Advanced Commentary

(ex.: John 3:14-18)

Table of Contents Bible Dictionary
Arts
Questions
Resources/Books

Context
8:1 These <0428> are the leaders <01> <07218> and those enrolled with them by genealogy <03187> who were coming up <05927> with <05973> me from Babylon <0894> during the reign <04438> of King <04428> Artaxerxes <0783>: 8:2 from the descendants <01121> of Phinehas <06372>, Gershom <01647>; from the descendants <01121> of Ithamar <0385>, Daniel <01840>; from the descendants <01121> of David <01732>, Hattush <02407> 8:3 the son <01121> of Shecaniah <07935>; from the descendants <01121> of Parosh <06551>, Zechariah <02148>, and with <05973> him were enrolled by genealogy <03187> 150 <02572> <03967> men <02145>; 8:4 from the descendants <01121> of Pahath-Moab <06355>, Eliehoenai <0454> son <01121> of Zerahiah <02228>, and with <05973> him 200 <03967> men <02145>; 8:5 from the descendants <01121> of Zattu, Shecaniah <07935> son <01121> of Jahaziel <03166>, and with <05973> him 300 <03967> <07969> men <02145>; 8:6 from the descendants <01121> of Adin <05720>, Ebed <05651> son <01121> of Jonathan <03129>, and with <05973> him 50 <02572> men <02145>; 8:7 from the descendants <01121> of Elam <05867>, Jeshaiah <03470> son <01121> of Athaliah <06271>, and with <05973> him 70 <07657> men <02145>; 8:8 from the descendants <01121> of Shephatiah <08203>, Zebadiah <02069> son <01121> of Michael <04317>, and with <05973> him 80 <08084> men <02145>; 8:9 from the descendants <01121> of Joab <03097>, Obadiah <05662> son <01121> of Jehiel <03171>, and with <05973> him 218 <06240> <08083> <03967> men <02145>; 8:10 from the descendants <01121> of Bani, Shelomith <08019> son <01121> of Josiphiah <03131>, and with <05973> him 160 <08346> <03967> men <02145>; 8:11 from the descendants <01121> of Bebai <0893>, Zechariah <02148> son <01121> of Bebai <0893>, and with <05973> him 28 <08083> <06242> men <02145>; 8:12 from the descendants <01121> of Azgad <05803>, Johanan <03110> son <01121> of Hakkatan <06997>, and with <05973> him 110 <06235> <03967> men <02145>; 8:13 from the descendants <01121> of Adonikam <0140> there were the latter <0314> ones. Their names <08034> were Eliphelet <0467>, Jeuel <03273>, and Shemaiah <08098>, and with <05973> them 60 <08346> men <02145>; 8:14 from the descendants <01121> of Bigvai <0902>, Uthai <05793>, and Zaccur <02072>, and with <05973> them 70 <07657> men <02145>. 8:15 I had them assemble <06908> at <0413> the canal <05104> that flows <0935> toward <0413> Ahava <0163>, and we camped <02583> there <08033> for three <07969> days <03117>. I observed <0995> that the people <05971> and the priests <03548> were present, but I found <04672> no <03808> Levites <03878> <01121> there <08033>. 8:16 So I sent <07971> for Eliezer <0461>, Ariel <0740>, Shemaiah <08098>, Elnathan <0494>, Jarib <03402>, Elnathan <0494>, Nathan <05416>, Zechariah <02148>, and Meshullam <04918>, who were leaders <07218>, and Joiarib <03114> and Elnathan <0494>, who were teachers <0995>. 8:17 I sent <03318> them to <05921> Iddo <0112>, who was the leader <07218> in the place <04725> called Casiphia <03703>. I told <06310> <07760> them what <01697> to say <01696> to <0413> Iddo <0112> and his relatives <0251>, who were the temple servants <05411> in <04725> Casiphia <03703>, so they would bring <0935> us attendants <08334> for the temple <01004> of our God <0430>. 8:18 Due to the fact that the good <02896> hand <03027> of our God <0430> was on <05921> us, they brought <0935> us a skilled <07922> man <0376>, from the descendants <01121> of Mahli <04249> the son <01121> of Levi <03878> son <01121> of Israel <03478>. This man was Sherebiah <08274>, who was accompanied by his sons <01121> and brothers <0251>, 18 <06240> <08083> men,

• Ezr 8:1-14 -- The Leaders Who Returned with Ezra
• Ezr 8:15-36 -- The Exiles Travel to Jerusalem

• Zechariah

  [ebd] Jehovah is renowned or remembered. (1.) A prophet of Judah, the eleventh of the twelve minor prophets. Like Ezekiel, he was of priestly extraction. He describes himself (1:1) as "the son of Berechiah." In Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 h...
  [smith] The eleventh in order of the twelve minor prophets. He is called in his prophecy the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo, whereas in the book of Ezra, (Ezra 5:1; 6:14) he is said to have been the son of Iddo. It is nat...
  [nave] ZECHARIAH 1. A Reubenite, 1 Chr. 5:7. 2. Three Levites in the days of David, 1 Chr. 9:21; 15:18, 20, 24; 16:5; 26:2, 14. 3. A Benjamite, 1 Chr. 9:37. Called Zacher in 1 Chr. 8:31. 4. Two Kohathites, 1 Chr. 24:25; 2 Chr. ...
  

• EZRA

  [ebd] help. (1.) A priest among those that returned to Jerusalem under Zerubabel (Neh. 12:1). (2.) The "scribe" who led the second body of exiles that returned from Babylon to Jerusalem B.C. 459, and author of the book of Scriptur...
  [isbe] EZRA - ez'-ra (Aramaic or Chaldee, `ezra', "help"; a hypocoristicon, or shortened form of Azariah, "Yahweh has helped." The Hebrew spells the name `ezrah, as in 1 Ch 4:17, or uses the Aramaic spelling of the name, as in Ezr ...
  

• Israel

  [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...
  

• GENEALOGY, 8 part 2

  [isbe] GENEALOGY, 8 part 2 - I. Primeval Genealogies (1 Chronicals 1:1-54). To show Israel's place among the nations; follows Genesis closely, omitting only the Cainites; boldly, skillfully compressed, as if the omitted facts were ...
  

• Genealogy

  [nave] GENEALOGY, Num. 1:18; 2 Chr. 12:15; Ezra 2:59; Neh. 7:5; Heb. 7:3. Of no spiritual significance, Matt. 3:9; 1 Tim. 1:4; Tit. 3:9. From Adam to Noah, Gen. 4:16-22; 5; 1 Chr. 1:1-4; Luke 3:36-38; to Abraham, Gen. 11:10-32; ...
  

• Shemaiah

  [isbe] SHEMAIAH - she-ma'-ya, she-mi'-a (shema`yah (in 2 Ch 11:2; 17:8; 31:15; 35:9; Jer 26:20; 29:24; 36:12, shema`yahu), "Jahveh hears"): The name is most frequently borne by priests, Levites and prophets. (1) Codex Vaticanus Sam...
  [smith] (heard by Jehovah). A prophet in the reign of Rehoboam. (1 Kings 12:22; 2 Chronicles 11:2) (B.C. 972.) He wrote a chronicle containing the events of Rehoboam?s reign. (2 Chronicles 12:5,15) The son of Shechaniah, am...
  [nave] SHEMAIAH 1. A prophet in the time of Rehoboam. Prevents Rehoboam from war with Jeroboam, 1 Kin. 12:22-24; 2 Chr. 11:2-4. Prophesies the punishment of Rehoboam by Shishak, king of Egypt, 2 Chr. 12:5, 7. Writes chronicles, 2...
  

• Sherebiah

  [ebd] flame of the Lord, a priest whose name is prominent in connection with the work carried on by Ezra and Nehemiah at Jerusalem (Ezra 8:17, 18, 24-30; Neh. 8:7; 9:4, 5; 10:12).
  [isbe] SHEREBIAH - sher-e-bi'-a, she-reb'-ya (sherebhyah, "God has sent burning heat"(?); the form is doubtful): A post-exilic priest and family. Sherebiah, who joined Ezra at the river Ahava (Ezr 8:18; the Septuagint omits), and h...
  [smith] (heat of Jehovah) a Levite in the time of Ezra. (Ezra 8:18,24) (B.C. 459.) When Ezra read the law to the people, Sherebiah was among the Levites who assisted him. (Nehemiah 8:7) He signed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah...
  [nave] SHEREBIAH, a Levite assistant to Ezra, Ezra 8:18, 24; Neh. 8:7; 9:4, 5. 2. A Levite who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah, Neh. 10:12; 12:8, 24.
  

• Zabbud

  [ebd] gift, Ezra 8:14.
  [isbe] ZABBUD - zab'-ud (zabbudh, meaning uncertain; Ezr 8:14, where Kere is zakkur and Kethibh is zabhudh = "Zabud"; 1 Esdras 8:40 has "Istalcarus"): A companion of Ezra on his journey from Babylon to Jerusalem.
  [smith] (given) one of the sons of Bigvai, who returned in the second caravan with Ezra. (Ezra 8:14) (B.C. 459.)
  [nave] ZABBUD, a returned exile, Ezra 8:14.
  

• Jeiel

  [ebd] snatched away by God. (1.) A descendant of Benjamin (1 Chr. 9:35; 8:29). (2.) One of the Levites who took part in praising God on the removal of the ark to Jerusalem (1 Chr. 16:5). (3.) 2 Chr. 29:13. A Levite of the sons of ...
  [isbe] JEIEL - je-i'-el (ye`i'el, meaning unknown): (1) A Reubenite (1 Ch 5:7). (2) In 1 Ch 8:29, added in the Revised Version (British and American) from 9:35, where Kethibh is "Jeuel," an ancestor of King Saul; the King James Ver...
  [smith] (treasured of God). A Reubenite of the house of Joel. (1 Chronicles 5:7) A Merarite Levite, one of the gate-keepers to the sacred tent. (1 Chronicles 15:18) His duty was also to play the harp, ver. (1 Chronicles 15:...
  [nave] JEIEL 1. Called also Jehiel. A Reubenite, 1 Chr. 5:7. 2. A Benjamite, 1 Chr. 9:35. 3. One of David's heroes, 1 Chr. 11:44. 4. A Levite, and chorister in the tabernacle service, 1 Chr. 15:18, 21; 16:5. 5. A Levite, ancest...
  

• Jeshaiah

  [ebd] deliverance of Jehovah. (1.) A Kohathite Levite, the father of Joram, of the family of Eliezer (1 Chr. 26:25); called also Isshiah (24:21). (2.) One of the sons of Jeduthum (1 Chr. 25:3, 15). (3.) One of the three sons of Ha...
  [isbe] JESHAIAH - je-sha'-ya, je-shi'-a ((a) yesha`yahu; (b) yesha`yah, "deliverance of Yah"; (2) (3) below have form (a), the others form (b)): (1) Son of Hananiah, and grandson of Zerubbabel, according to 1 Ch 3:21, the King Jame...
  [smith] (salvation of Jehovah). One of the six sons of Jeduthun. (1 Chronicles 25:3,15) (B.C. 1014.) A Levite in the reign of David, eldest son of Rehabiah, a descendant of Amram through Moses. (1 Chronicles 26:25) [ISSHIAH] (...
  [nave] JESHAIAH 1 Chr. 25:3, 15; 26:25; Ezra 8:7, 19
  

• Joiarib

  [ebd] (whom Jehovah defends) = Jehoiarib. (1.) The founder of one of the courses of the priests (Neh. 11:10). (2.) Neh. 11:5; a descendant of Judah. (3.) Neh. 12:6. (4.) Ezra 8:16, a "man of understanding" whom Ezra sent to "bring...
  [isbe] JOIARIB - joi'-a-rib (yoyaribh, "Yahweh pleads" or "contends"; compare JEHOIARIB): (1) A "teacher" of Ezra's time (Ezr 8:16). (2) A Judahite (Neh 11:5). (3) In Neh 11:10; 12:6,19 = JEHOIARIB (which see).
  [smith] (whom Jehovah defends.) A layman who returned form Babylon with Ezra. (Ezra 8:16) (B.C. 459.) The founder of one of the courses of priests, elsewhere called in full JEHOIARIB. (Nehemiah 12:6,19) A Shilonite --i.e. probably a...
  [nave] JOIARIB 1. A returned exile, Ezra 8:16. 2. A descendant of Judah, Neh. 11:5. 3. A priest who returned from Babylon, Neh. 12:6, 19. 4. See: Jehoiarib.
  

• Obadiah

  [ebd] servant of the Lord. (1.) An Israelite who was chief in the household of King Ahab (1 Kings 18:3). Amid great spiritual degeneracy he maintained his fidelity to God, and interposed to protect The Lord's prophets, an hundred ...
  [isbe] OBADIAH - o-ba-di'-a (`obhadhyah, more fully `obhadhyahu, "servant of Yahweh"): (1) The steward or prime minister of Ahab, who did his best to protect the prophets of Yahweh against Jezebel's persecution. He met Elijah on hi...
  [smith] (servant of the Lord), A man whose sons are enumerated in the genealogy of the tribe of Judah. (1 Chronicles 3:21) (B.C. 470.) A descendant of Issachar and a chief man of his tribe. (1 Chronicles 7:3) (B.C. 1014.) One ...
  [nave] OBADIAH 1. The governor of Ahab's house. Conceals in a cave one hundred prophets persecuted by Jezebel, 1 Kin. 18:3, 4. Meets Elijah and receives a commission from him, 1 Kin. 18:3-16. 2. Head of a family, 1 Chr. 3:21. 3....
  

• Jarib

  [ebd] an adversary. (1.) A son of Simeon (1 Chr. 4:24). (2.) One of the chiefs sent by Ezra to bring up the priests to Jerusalem (Ezra 8:16). (3.) Ezra 10:18.
  [isbe] JARIB - ja'-rib, jar'-ib (yaribh, "he contends," or "takes (our) part," or "conducts (our) case"): (1) In 1 Ch 4:24, a "son" (clan) of Simeon = "Jachin" of Gen 46:10; Ex 6:15; Nu 26:12. (2)In Ezr 8:16, one of the "chief men"...
  [smith] (adversary). Named in the list of (1 Chronicles 4:24) only, as a son of Simeon. Perhaps the same as JACHIN. Genesis46; Exod 6; Numb 26. One of the "chief men" who accompanied Ezra on his journey from Babylon to Jerusalem....
  [nave] JARIB 1. Son of Simeon, 1 Chr. 4:24. 2. A chief among the captivity, Ezra 8:16. 3. A priest who married an idolatrous wife, Ezra 10:18.
  

• Ariel

  [ebd] the lion of God. (1.) One of the chief men sent by Ezra to procure Levites for the sanctuary (Ezra 8:16). (2.) A symbolic name for Jerusalem (Isa. 29:1, 2, 7) as "victorious under God," and in Ezek. 43:15, 16, for the altar ...
  [isbe] ARIEL - a'-ri-el ('ariy'el or 'ari'el, "lioness of God"): But the word occurs in Ezek 43:15,16, and is there translated in the Revised Version (British and American) "ALTAR HEARTH." (1) According to the Revised Version (Brit...
  [smith] (lion of God). One of the "chief men" who under Ezra directed the caravan which he led back from Babylon to Jerusalem. (Ezra 8:16) (B.C. 459.) The word occurs also in reference to two Moabites slain by Benaiah. (2 Samuel ...
  [nave] ARIEL 1. A messenger from Ezra to Iddo, Ezra 8:16. 2. A symbolical name for Jerusalem, Isa. 29:1, 2, 7.
  

• Ahava

  [ebd] water, the river (Ezra 8:21) by the banks of which the Jewish exiles assembled under Ezra when about to return to Jerusalem from Babylon. In all probability this was one of the streams of Mesopotamia which flowed into the Eu...
  [isbe] AHAVA - a-ha'-va ('ahawa'): The river in Babylonia on the banks of which Ezra gathered together the Jews who accompanied him to Jerusalem. At this rendezvous the company encamped for three days to make preparation for the di...
  [smith] (water), a place, (Ezra 8:15) or a river, Ezra 8:21 On the banks of which Ezra collected the second expedition which returned with him from Babylon to Jerusalem. Perhaps it is the modern Hit, on the Euphrates due east of Dama...
  [nave] AHAVA, a river of Babylon, Ezra 8:15, 21, 31.
  

• Casiphia

  [ebd] silver, a place between Babylon and Jerusalem, where Iddo resided (Ezra 8:17); otherwise unknown.
  [isbe] CASIPHIA - ka-sif'-i-a, ka-sif-e'-a (kaciphya'): An unidentified place in North Babylonia, near the river Ahava, to which Ezra sent for "ministers for the house of our God" (Ezr 8:17). Some have thought the name to be connec...
  [smith] (silvery, white), a place of uncertain site on the road between Babylon and Jerusalem. (Ezra 8:17)
  [nave] CASIPHIA, a place in the Persian empire, Ezra 8:17.
  

• LAW IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

  [isbe] LAW IN THE OLD TESTAMENT - || I. TERMS USED 1. Torah ("Law") 2. Synonyms of Torah (1) Mitswah ("Command") (2) `Edhah ("Witness," "Testimony") (3) MishpaTim ("Judgments") (4) Chuqqim ("Statutes") (5) Piqqudhim ("Precepts") II...
  

• Gershom

  [ebd] expulsion. (1.) The eldest son of Levi (1 Chr. 6:16, 17, 20, 43, 62, 71; 15:7)=GERSHON (q.v.). (2.) The elder of the two sons of Moses born to him in Midian (Ex. 2:22; 18:3). On his way to Egypt with his family, in obedience...
  [isbe] GERSHOM - gur'-shom (gereshom, from garash, "to cast out"; explained, however, in Ex 2:22 and 18:3 as from gur, "For he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land"): (1) Firstborn son of Moses and Zipporah. The only det...
  [smith] (a stranger or exile). The first-born son of Moses and Zipporah. (Exodus 2:22; 18:3) (B.C. 1530.) The form under which the name GERSHON--the eldest son of Levi--is given in several passages of Chronicles, viz., (1 Chronic...
  [nave] GERSHOM 1. Son of Moses, Ex. 2:22; 18:3; 1 Chr. 23:15, 16; 26:24. 2. See: Gershon. 3. A descendant of Phinehas, Ezra 8:2. 4. A Levite, Judg. 18:30.
  

• SOLOMON'S SERVANTS

  [isbe] SOLOMON'S SERVANTS - ('adbhedhe shelomoh; douloi Salomon): "The children of Solomon's servants" constituted a company or guild of the Jewish exiles who returned with Zerubbabel from Babylonia to Jerusalem in 537 BC, pursuant...
  

• Shechaniah

  [smith] (dweller with Jehovah). A descendant of Zerubbabel. (1 Chronicles 3:21,22) Some descendants of Shechaniah returned with Ezra. (Ezra 8:3) The sons of Shechaniah were another family who returned with Ezra. (Ezra 8:5) (B.C. ...
  [nave] SHECHANIAH 1. A descendant of David, 1 Chr. 3:21, 22. 2. Two men whose descendants returned with Ezra from captivity in Babylon, Ezra 8:3, 5. 3. A Jew who proposed to Ezra the putting away of Gentile wives, Ezra 10:2. 4. ...
  

Back to Commentary Page