Commentary on Ezra Part 2 [F015ii]

Ezra Chapters 4-10 (RSV)

Notes:

The name of the Father in the OT is Eloah. He is the One True God. The details here are included in the paper Effects of the 20^th Century Doctrines on the Nature of God (No. 076D) among many other important matters on the Nature of God.

Eloah is the God of the Temple, and we know from Deuteronomy 32:15 that He is the creator and from Deuteronomy 32:17 that He is the object of sacrifice. He is the God of the Bible.

He is the Most High (Elyon) and He divided the nations according to the number of the sons of God (Deut. 32:8 RSV and DSS). He gave Yahovah's portion to be the Children of Israel. Thus, Elyon and Yahovah, as God and son of God, are set in place here in the Torah where Yahovah is one of the sons of God and Eloah is set as the creator. For this reason the Masoretic Text (MT) was forged in this text in the post-Temple period and that is why the KJV is false.

Job mentions Eloah in 45 places. The redeemer is listed as one of the Thousand and is not Eloah in Job (Job 33:23).

We know for an absolute fact that Eloah is God the Father from Proverbs 30:4-5. His name is supplied in the Hebrew of verse 5.

This name is singular and admits of no plurality whatsoever. The texts completely destroy the myth that Armstrong created, namely that the OT referred only to Christ who was the God of the OT and the Father was unknown in the OT. That is a lie.

Ezra identifies Eloah as the God of the Temple and proceeds from the texts in Ezra 4:24 to identify the Temple as the House of Eloah, The God (Eloah) of Israel (Ezra 5:1). The prophets at the House of Eloah are the prophets of Eloah (Ezra 5:2). It is the "eye" of Eloah that observes and commands the activities at the Temple.

Darius was petitioned over the House of the Great Eloah at Jerusalem (Ezra 5:8). The Jews knew and stated that they were the servants of the Great Eloah of Heaven and Earth (Ezra 5:11). But it was the fathers of Judah that provoked the Eloah of Heaven to wrath. (Ezra 5:12). There is only one Eloah of Heaven and Earth and that is the Father. To suggest otherwise is idolatrous blasphemy.

The Jews acknowledged that it was Cyrus that gave the command to build the House of Eloah at Jerusalem (Ezra 5:13).

The vessels of the House of Eloah were returned to the prince of Judah (Ezra 5:14) and ordered to be returned to the House of Eloah as it was built in place (Ezra 5:15). The request was made as to whether the decree of Cyrus existed regarding the House of Eloah (Ezra 5:17).

Darius ordered a search and the decree of Cyrus was found regarding the construction of the House of Eloah at Jerusalem (Ezra 6:3) as well as the return and use of the vessels of gold and silver, taken by Nebuchadnezzar from the House of Eloah, be returned to the House of Eloah (Ezra 6:5). Thus the old temple and the new temple were both the House of Eloah.

Thus the attackers were ordered to leave the construction of the House of Eloah alone and the Jews be left to build the House of Eloah (Ezra 6:7).

The tribute beyond the river was allocated for the construction of the House of Eloah (Ezra 6:8) and also for the sacrificial offerings to the Eloah of Heaven (Ezra 6:9-10).

It was Eloah that caused His name to be put there in the House of Eloah and a hundred bullocks were offered to the dedication of the House of Eloah (Ezra 6:12,16-17).

The Priests and Levites were set in divisions for the service of Eloah at Jerusalem (Ezra 6:18).

Artaxerxes recognised Ezra as a scribe of the Law of Eloah of Heaven (Ezra 7:12). Ezra was sent to assess Jerusalem according to the Law of Eloah which was in his hand (Ezra 7:14) and the king and his counsellors offered silver and gold to the Eloah of Israel who is the Eloah of Heaven whose habitation is in Jerusalem (Ezra 7:15). They had to purchase animals for offering to Eloah in Jerusalem (Ezra 7:17) and then they were to use the rest according to the Will of Eloah (Ezra 7:18). Then they also had to deliver the vessels of Eloah before the House of Eloah at Jerusalem (Ezra 7:19). Whatever else that was necessary to bestow on the House of Eloah was to be taken from the king’s treasure house as Ezra the scribe of the Law of Eloah directed (Ezra 7:20-21. Whatever was commanded by the Eloah of Heaven was to be done diligently for the house of the Eloah of Heaven (Ezra 7:23).

Also, the priests, Levites, singers and porters, Nethinims were ministers of the House of Eloah and it was not lawful to impose toll, tribute or custom upon them (Ezra 7:24).

Ezra was commanded to act according to the wisdom of Eloah to appoint magistrates and judges. Whoever did not do the Law of Eloah and the law of the king was to have judgment executed speedily upon them (Ezra 7:25-26).

This being, Eloah, is the One True God. His name admits of no plurality whatsoever and the Law emanates from Him and He is the object of sacrifice at the Temple. The priesthood including Christ as High Priest after the order of Melchisedek worship Him and serve Him. The elohim emanate from Him as Ha Elohim. They, as Elohim, which is a plural word, are the sons of God and they are the council of the Elohim of the Psalms and the Council of Revelation chapters 4 and 5.

Chapter 4

Resistance to Rebuilding the Temple

¹Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the Lord, the God of Israel, ²they approached Zerub′babel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you; for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of E′sar-had′don king of Assyria who brought us here.” ³But Zerub′babel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses in Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.” ⁴Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and made them afraid to build, ⁵and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Rebuilding of Jerusalem Opposed

⁶And in the reign of Ahasu-e′rus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. ⁷And in the days of Ar-ta-xerx′es, Bishlam and Mith′redath and Tab′eel and the rest of their associates wrote to Ar-ta-xerx′es king of Persia; the letter was written in Aramaic and translated. ⁸Rehum the commander and Shim′shai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Ar-ta-xerx′es the king as follows— ⁹then wrote Rehum the commander, Shim′shai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, the judges, the governors, the officials, the Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites, ¹⁰and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnap′par deported and settled in the cities of Samar′ia and in the rest of the province Beyond the River, and now ¹¹this is a copy of the letter that they sent—“To Ar-ta-xerx′es the king: Your servants, the men of the province Beyond the River, send greeting. And now ¹²be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city; they are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. ¹³Now be it known to the king that, if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired. ¹⁴Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king’s dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king, ¹⁵in order that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will find in the book of the records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that sedition was stirred up in it from of old. That was why this city was laid waste. ¹⁶We make known to the king that, if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the River.” ¹⁷The king sent an answer: “To Rehum the commander and Shim′shai the scribe and the rest of their associates who live in Samar′ia and in the rest of the province Beyond the River, greeting. And now ¹⁸the letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. ¹⁹And I made a decree, and search has been made, and it has been found that this city from of old has risen against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it. ²⁰And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid. ²¹Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me. ²²And take care not to be slack in this matter; why should damage grow to the hurt of the king?” ²³Then, when the copy of King Ar-ta-xerx′es’ letter was read before Rehum and Shim′shai the scribe and their associates, they went in haste to the Jews at Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease. ²⁴Then the work on the house of God which is in Jerusalem stopped; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Intent of Chapter 4

4:1 – 6:22 Opposition and support for rebuilding the Temple

See The Sign of Jonah…….(No. 013) for the time frame. See also Reading the Law with Ezra and Nehemiah (No. 250).

4:1-24 Opposition from Neighbours halted the building.

4:1-6. The rejoicing alerted mixed groups who claimed fellowship in religion (2Kgs. 17:24-28).

Esarhaddon settled groups there in 676 BCE.

v. 3 We alone will build to the Lord Excluded the others and made them adversaries, and they remained so for centuries.

v. 4 They then set about discouraging them from building all the days of Cyrus using these counsellors in court. Cyrus died in 529 BCE. Darius reigned 521-485, Ahasuerus Xerxes I reigned 485-464 BCE.

vv. 7-16 The Letter to King Artaxerxes

v. 7 Letter to Artaxerxes (464-423 BCE) was written in Aramaic script from his local officials authorised by the commander and written by the scribe. (see NOARSV note).

v. 10 Osnappar is taken to mean Assurbanipal (668-630 BCE).

Beyond the River means the Syro-Palestinian region West of the Euphrates.

v. 13 The Persian treasury expected the payment of Tribute, the customs levies for provincial expenses, and the tolls for upkeep of the roads.

v. 15 Books of Records see Est. 2:23; 6:1; Mal. 3:16. Laid Waste 2Kgs. 24:13-15.

vv. 17-24 The King orders the work to cease.

As a result of the warning above the king then ordered the work to cease.

v. 23 Made them cease also introduces Nehemiah Ch 1.

4:24-6:22 The rebuilding continues.

This work stopped then until the reign of Darius II the Persian. The OARSV erroneously covers this fact up and attempts to go back to Darius I, which is absurd. The construction was stopped for quite some time down to the reign of Darius II. The claims to limit it to Darius I are to comply with the forgeries in the Receptus and for other reasons.

The name of God from 4:24 to 6:17 is the Chaldean Elahh (SHD 426) which is the equivalent of SHD 433 Elowah or Eloah the One True God who is the Father. He is the God of the Temple.

From 6:21-7:9 it reverts to 430 Elohim. As the God of Israel that gave the law to Moses and that subordinate God of Israel was guiding the people there. This is the subordinate God of Psalm 45:6-7. Eloah was the One True God who was the God of this God who was Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:8-9).

7:12-26 reverts to referring to the One True God Elahh or Eloah, The God of heaven and whose Temple is at Jerusalem.

Chapter 5

Restoration of the Temple Resumed

¹Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechari′ah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. ²Then Zerub′babel the son of She-al′ti-el and Jeshua the son of Jo′zadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them. ³At the same time Tat′tenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and She′thar-boz′enai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?” ⁴Theyalso asked them this, “What are the names of the men who are building this building?” ⁵But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them till a report should reach Darius and then answer be returned by letter concerning it. ⁶The copy of the letter which Tat′tenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and She′thar-boz′enai and his associates the governors who were in the province Beyond the River sent to Darius the king; ⁷they sent him a report, in which was written as follows: “To Darius the king, all peace. ⁸Be it known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, and timber is laid in the walls; this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands. ⁹Then we asked those elders and spoke to them thus, ‘Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?’ ¹⁰We also asked them their names, for your information, that we might write down the names of the men at their head. ¹¹And this was their reply to us: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. ¹²But because our fathers had angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnez′zar king of Babylon, the Chalde′an, who destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia. ¹³However in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt. ¹⁴And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnez′zar had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, these Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Shesh-baz′zar, whom he had made governor; ¹⁵and he said to him, “Take these vessels, go and put them in the temple which is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site.” ¹⁶Then this Shesh-baz′zar came and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and from that time until now it has been in building, and it is not yet finished.’ ¹⁷Therefore, if it seem good to the king, let search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by Cyrus the king for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send us his pleasure in this matter.”

Intent of Chapter 5

5:1-5 Rebuilding begins again.

5:1 The prophets, Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo, were raised to tell the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem to get on with the work (Hag. 1:1-4; 2:1-4; Zech. 4:9; 6:15).

5:3 Tattenai appears in cuneiform tablets as governor of the province Beyond the River (cf. OARSV).

vv. 6-17 Tattenai’s Letter to King Darius

v. 11 The Great King was Solomon

v. 14 The Temple at Babylon is probably that of Marduk.

v. 17 Royal Archives; the king’s treasury of 7:20 comp. 6:1 (see OARSV also)

The One True God Elahh or Eloah is referred to in 5:1, 2, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. See also n. 4:24-6:22).

Chapter 6

The Decree of Darius

¹Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in Babylonia, in the house of the archives where the documents were stored. ²And in Ecbat′ana, the capital which is in the province of Media, a scroll was found on which this was written: “A record. ³In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices are offered and burnt offerings are brought; its height shall be sixty cubits and its breadth sixty cubits, ⁴with three courses of great stones and one course of timber; let the cost be paid from the royal treasury. ⁵And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnez′zar took out of the temple that is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple which is in Jerusalem, each to its place; you shall put them in the house of God.” ⁶“Now therefore, Tat′tenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, She′thar-boz′enai, and your associates the governors who are in the province Beyond the River, keep away; ⁷let the work on this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site. ⁸Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God; the cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River.⁹And whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require—let that be given to them day by day without fail, ¹⁰that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons. ¹¹Also I make a decree that if any one alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled upon it, and his house shall be made a dunghill. ¹²May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people that shall put forth a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God which is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.”

Completion and Dedication of the Temple

¹³Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tat′tenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, She′thar-boz′enai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered. ¹⁴And the elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechari′ah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by command of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Ar-ta-xerx′es king of Persia; ¹⁵and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. ¹⁶And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. ¹⁷They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. ¹⁸And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.

The Passover Celebrated

¹⁹On the fourteenth day of the first month the returned exiles kept the passover. ²⁰For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. So they killed the passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves ¹it was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the pollutions of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. ²²And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; for the Lord had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Intent of Chapter 6

6:1-12 Edict in support of the Temple.

Search was made and the decree of Cyrus of the First Years was found. The search was undertaken in the reign of Darius II the Persian - see the chronology and dates in the Introduction. Trinitarians incorrectly relocate the decree to Darius I Hystaspes so they can relocate the dates, so that the forgeries in the Receptus and hence the KJV are able to create a fictitious timetable to 27 CE., and they are then faced with a half week of years problem. Their position is absurd. The Elephantine Papyri show the details of the collections for the refurbishment of the Temple on its construction and it is beyond doubt that the reconstruction was done in the reign of Darius II the Persian. The decree for the reconstruction was issued in 423 BCE. This date commenced the Seventy Weeks of Years. Haggai and Zechariah appear to have issued their prophecies in 423 and 422 BCE. 423/22 was the First Year of the New Jubilee. This event was fifty jubilees before 2028 CE.

Darius’ decree was made in the Fifth year of his reign and that was the year before the completion of the Temple. In this year the collection was taken up at Elephantine among the Jewish garrison on the 3^rd of the Egyptian month, Pnanenoth, in Year 5. They took up a collection of two shekels per head. This was a special levy seemingly for the decoration of the Temple when construction was completed in 422 BCE.

6:9 shows that the decree made provision for the burnt offerings (Lev. Ch. 1), the meal offering (Lev. 2:1-13) and the drink offering (Lev. 23:13). The punishment for interference was impalement (see also Est. 2:23; 9:14; Herodotus Hist. III, 159. Making one's house a dunghill was the limit of contempt (2Kgs. 10:27; Dan. 2:5).

vv. 13-18. Completion of the Temple.

The Temple was completed on 3 Adar of the Sixth year of Darius II in 422 BCE. (i.e. March-April). The dates given in the OARSV are for Darius I based on the forgeries in the Receptus and the KJV and the mythical reconstruction of the Seventy Weeks of Years (see also No. 013).

vv. 16-22 Concluding Dedication.

This was a new dedication as Solomon had dedicated his (1Kgs. 8:5, 63). Once this had been completed the Priests and Levites could take up their courses. No such division of courses is contained in the Pentateuch (see also OARSV n.)

The feasts of the Passover and Unleavened Bread were undertaken. Darius II had issued the decree for the Passover and it was issued all over the Empire. The decree of the Satrap Arsames to the Jews in Egypt including Elephantine are at the Introduction and in No. 013.

The text refers to the King of Assyria and that was because Darius was the King over the entire area of the North from India to Egypt.

Elahh (SHD 426), = Eloah SHD 433), The One True God of the Temple is seen in 6:3, 5,5,7,7, 8, 9, 10, 12,12, 14,16,17,18,

6:21-7:9 then refers to the Elohim of Israel.

Chapter 7

The Coming and Work of Ezra

¹Now after this, in the reign of Ar-ta-xerx′es king of Persia, Ezra the son of Serai′ah, son of Azari′ah, son of Hilki′ah, ²son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahi′tub, ³son of Amari′ah, son of Azari′ah, son of Merai′oth, ⁴son of Zerahi′ah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, ⁵son of Abishu′a, son of Phin′ehas, son of Elea′zar, son of Aaron the chief priest— ⁶this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses which the Lord the God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was upon him. ⁷And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Ar-ta-xerx′es the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. ⁸And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king; ⁹for on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was upon him. ¹⁰For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach his statutes and ordinances in Israel.

The Letter of Artaxerxes to Ezra

¹¹This is a copy of the letter which King Ar-ta-xerx′es gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, learned in matters of the commandments of the Lord and his statutes for Israel: ¹²“Ar-ta-xerx′es, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven. And now ¹³I make a decree that any one of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. ¹⁴For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your hand, ¹⁵and also to convey the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, ¹⁶with all the silver and gold which you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem. ¹⁷With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their cereal offerings and their drink offerings, and you shall offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. ¹⁸Whatever seems good to you and your brethren to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God. ¹⁹The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem. ²⁰And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which you have occasion to provide, you may provide it out of the king’s treasury. ²¹“And I, Ar-ta-xerx′es the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you, be it done with all diligence, ²²up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. ²³Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven, lest his wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons. ²⁴We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll upon any one of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God. ²⁵“And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and those who do not know them, you shall teach. ²⁶Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed upon him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.” ²⁷Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, ²⁸and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Intent of Chapter 7

7:1 – 10:44 Stage Two of the Reconstruction

7:1-10:16 then deals with the history of Ezra. The timing of the return of Ezra is detailed in the Introduction to Part I. The decree is made by Artaxerxes II (404-358 BCE).

Elahh (SHD 426 = Eloah SHD 433) as the One True God, the Father, then continues from 7:12-26 at 7:12,16,17,18,19,20,21,23,23, 24,25,25,26. 7:27 onwards, then reverts to the SHD 430 as the Elohim of Israel.

v. 7 Seventh Year of Artaxerxes II 398 BCE (see Introduction).

7:12-26 The king’s letter is in Aramaic.

v. 14 Seven Counsellors (Est. 1:14; Herodotus Hist. III, 84).

v. 20 has to refer to the provincial treasure house (v. 21).

v. 22 Equivalents of talent, cor and bath are in OARSV n. to pp. 1530-1531.

v. 24. The Temple functionaries were exempted from taxation.

v. 25 The wisdom of Ezra is that also of the New Book of the Law (v. 14) Ezra was empowered to enforce through Magistrates and judges with four types of penalties.

Chapter 8

Heads of Families Who Returned with Ezra

¹These are the heads of their fathers’ houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylonia, in the reign of Ar-ta-xerx′es the king: ²Of the sons of Phin′ehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ith′amar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush, ³of the sons of Shecani′ah. Of the sons of Parosh, Zechari′ah, with whom were registered one hundred and fifty men. ⁴Of the sons of Pa′hath-mo′ab, Eli-e-ho-e′nai the son of Zerahi′ah, and with him two hundred men. ⁵Of the sons of Zattu, Shecani′ah the son of Jaha′ziel, and with him three hundred men. ⁶Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty men. ⁷Of the sons of Elam, Jeshai′ah the son of Athali′ah, and with him seventy men. ⁸Of the sons of Shephati′ah, Zebadi′ah the son of Michael, and with him eighty men. ⁹Of the sons of Jo′ab, Obadi′ah the son of Jehi′el, and with him two hundred and eighteen men. ¹⁰Of the sons of Bani] Shelo′mith the son of Josiphi′ah, and with him a hundred and sixty men. ¹¹Of the sons of Be′bai, Zechari′ah, the son of Be′bai, and with him twenty-eight men. ¹²Of the sons of Azgad, Joha′nan the son of Hak′katan, and with him a hundred and ten men. ¹³Of the sons of Adoni′kam, those who came later, their names being Eliph′elet, Jeu′el, and Shemai′ah, and with them sixty men. ¹⁴Of the sons of Big′vai, Uthai and Zaccur, and with them seventy men.

Servants for the Temple

¹⁵I gathered them to the river that runs to Aha′va, and there we encamped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there none of the sons of Levi. ¹⁶Then I sent for Elie′zer, Ariel, Shemai′ah, Elna′than, Jarib, Elna′than, Nathan, Zechari′ah, and Meshul′lam, leading men, and for Joi′arib and Elna′than, who were men of insight, ¹⁷and sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphi′a, telling them what to say to Iddo and his brethren the temple servants at the place Casiphi′a, namely, to send us ministers for the house of our God. ¹⁸And by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebi′ah with his sons and kinsmen, eighteen; ¹⁹also Hashabi′ah and with him Jeshai′ah of the sons of Merar′i, with his kinsmen and their sons, twenty; ²⁰besides two hundred and twenty of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites. These were all mentioned by name.

Fasting and Prayer for Protection

²¹Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Aha′va, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a straight way for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. ²²For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way; since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good upon all that seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all that forsake him.” ²³So we fasted and besought our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

Gifts for the Temple

²⁴Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests: Sherebi′ah, Hashabi′ah, and ten of their kinsmen with them. ²⁵And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and his lords and all Israel there present had offered; ²⁶I weighed out into their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels worth a hundred talents, and a hundred talents of gold, ²⁷twenty bowls of gold worth a thousand darics, and two vessels of fine bright bronze as precious as gold. ²⁸And I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. ²⁹Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of fathers’ houses in Israel at Jerusalem, within the chambers of the house of the Lord.” ³⁰So the priests and the Levites took over the weight of the silver and the gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.

The Return to Jerusalem

³¹Then we departed from the river Aha′va on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem; the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way. ³²We came to Jerusalem, and there we remained three days. ³³On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed into the hands of Mer′emoth the priest, son of Uri′ah, and with him was Elea′zar the son of Phin′ehas, and with them were the Levites, Jo′zabad the son of Jeshua and No-adi′ah the son of Bin′nui. ³⁴The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded. ³⁵At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve he-goats; all this was a burnt offering to the Lord. ³⁶They also delivered the king’s commissions to the king’s satraps and to the governors of the province Beyond the River; and they aided the people and the house of God.

Intent of Chapter 8

8:1-14. Genealogy of Those Who Returned with Ezra. These are a list of priestly and law clans that returned with Ezra.

vv. 8-20 Ezra sent for Levites.

v. 15 The location of Ahava is unknown but the river is a tributary of the Euphrates. The scarcity of Levites mirrors that of 2:40.

v. 17 Casiphia is unidentified.

v. 21, 23 See Est. 4:16; 2 Chr. 20:3; Jer. 36:9 for preparatory fasting for Protection.

vv. 24-36 Offerings counted, guarded and taken to Jerusalem.

v. 28 Only those dedicated for the task should handle Holy Things.

v. 29 The chambers were the Temple storehouses (10:6; Neh. 10:37; 13:4-7).

Chapter 9

Denunciation of Mixed Marriages

¹After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Per′izzites, the Jeb′usites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. ²For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons; so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” ³When I heard this, I rent my garments and my mantle, and pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat appalled. ⁴Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered round me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice. ⁵And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garments and my mantle rent, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God, ⁶saying:

Ezra’s Prayer

“O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to thee, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. ⁷From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as at this day. ⁸But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant, and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage. ⁹For we are bondmen; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem. ¹⁰“And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken thy commandments, ¹¹which thou didst command by thy servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land unclean with the pollutions of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness. ¹²Therefore give not your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.’ ¹³And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that thou, our God, hast punished us less than our iniquities deserved and hast given us such a remnant as this, ¹⁴shall we break thy commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Wouldst thou not be angry with us till thou wouldst consume us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? ¹⁵O Lord the God of Israel, thou art just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as at this day. Behold, we are before thee in our guilt, for none can stand before thee because of this.”

Intent of Chapter 9

9:1-15 Intermarriage or mixed marriages

Ezra prays to God regarding the problem (see Lev.18:3; Deut. 7:1-16).

The law does not specifically exclude interracial marriages but the problem here was the marriage of those of the faith with other idolatrous groups. This also occurred with the returnees from Zerubbabel (4:3; 6:21) with Nehemiah (Neh. 10:28-30; 13:3; 23-30) and with Ezra here and we see also in Egypt (see Intro. Pt. I).

v.2 Holy race Those who are dedicated to the service of Eloah under Elohim at the Temple. (Ex. 19:5-6; Is. 62:12).

9:5-15 Ezra's Confession

v. 7. As at this day they were still subject to Persia (v. 9).

v. 8 Remnant. See vv. 13-15; Zech. 8:12; Isa. 28:5).

v. 9 Kings i.e. Cyrus, and the subsequent kings who gave order that favoured the Temple reconstruction (see Intro. Pt. I).

vv. 11-12 No such text exists in known prophetic writings but see Lev. 18:24-30 and Deut. 7:3.

Chapter 10

The People’s Response

¹While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel; for the people wept bitterly. ² And Shecani′ah the son of Jehi′el, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: “We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. ³Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. ⁴Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.” ⁵Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath.

Foreign Wives and Their Children Rejected

⁶Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God, and went to the chamber of Jehoha′nan the son of Eli′ashib, where he spent the night, neither eating bread nor drinking water; for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles. ⁷And a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem, ⁸and that if any one did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all his property should be forfeited, and he himself banned from the congregation of the exiles. ⁹Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. And all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. ¹⁰And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have trespassed and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel. ¹¹Now then make confession to the Lord the God of your fathers, and do his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.” ¹²Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, “It is so; we must do as you have said. ¹³But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a work for one day or for two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. ¹⁴Let our officials stand for the whole assembly; let all in our cities who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of every city, till the fierce wrath of our God over this matter be averted from us.” ¹⁵Only Jonathan the son of As′ahel and Jahzei′ah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshul′lam and Shab′bethai the Levite supported them. ¹⁶Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men, heads of fathers’ houses, according to their fathers’ houses, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter; ¹⁷and by the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women.¹⁸Of the sons of the priests who had married foreign women were found Ma-asei′ah, Elie′zer, Jarib, and Gedali′ah, of the sons of Je shua the son of Jo′zadak and his brethren. ¹⁹They pledged themselves to put away their wives, and their guilt offering was a ram of the flock for their guilt. ²⁰Of the sons of Immer: Hana′ni and Zebadi′ah. ²¹Of the sons of Harim: Ma-asei′ah, Eli′jah, Shemai′ah, Jehi′el, and Uzzi′ah. ²²Of the sons of Pashhur: Eli-o-e′nai, Ma-asei′ah, Ish′mael, Nethan′el, Jo′zabad, and Ela′sah. ²³Of the Levites: Jo′zabad, Shim′e-i, Kelai′ah (that is, Keli′ta), Petha-hi′ah, Judah, and Elie′zer. ²⁴Of the singers: Eli′ashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri. ²⁵ And of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Rami′ah, Izzi′ah, Malchi′jah, Mi′jamin, Elea′zar, Hashabi′a, and Benai′ah. ²⁶Of the sons of Elam: Mattani′ah, Zechari′ah, Jehi′el, Abdi, Jer′emoth, and Eli′jah. ²⁷Of the sons of Zattu: Eli-o-e′nai, Eli′ashib, Mattani′ah, Jer′emoth, Zabad, and Azi′za. ²⁸Of the sons of Be′bai were Jehoha′nan, Hanani′ah, Zab′bai, and Ath′lai. ²⁹Of the sons of Bani were Meshul′lam, Malluch, Adai′ah, Jashub, She′al, and Jer′emoth. ³⁰Of the sons of Pa′hath-mo′ab: Adna, Chelal, Benai′ah, Ma-asei′ah, Mattani′ah, Bez′alel, Bin′nui, and Manas′seh. ³¹Of the sons of Harim: Elie′zer, Isshi′jah, Malchi′jah, Shemai′ah, Shim′e-on, ³²Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemari′ah. ³³Of the sons of Hashum: Matte′nai, Mat′tattah, Zabad, Eliph′elet, Jer′emai, Manas′seh, and Shim′e-i. ³⁴Of the sons of Bani: Ma-ada′i, Amram, Uel, ³⁵Benai′ah, Bedei′ah, Chel′uhi, ³⁶Vani′ah, Mer′emoth, Eli′ashib, ³⁷Mattani′ah, Matte′nai, Ja′asu. ³⁸Of the sons of Bin′nui: Shim′e-i, ³⁹Shelemi′ah, Nathan, Adai′ah, ⁴⁰Machnad′ebai, Shashai, Sha′rai, ⁴¹Az′arel, Shelemi′ah, Shemari′ah, ⁴²Shallum, Amari′ah, and Joseph. ⁴³Of the sons of Nebo: Je-i′el, Mattithi′ah, Zabad, Zebi′na, Jaddai, Jo′el, and Benai′ah. ⁴⁴All these had married foreign women, and they put them away with their children.

Intent of Chapter 10

10:1-44. Resolution of the crisis. Repentance and divorce of gentile unconverted spouses. The law did not require that to be done except for idolatry.

vv. 1-6. The Impact of Ezra’s prayer.

The people confess.

Foreign wives and their children put away.

v. 3 The law would be that of Deut. 7:3.

v. 4 The covenant oath must be administered by Ezra.

v. 6. Jehohanan was grandson of Eliashib and High Priest under Darius II.

v. 9 Heavy rain is usual in Chislev the ninth month (November-December). The assembly then asked for local enforcement of the covenant.

vv. 16-17 The work began (Tebeth) and was completed by the First Month Nisan.

10:18-43 List probably derived from the official archives.

v. 19. The guilt offering signified the wrong had been righted.

Bullinger’s Notes on Chs. 4-10 (for KJV)

Chapter 4

Verse 1

adversaries. The Samaritans (Ezra 4:10 ). See note on 2 Kings 17:24 , 2 Kings 17:26 .

children = sons.

the temple. The walls and gates already built by Nehemiah. See Structures (pp. 616, 617), and notes on Neh 1:21 , Jeremiah 25:11 . See special note at end of 2 Chronicles 36:21 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 2

Zerubbabel. See note on Ezra 3:2 .

chief = heads.

we seek your God. A priest had been sent to these Samaritans (2 Kings 17:28-33 ).

we do sacrifice unto Him. Hebrew text = "although we have not been sacrificing". Some codices, and two early printed editions, with Septuagint and Syriac, add "unto Him".

Esar-haddon. The son and successor of Sennacherib (see notes on 2 Kings 19:37 , and 2 Chronicles 33:11 ).

Assur = Assyria.

Verse 3

Jeshua. See note on Ezra 3:2 .

Israel. See note on Ezra 2:2 and 1 Kings 12:17 .

as = according as.

Verse 4

troubled them in = terrified them from.

Verse 5

Cyrus. The son of Astyages and Esther. See App-57 .

Darius: i.e. Darius Hystaspis (see App-57 , App-58 ). "Darius" being only an appellative (= the maintainer), needs "Hystaspis" to be added, to identify him; as Astyages, when called Darius, needs the addition of "the Mede". See App-58 , and notes on p. 618.

Verse 6

Ahasuerus = the venerable king. See App-57 , and p. 618. An appellative, used here of Cyrus (Ezra 4:5 ), or retrospectively of Astyages; or, this verse may he retrospective, and should he in parenthesis.

Verse 7

Artaxerxes = the great king. Used here of the Cyrus of Ezra 4:3 . See App-57 , and p. 618. Ezra 4:7-23 may also be retrospective of Nehemiah 2:20 Nehemiah 6:5 ,

companions = colleagues or associates.

the Syrian tongue: i.e. in Aramaic characters as well as in the Aramaic language. Compare Esther 1:22 ; Esther 8:9 , where "writing" (Hebrew. kathab, to grave) is the same word as in this book.

Verse 8

Rehum. From here to Ezra 6:18 is in Syriac, which was like the French of today. Compare 2 Kings 18:26 . From Ezra 6:19 -- Ezra 7:11 is Hebrew; and Syriac again from Ezra 7:12-27 ; then Hebrew.

the chancellor = the master of judgments or decrees.

the scribe: or secretary.

in this sort = after this manner.

Verse 9

Dinaites. Probably from a Persian city. Apharsathchites. A Medo-Persian tribe.

Tarpelites. Probably from east of Elymais.

Apharsites. Of Persian origin.

Archevites. From Babylonia. Compare Genesis 10:10 .

Susanchites. From the Persian province or city of Shushan, the capital of Elam.

Dehavites = the Dahae of Herodotus (i. 125).

Elamites. From a province of Persia.

Verse 10

nations = peoples.

Asnapper = Assur-bani-pal, or Sardanapalus, the only Assyrian king who got into Elam, or held Shushan (now Susa) its capital.

on this side = beyond, on the west side: regarded from the east side of the Euphrates.

at such a time. This may refer to the date of the letter; or be rendered, as in Revised Version, "and so forth".

Verse 11

men. Chaldee. 'enosh. See App-14 .

Verse 12

Jews. Nehemiah, Hanani, and friends. Occurs eight times in Ezra, viz. Ezra 4:12 , Ezra 4:23 ; Ezra 5:1 , Ezra 5:5 ; Ezra 6:7 , Ezra 6:7 , Ezra 6:8 , Ezra 6:14 . The name by which they were known to Gentiles, because the majority belonged to Judah.

set up the walls. Quite true; for Nehemiah's work had long preceded this. And note that, when Nehemiah's work was done (Ezra 7:4 ) and the houses built, the house of God was still lying waste (Haggai 1:1-4 ). The Temple not mentioned here.

Verse 14

we have maintenance = the salt of the palace is our salt. See note on Numbers 18:19 .

Verse 17

answer. Chaldee. pithgam = an order or decree. A Persian word. Occurs only here and Ezra 5:5 , Ezra 5:11 ; Ezra 6:11 .Daniel 3:16 ; Daniel 4:17 .

Verse 19

I commanded = I made a decree.

made insurrection. Chaldee lifted itself up.

Verse 20

mighty kings. Such as David and Solomon.

Verse 21

commandment = decree.

Verse 23

by force. Chaldee by arm; "arm" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the force put forth by it.

Verse 24

GOD. Chaldee. 'elaha' (ha, emphatic), singular, same as Hebrew Eloah. App-4 .

Chapter 5

Verse 1

Haggai. The prophet of that name. In the second year of Darius (Haggai 1:1 ), "sixth month".

Zechariah. The prophet of that name. In the second year of Darius, "eighth month" (Zechariah 1:1 ).

GOD. Chaldee. 'elah (sing). Same as Eloah. App-4 .

of Israel. Still "Israel", because representative of the whole nation. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .

even unto them: or "[which was] over them".

Verse 3

governor. Chaldee. pechah (modern "Pasha"). Tatnai was governor in Syria, Zerubbabel was governor in Judah. Compare verses: Ezra 5:6 , Ezra 5:14 , Ezra 5:6 , Ezra 7:13 ; Ezra 8:36 . Daniel 3:2 , Daniel 3:3 , Daniel 3:27 ; Daniel 6:7 ; and Haggai 1:1 , Haggai 1:14 ; Haggai 2:2 , Haggai 2:21 .

companions = colleagues or associates.

commanded you = made a decree to you; given a firman.

make up = build. So the wall had already been built by Nehemiah. See the Chronological Structure, p. 617, and notes on p. 618; and App-58 .

Verse 4

said = told. Chaldee. 'amar, which must be followed by the words spoken (which are given in next clause).

we. Note this pronoun (first person sing, and plural), Here, and Ezra 7:27 , Ezra 9:15 , and Nehemiah 1:1 Nehemiah 7:73 ; Nehemiah 12:27-43 ; Nehemiah 13:4-31 . Septuagint, Syriac, and Arab, read "they".

after this manner. Ezra 5:4 should be rendered "we told them what the names were, accordingly the names of the men", &c. It is not a question.

men. As in Ezra 4:21 .

make this building. Hebrew "build this building". Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

Verse 5

the eye. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . elders. Chaldee. sib = grey, hoary. Used only of Ezra here and Ezra 6:7 , Ezra 6:8 , Ezra 6:14 .

Darius. See note on Ezra 4:5 .

answer. See note on Ezra 4:17 .

Verse 6

Tatnai. His name has been recently found in a contract.

Apharsachites. See note on Ezra 4:9 .

Verse 8

province. Compare Nehemiah 1:3 .

great = rolling: i.e. too heavy to be moved without rolling.

Verse 10

chief = head.

Verse 11

the GOD of heaven. See note on 2 Chronicles 36:23 . GOD. Chaldee. 'elah. Same as Eloah. App-4 .

these many years ago. Neh 500 years.

and set up. Compare 1 Kings 6:1 .

Verse 12

gave them. Compare 2 Kings 24:2 ; 2 Kings 25:8-11 .

Verse 13

Cyrus. Compare Ezra 1:1 .

Babylon. Included now with Persia. Compare Ezra 6:1 .Nehemiah 13:6 .

Verse 14

the vessels. Compare Ezra 1:7 , Ezra 1:8 ; Ezra 6:5 .

Sheshbazzar. See note on Ezra 1:8 . This was Nehemiah, who was present, though the stone was actually laid by Zeruhbabel (Zechariah 4:9 ).

Verse 15

carry them into = set them down, or deposit them in.

is = is to be.

Chapter 6

Verse 1

Darius: i.e. Darius (Hystaspis). See Chronological Structure and notes (pp 617, 618), and App-67 .

Babylon. See note on Ezra 5:13 .

Verse 2

Achmetha = Ecbatana, the capital of ancient Media.

Verse 3

first. year of Cyrus. Compare Ezra 1:1 .

offered. Chaldee. deba'h. Same as Hebrew. zebach. App-43 .

Verse 4

rows = layers or stories, as in 1 Kings 6:36 .

new timber. Should be "timber, one": i.e. one row. In changing the ancient characters into the modern square characters the aleph ('a) in had'a ("one"), in the ancient character, was mistaken for, Tau, the "th" in hadath ("new"), and so was transliterated. The Septuagint has preserved the original reading, and the Revised Version notes it in the margin. The two lines should read: "layers of great stones, three; and a layer of timber, one".

house = treasury: "house" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the treasures in it.

Verse 5

vessels. Compare Ezra 1:7 .

is = was.

Verse 6

Tatnai, governor = Tatnai, pasha. See notes on Ezra 5:3 , Ezra 5:6 .

companions = fellow-labourers or colleagues.

Verse 7

Jews. See note on Ezra 4:12 .

Verse 8

I make a decree. This was a new decree of Darius Hystaspis.

Verse 9

GOD. Chaldee. 'elah . (Singular) Same as Hebrew Eloah. App-4 .

GOD of heaven. See note on 2 Chronicles 36:23 .

wine = strong red wine. Hebrew. chemer. See App-27 .

Verse 10

sweet savours. See note on Leviticus 1:9 .

Verse 11

alter. A similar strong threat in the inscription of Darius on the Behistun rock ( App-57 ). Compare Daniel 3:29 .

Verse 12

alter. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ): "alter [this decree]".

Verse 14

commandment = decree.

Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton, to mark the important fact that three kings, at various times, were concerned in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The last named was the first in order. Darius was Darius Hystaspis, and Artaxerxes was Astyages (the father of Cyrus), the same as in Nehemiah 2:1 . See App-57 and App-58 ; and notes on p. 618.

Verse 15

Adar = the twelfth month. See App-51 .

Verse 16

children = sons.

Verse 17

offered = brought near. App-43 .

all Israel. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 . Note the number "twelve". App-10 .

Verse 18

as it is written = according to the writing.

the book of Moses: i.e. the Pentateuch. See App-47 .

Verse 19

And, &c. Here recommences the Hebrew language. See note on Ezra 4:8 .

kept the passover. One of the ten so recorded. See note on Exodus 12:28 .

Verse 21

heathen = nations.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Chapter 7

Verse 1

Artaxerxes = the great king: i.e. Darius (Hystaspis). See notes on p. 618. App-57 and App-58 .

Ezra. By this genealogy (verses: Ezra 7:1-5 ), compared with 1 Chronicles 6:15 , Ezra was brother to Jehozadak and uncle to the high priest Joshua. Ezra was deported with Zedekiah.

son = descendant.

Seraiah. Slain at Riblah (2 Kings 25:18-21 ).

Verse 6

ready = skilful.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 7

children = sons.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in this verse.

Nethinims. See note on Ezra 2:43 .

Verse 8

fifth month. Nisan (March-April). App-51 .

Verse 9

the first day of the first month. See note on Genesis 8:13 .

first month. Ab (July-August). App-51 .

Verse 10

to teach in Israel. This was the chief duty of priests. See note on Deuteronomy 33:10 .

Israel. Judah contained representatives of the whole Nation. See note on 1 Kings 12:7 .

Verse 11

the scribe . . . a scribe = a perfect scribe. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ).

Verse 12

GOD Chaldee. 'eldh. Same as Hebrew Eloah. App-4 .

GOD of heaven. See note on 2 Chronicles 36:23 .

Verse 13

decree. This decree (verses: Ezra 7:12-26 ) is in Clialdee. not in Hebrew. An inscription found at Susa commences with the same words.

Verse 14

seven counsellors. Compare Esther 1:10 , Esther 1:14 .

Verse 15

Israel. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .

Verse 17

meat offerings = meal offerings. Hebrew gift offerings. App-43 .

Verse 19

vessels. See note on Ezra 1:1 .

Verse 20

bestow, bestow. Figure of speech Anadiplosis ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

Verse 21

I, even I. Figure of speech Epizeuxis , for emphasis.

Verse 22

wine. Compare Ezra 6:9 . Hebrew. chemer. App-27 .

without prescribing how much = without measure.

Verse 23

diligently = quickly, exactly. A Persian word, , adrazda Occurs only here.

Why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 24

GOD Chaldee. 'elahah = Hebrew Eloah (emph.) See App-4 .

Verse 26

to banishment: or exclusion from the assembly. Chaldee = to rooting out. Occurs only here.

Verse 27

Blessed, &c. These two verses (27, 28) resume the Hebrew language.

Verse 28

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

mighty. Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 .

chief = heads.

Chapter 8

Verse 1

chief = heads: i.e. heads of houses.

them that went up. Most of these names appear in Ezr 2 and Nehemiah 10:0 . The number is 1,496. If there were no women with them, this might be the cause of the "strange" marriages in Ezra 1:0 0 and Nehemiah 10:0 .

Artaxerxes: i.e. Darius (Hystaspis). See App-57 and App-58 .

Verse 3

by genealogy = a lineage.

Verse 4

Pahath-moab. Compare Ezra 2:6 .

Verse 5

sons of Shechaniah. Septuagint reads "sons of Zattu, Shechaniah".

Verse 9

Of. Some codices, with one early printed edition and Septuagint, read "And of".

Verse 10

sons of Shelomith. Septuagint reads "sons of Bani, Shelomith".

Verse 12

ten. Some codices, with Syriac, read "twenty".

Verse 13

last. In contrast with others.

these. The only case where there were three heads. In all other cases (except Ezra 8:14 , where there are two) only one head is mentioned.

Verse 14

them. Hebrew text reads "him"; but some codices, with one early printed edition, read "them", as in Authorized Version.

Verse 15

together = out.

Ahava. Ahava. The name of the river, and of the city. Compare Ezra 8:21 .

abode = encamped.

none of the sons of Levi. Only priests and laymen. The Levites were slack. Compare Ezra 2:40 . Only a small number accompanied Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:36 ). Not so the priests (Ezra 2:36-39 ).

Verse 16

for. The Syriac and Vulgate omit the word "for" throughout this verse, and read "then sent I Eliezer", &c, as in Ezra 8:17 .

chief men = heads.

men of understanding. Figure of speech Antimereia (of Noun), App-6 = wise and prudent men, especially for teaching.

Verse 17

Casiphia. Not identified. Probably near Babylon.

Nethinims. These were the ministers of the Levites. Originally Gibeonites. See note on Ezra 2:43 .

Verse 24

chief = princes.

Verse 25

offering = heave offering. App-43 .

all Israel. See note on Ezra 2:2 and 1 Kings 12:17 .

Verse 27

basons = bowls.

of = valued at.

fine copper, &c. = copper shining like gold.

Verse 28

holy = a holy body. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

Verse 34

By number and by weight of every one: or, the whole by number and weight.

Verse 35

Also, &c. The fourth of the ten Sedarim (or cycles for public reading) begins here and goes on to Nehemiah 2:10 , where it ends; thus uniting the two books in one. See note, p. 632.

children = sons.

Verse 36

commissions = Royal decrees. Hebrew. dath.

Chapter 9

Verse 1

the princes. Not all of them. Compare Ezra 9:2 .

People of Israel. See note on Ezra 2:2 and 1 Kings 12:17 .

people = peoples, or nations.

Canaanites. Contrary to the law (Exodus 34:12-16 . Deuteronomy 7:1-3 ). See App-23 and App-25 .

Verse 2

holy seed , or the sanctuary's seed. See note on Exodus 3:5 and compare Daniel 2:43 .Exodus 19:6 ; Exodus 22:31 .Deuteronomy 7:6 ; Deuteronomy 14:2 .

trespass = defection. Hebrew. ma'al. App-44 . Not the same word as in Ezra 9:6 .

Verse 3

rent my garment, &c. These were signs of inward mourning. See Ezra 9:5 . Jos 7:6 . 1 Samuel 4:12 . 2 Samuel 1:2 ; 2Sa 13:31 . 2 Kings 18:37 . Job 1:20 . Matthew 26:65 .

astonied: i.e. causing astonishment in such as saw me.

Verse 4

trembled at the words, &c. Compare Isaiah 66:2 .

transgression = defection. Hebrew. ma'al. App-44 .

sacrifice = meal offering. Hebrew. minchah. App-43 .

Verse 5

having rent = having already rent.

I feel upon my knees. Compare Ezra 10:1 . 2 Chronicles 6:13 .Daniel 6:10 . Luke 22:41 .Acts 7:60 ; Acts 9:40 ; Acts 20:36 ; Act :21:5 .

the LORD. Hebrew Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 6

trespass. Hebrew. 'ashma (feminine.) = guilt incurred. The rnasc. = guilt imputed (as in Leviticus 5:7 . Numbers 5:8 . 2 Kings 12:16 . Psalms 68:21 ). App-44 . Not the same word as in Ezra 9:2 . Compare verses: Ezra 9:7 , Ezra 9:13 , Ezra 9:15 .

Verse 7

been delivered. For these selfsame sins! as in Ezra 9:2 . confusion of face. Compare Daniel 9:5-7 .

Verse 8

a little space = a little while. Hebrew. kim'at. See note on "almost" (Proverbs 5:14 ). Referring to the respite which had been begun by the kings of Assyria (Ezra 6:22 .Nehemiah 9:32; Nehemiah 9:32 ) and continued by the kings of Persia.

remnant to escape. The same which Nehemiah had already inquired about (Nehemiah 1:2 , Nehemiah 1:3 ).

a nail = a peg surely driven in. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the dwelling secured by it.

holy place = Jerusalem, or sanctuary. Compare Psalms 24:3 .Isaiah 56:7 , &c.

Verse 9

we were. Or, supply the Ellipsis "we [are]".

bondmen. The subjects of the Persians (Nehemiah 9:36 ).

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

kings of Persia. See App-57 .

to repair the desolations. Compare Nehemiah 1:2 , Nehemiah 1:3 .

give us a wall. This helps to prove that the task of Nehemiah had already been effected. See the Structure on p. 617, notes on p. 618, and App-58 .

Verse 10

what shall we say . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 11

by = by the hand of.

filthiness. Showing Ezra's acquaintance with the Pentateuch. Compare Genesis 15:16 . Deuteronomy 9:5 .

Verse 12

nor seek their peace. Reference to Pentateuch: the very words of Deuteronomy 23:6 .

children = sons.

Verse 13

evil. Heb, ra'a'. App-44 .

such deliverance: or, such a reserved survival.

Verse 14

Should we . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

Verse 15

we remain yet escaped: or, we are left but a remnant that is escaped. Compare Nehemiah 1:2 , Nehemiah 1:3 .

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Chapter 10

Verse 1

when Ezra had prayed. Note the change to the third person. This does not imply another authorship. Such changes are common. Compare Isaiah 6:5-8 ; Isaiah 7:3 ; Isaiah 37:6 with other passages. Also Jeremiah 20:1-6 with Ezra 10:7 ; and Jeremiah 21:1 with Jeremiah 28:1 , Jeremiah 28:5 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God. App-4 .

Israel. Compare Ezra 1:5 .Ezra 2:2 , Ezra 2:59 , Ezra 2:70 ; Ezra 6:21 ; Ezra 7:10 , Ezra 7:13 ; Ezra 8:25 ; Ezra 9:1 . See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .

congregation = assembly. Assembled 24th Tisri. Compare Nehemiah 9:3 .

children = little ones. Hebrew. yeled. Not the same word as in Ezra 10:7 .

wept very sore. Hebrew "wept a great weeping". Figure of speech Polyptoton. See note on Genesis 26:28 .

Verse 2

the sons of Elam. Compare Ezra 10:26 .

answered and said. A Hebrew idiom, by which the first verb "answered" must be rendered according to the context. Here = "confessed and said".

trespassed = acted treacherously. Hebrew. ma'al . App-44 .

people = peoples.

in = for.

Verse 3

such as are born. It does not appear that Shechaniah's proposal was carried out. Compare verses: Ezra 10:11 , Ezra 10:14 .

counsel. See Psalms 33:11 ; Psalms 73:24 ; Psalms 106:13 .Proverbs 8:14 ; Proverbs 19:21 .Isaiah 46:10 , Isaiah 46:11 .

my LORD* = Jehovah. One of the 134 places where Jehovah was altered by the Sopherim to Adonay. See App-32 and App-4 .

tremble. Compare Ezra 9:4 .

according to the law. See Deuteronomy 24:1 , Deuteronomy 24:2 .

Verse 4

Arise. It would seem that Ezra continued kneeling.

Verse 5

the chief priests = the princes of the priests. Compare 2 Chronicles 36:14 .

the Levites. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "and the Levites".

Verse 6

Then Ezra rose up. In response to Shechaniah.

Johanan. The son of Eliashib, the high priest who succeeded Joiakim, the successor of Jeshua (Nehemiah 12:10 , Nehemiah 12:23 ).

came thither. According to Syriac and Arabic = "lodged (or spent the night) there".

mourned. Compare the first occurance of Hebrew ' abal . Genesis 37:34 .

transgression = unfaithfulness. Hebrew. ma'al. App-44. Compare Ezra 10:2 ; Ezra 10:10 .

Verse 7

children = sons. Not. the same word as in Ezra 10:1 .

captivity = exile. As in verses: Ezra 10:6 , Ezra 10:8 , Ezra 10:16 ; Ezra 1:11 ; Ezra 2:1 ; Ezra 4:1 ; Ezra 6:19 , Ezra 6:20 , Ezra 6:21 ; Ezra 8:35 .

Verse 8

forfeited = devoted.

carried away = into captivity.

Verse 9

Judah and Benjamin. Yet spoken of as containing representatives of all Israel. See note on Ezra 10:1 .

ninth month. That is Chisleu (= Nov. -Dec), four months after Ezra's arrival (Ezra 7:8 ).

street = broad place.

Verse 10

trespass. Hebrew. 'ashah. See note on Ezra 9:6 .

Verse 11

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 12

As thou hast said = according to thy words. Hebrew margin reads "word".

Verse 13

a time of much rain = the rainy season.

transgressed = rebelled. Hebrew. pasha'. App-44 .

Verse 14

rulers = princes.

for. Hebrew. 'ad = "until", as in the previous clause. Translate and supply Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ) thus: "until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter [be carried out]".

Verse 15

Only = But, or. Nevertheless.

Tikvah. Compare 2 Kings 22:14 and 1Ch 34:22 .

were employed, &c. = superintended [the business].

Verse 16

certain = men. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

chief = heads.

Verse 17

the first day of the first month. See note on Genesis 8:13 . Ezra's last date. The commission, therefore, sat for eighty-eight days.

Verse 18

the sons Of Joshua. Who had come up with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:2 ). There were 973 priests of that house (Ezra 2:36 ). There were found guilty seventeen priests, ten Levites singers and sorters, and eighty-six lay people, making 118 in all.

Verse 19

gave their hands. Hebrew idiom for giving their word. Compare 2 Kings 10:15 .

being guilty. Compare Leviticus 5:1 .

a ram. See Leviticus 5:14-19 .

Verse 22

Nethaneel. Some codices, with five early printed editions, read "and Nethaneel".

Verse 29

and Bamoth. Hebrew text reads "Jeremoth". Margin reads "and Ramoth".

Verse 31

of. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, have this word "of" in the text.

Verse 44

strange = foreign.

Thus ends the first part of this book "Ezra-Nehemiah"; not abruptly; as it is followed by the second part, which is concerned mainly with the rebuilding of the city and the walls, instead of with the Temple. The incidents recorded in Nehemiah 1:1 Nehemiah 7:4 had taken place before the first return under Zerubbabel, See the Structures and notes on pp 617, 618, and App-58 . Compare also Nehemiah 7:4 with Haggai 1:1-4 .