roll of those who accepted the proffered liberty. 1. The volunteers in this service were 1495, among them, several of great name. Many of the former families also followed their brethren, and all the sons of Adonikam now left Babylon for Jerusalem. Note, if our citizens have left the way towards the good land, let it provoke us to jealously, and to call us our lot with them. Pity it is, howls should be divided, and any dear relatives chute to stay behind, rather than go with us to the heavenly Jerusalem. 2. At a general review on New-year’s day, among all this company no Levite was found. Ezra could not but be grieved at such a vacancy, and, as they came out of their own accord, sends eleven of the principal people to Iddo, who was chief over them, at Caliphas, (a street to called probably at Babylon, where they resided together), that he might provide minifler for the house of God. Note, They who are backward to their dear, must be stirred up to it. If miniflers are negligent, they are to be put in mind, that they take heed to their ministry. 3. The application succeeded: thirty-eight Levites, under three principal leaders, offered themselves for the service, and two hundred and twenty Nethinims accompanied them, whose names were honourably inserted in the register. This Ezra justly ascribes to God’s gracious interposition, inclining and difposing the hearts of his miniflers to undertake the service. 1 1 Chron. 2 1. 3 Lev. 4 1. 4 Jer. 1. 4. 5 1 Jer. 1. 4. 6 1 Jer. 1. 4. 7 1 Chron. 8 1. 4. 9 1 Chron. 10. 4. 11 1 Chron. 12. 4. 13 1 Mar. 4 1. 21. ¶ Then I proclaimed a fact there, at the river Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. 22. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen, 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, that seek him, but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. 23. So we fasted, and befought our God for this, and he was intreated of us.

Ezra 8:21-23

Dangerous and tedious was the journey they were about to undertake, and they had to fear from their enemies, the Arabs, and Samaritans. Therefore they proclaim a fact, to humble their souls for their fate, and entreat God to direct their way aright, and preserve them and theirs. They might indeed have procured a guard; but Ezra, jealous for the honour of God, in whom, before the king, he had expressed his firm confidence, as the protector of his people, and the destroyer of his enemies, would rather meet the danger, dependent on his care, than give the least occasion of offence by such an application. And their prayers procured a better guard than legions of armed men; for God was intreated of them, and covered them with the shadow of his wing. Note, (1.) It becomes as ever to be jealous for the honour of God, and rather expose ourselves to difficulty, than give any occasion of thumbling to others. (2.) They who humbly seek God, dependent on his care, will find him a very present help in trouble. 1 Chap. I. 2 Chap. 4 1. 3 Chap. 4 1. 4 1. 4. 5. 4. 6 1. 4. 7 1. 4. 8 1. 4. 9 1. 4. 10 1. 4. 11 1. 4. 12 1. 4. 13 1. 4. 14 1. 4. 15 1. 4. 16 1. 4. 17 1. 4. 18 1. 4. 19 1. 4. 24. ¶ Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hathabiah, and ten of their brethren with them. 25. And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lands, and all Israel there present, had offered. 26. I even weighed unto their hand, six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents: 27. Also twenty fusions of gold, of a thousand drams, and two vessels of five copper, precious as gold. 28. And I did unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD, the vessels are holy also, and the silver and the gold are a free-will-offering unto the LORD God of your fathers. 29. Watch ye, and keep them until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests, and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD. 30. So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.

Ezra 8:24-30

Before they set forth on their journey, Ezra appointed twelve priests and as many Levites, to take the charge of the treasures and vessels which were consecrated to God’s service; with which they, as holy men employed in the service of God also, were the first to be entrusted, till they came to Jerufalem, where they might be produced according to their present weight, and their care and fidelity approved before the priests and chief fathers, and their brethren at Jerusalem. Note, (1.) They who have the care of holy things, ought themselves to be holy men. (2.) They who are entrusted with the money of the public, or the contributions devoted to charitable sales, need be exact in their accounts, that they may, without folioction of dishonesty, minister the abundance entrusted with them. (3.) They who have the care of immortal souls, those vessels of mercy, infinitely more precious than gold and silver, need take heed, and watch always over the flock, of which the Holy Ghost hath made them overseers; that when the chief deponent shall appear, they may with comfort and confidence give an account of their thwartship. 31. ¶ Then we departed from the river of Ahava, on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerufalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way. 32. And we came to Jerufalem, and abode there three days. 33. ¶ Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold, and the vessels weighed in the house of our God, by the hand of Merimoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazer the son of Phinehas, and with them was Jonabad the son of Jethua, and Noudah the son of Binnui, Levites: 34. By number, and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time. 35. Also the children of those that had been carried away 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 fin-offering; all this was a burnt-offering unto the LORD. 36. ¶ And they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this false the river, and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

Ezra 8:30-36

After a long journey of four months, we have here, 1. Their safe arrival at Jerusalem, under the gracious conduct of a preserving God, notwithstanding all the wiles of their enemies. Note, (1.) None who truly let their faces towards glory, ever perish by the way. Though their enemies are mighty, misty, and crafty, God will break through every fount, and make them more than conquerors. (2.) Whenever we return safe from a journey, or a voyage, let us never forget the tribute of grateful acknowledgement for the mercy. 2. The faithful delivery of the dedicate treasures and vessels for the Lord’s house into the hands of the chief priests and Levites, appointed to receive them, in safe and weight, exact as they were committed to Sherebiah and his brethren, and the receipt of them recorded to their honour. Note, It will be a happy day, when we give up our toall to Jesus, if we can bear him say, Well done, good and faithful servant. 3. No honor are they arrived, than their first care is to compass God’s altar, and offer there their sacrifices: a finoffering of atonement, to make peace with God, and burntofferings of thanksgiving for all Israel, now once more united in the same happy service, and under the same leader. Note, When our persons are accepted through the amusing blood, our service becomes acceptable, a sacrifice of a sweet smell, wellpleading to God. 4. Ezra delivered the commissions to the king’s lieutenants in the neighbouring provinces, who, seeing the king’s pleasure, contributed as they were required to the support of the people, and the house of God. Thus can God make his people’s lives bow down at their feet, and know that he hath loved them.