Ezra 7
1 Ezra goes up to Jerusalem.
11 The gracious commission of Artaxerxes to Ezra.
27 Ezra blesses God for this favour.
Artaxerxes <0783> [A.M. 3547. B.C. 457. Artaxerxes.]
Ezra <05830> [Ezra.]
Seraiah <08304> [Seraiah.]
Hilkiah <02518> [Hilkiah.]
Zadok <06659> [Zadok.]
Phinehas <06372> [Phinehas.]
Eleazar <0499> [Eleazar.]
chief priest <03548 07218> [chief priest.]
skilled <04106> [a ready.]
{Sopher mahir} does not merely signify a speedy writer, or an excellent penman, but one eminently skilful in expounding the law, {sophro chochmo,} "a wise scribe," as the Syriac renders.
scribe <05608> [scribe.]
law <08451> [the law.]
given ......... requested <05414 01246> [granted him.]
hand <03027> [according to.]
Israelites <01121> [the children.]
Levites <03881> [the Levites.]
attendants <07891> [singers.]
gatekeepers <07778> [porters.]
temple servants <05411> [Nethinims.]
Artaxerxes <0783> [Artaxerxes.]
determined ..... ascent <03246 04609> [began he to go up. Heb. was the foundation of the going up. according to.]
dedicated <03559> [prepared.]
law <08451> [the law.]
observance <06213 03925> [to do it.]
observance <03925> [and to teach.]
copy <06572> [the copy.]
scribe ..... scribe <05608> [a scribe.]
Artaxerxes <0783> [Artaxerxes.]
The title of the king would, in Persian, run thus: {Ardsheer shahinshah,} or {padshah,} "Ardsheer, king of kings," i.e., great or supreme king or emperor.
Ezra <05831> [unto Ezra, etc. or, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe of the law of the God of heaven, peace, etc. and at such a time.]
I .... issued ......... from <04481 07761> [I make.]
wishes to do so <05069> [minded.]
[of the king. Chal. from before the king. seven counsellors.]
Seven princes of Persia having conspired against and slain the usurper Smerdis, and thus made way for the family of Darius, which afterwards filled the throne, the Persian kings of this race had always seven chief princes as their counsellors, who possessed peculiar privileges, were his chief assistants in the government, and by whose advice all the public affairs of the empire were transacted. The names of these counsellors are given in the parallel place of the book of Esther.
law <01882> [according.]
God <0426> [thy God.]
silver <03702> [the silver.]
which ............... who resides <01768 04907> [whose habitation.]
all ... silver ......... all <03702 03606> [all the silver.]
contributions <05069> [offering.]
sure ... purchase <0629 07066> [buy speedily.]
meal offerings <04504> [their meat offerings.]
bring them <01994 07127> [offer them.]
whatever <04101> [whatsoever.]
do .................... keeping <05648> [that do.]
will <07470> [after the will.]
He gave them the fullest liberty to order every thing according to their own institutions; binding them to no form or mode of worship.
vessels <03984> [The vessels.]
God ... Jerusalem ................. God <0426 03390> [the God of Jerusalem.]
supply .... do so from <05415 04481> [bestow it.]
Artaxerxes <0783> [Artaxerxes.]
Trans-Euphrates <05103 05675> [beyond the river.]
Ezra ... priestly <03549 05831> [Ezra the priest.]
cors <03734> [measures. Chal. cors.]
baths ... wine ... baths <01325 02562> [baths of wine.]
salt <04416> [salt.]
Everything ........ required <03606 02941> [Whatsoever is commanded. Chal. Whatsoever is of the decree.]
precisely <0149> [let it be.]
Why .... be wrath <04101 01934 07109> [why should there be wrath.]
As Artaxerxes believed he was appointed by the Almighty to do this work, he therefore wished to do it heartily; knowing that if he did not, God would be displeased, and that the kingdom would be cut off from him or his posterity.
any <03606> [touching any.]
wisdom <02452> [the wisdom.]
appoint judges <04483 08200> [set magistrates.]
Trans-Euphrates <05103 05675> [beyond the river.]
That is, "west of the Euphrates," which was beyond with regard to the king of Persia, who was on the east.
know ........... know ...... taught <03046> [teach ye.]
Everyone <03606> [whosoever.]
law .... God .... law <01882 0426> [the law of thy God.]
does ...................... appropriate ... whether .... death or ... or <01934 02006 04193> [whether it be.]
banishment <08332> [banishment. Chal. rooting out.]
Blessed <01288> [Blessed.]
There is a most amiable spirit of piety in these reflections. Instead of expatiating on the praises of his munificent patron, or boasting of his own services, he blesses God for "putting such a thing in the king's heart;" and for all the assistance and favour shown him by the king and his counsellors.
so ........ king <05414 04428> [put such.]
heart .... king <03820 04428> [in the king's heart.]
honor <06286> [to beautify.]
He .... conferred <05186> [extended.]
advisers <03289> [his counsellors.]
strength <02388> [And I was strengthened.]
In what the king decreed he saw the hand of God: he therefore gave Him the praise, and took courage.
hand <03027> [as the hand.]
