Ezr 8:16-36 - Commentary

Commentary

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Text -- Ezra 8:16-36 (NET)

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Context

8:16 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were teachers. 8:17 I sent them to Iddo, who was the leader in the place called Casiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his relatives, who were the temple servants in Casiphia, so they would bring us attendants for the temple of our God. 8:18 Due to the fact that the good hand of our God was on us, they brought us a skilled man, from the descendants of Mahli the son of Levi son of Israel. This man was Sherebiah, who was accompanied by his sons and brothers, 18 men, 8:19 and Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, 20 men, 8:20 and some of the temple servants that David and his officials had established for the work of the Levites– 220 of them. They were all designated by name. 8:21 I called for a fast there by the Ahava Canal, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from him a safe journey for us, our children, and all our property. 8:22 I was embarrassed to request soldiers and horsemen from the king to protect us from the enemy along the way, because we had said to the king, “The good hand of our God is on everyone who is seeking him, but his great anger is against everyone who forsakes him.” 8:23 So we fasted and prayed to our God about this, and he answered us. 8:24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, together with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers, 8:25 and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels intended for the temple of our God– items that the king, his advisers, his officials, and all Israel who were present had contributed. 8:26 I weighed out to them 650 talents of silver, silver vessels worth 100 talents, 100 talents of gold, 8:27 20 gold bowls worth 1,000 darics, and two exquisite vessels of gleaming bronze, as valuable as gold. 8:28 Then I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, just as these vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are a voluntary offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. 8:29 Be careful with them and protect them, until you weigh them out before the leading priests and the Levites and the family leaders of Israel in Jerusalem, in the storerooms of the temple of the Lord.” 8:30 Then the priests and the Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the vessels that had been weighed out, to transport them to Jerusalem to the temple of our God. 8:31 On the twelfth day of the first month we began traveling from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from our enemy and from bandits along the way. 8:32 So we came to Jerusalem, and we stayed there for three days. 8:33 On the fourth day we weighed out the silver, the gold, and the vessels in the house of our God into the care of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest, and Eleazar son of Phinehas, who were accompanied by Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui, who were Levites. 8:34 Everything was verified by number and by weight, and the total weight was written down at that time. 8:35 The exiles who were returning from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel– twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs, along with twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord. 8:36 Then they presented the decrees of the king to the king’s satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who gave help to the people and to the temple of God.

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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:

· Ahava a town in Babylon,a river (canal) in Babylon named after the town

· Ariel a nickname for a very fierce warriors, "lion of God".

· Binnui a Levite whose son (or descendant), Noadiah returned from exile,a layman of the Pahath-Moab clan who put away his heathen wife,forefather of certain men who put away their heathen wives.,a man of the clan of Henadad who helped repair the wall,a man whose descendants returned from exile with Zerubbabel,a man of Levi who returned with Zerubbabel from exile

· Casiphia a place in Babylon settled by Israelites during their exile

· David a son of Jesse of Judah; king of Israel,son of Jesse of Judah; king of Israel

· Eleazar a son of Eliud; the father of Matthan; an ancestor of Jesus.,a chief priest; son of Aaron,son of Abinadab; caretaker of the Ark at Kiriath-Jearim,son of Dodo the Ahohite; one of David's military elite,son of Mahli the Levite,a priest who participated in the dedication of the wall,a priest under Ezra; son of Phinehas,a layman of the Parosh clan who put away his heathen wife

· Eliezer a son of Jorim; the father of Joshua; an ancestor of Jesus,Abraham's servant from Damascus,son of Moses,son of Becher son of Benjamin,a priest in David's time,son of Zichri; David's chief officer over the Reubenites,son of Dodavahu of Mareshah who prophesied against Jehoshaphat.,one of the leaders Ezra sent to Iddo to ask for recruits,a priest of the Jeshua clan who put away his heathen wife,a man who put away his heathen wife; a Levite,a layman of the Harim clan who put away his heathen wife

· Elnathan son of Achbor (Judah); father of Nahushta, wife of Jehoiachin,one of the leaders Ezra sent to Iddo to ask for recruits

· Hashabiah son of Amaziah of Levi; father of Malluch,a Merari Levite whose descendants returned from exile,son of Jeduthun the Levite leader under Jeduthun and King David,overseer of King David's work west of the Jordan River,son of Kemuel; David's chief officer over the Levites,a chief officer of the house of God in Josiah's time,a Levite descendant of Merari who led recruits to Ezra,a layman of the Parosh clan who put away his heathen wife,ruler of Keilah who helped repair the walls of Jerusalem,son of Henadad, a Levite who contracted to obey God's law,son of Bunni of Levi,son of Mattaniah of Asaph of Levi,priest and head of the house of Hilkiah,a chief of the Levites in Nehemiah's time

· Iddo father of Ahinadab, Solomon's deputy for food from Mahanaim,son of Joah of Gershom son of Levi,son of Zechariah; chief over Manasseh in Gilead under David,a prophet who wrote about the times of Solomon,grandfather of the prophet Zechariah; father of Berekiah,priest leader of some who returned from exile with Zerubbabel,a leader of the Jews in Casiphia of Babylon

· Israel a citizen of Israel.,a member of the nation of Israel

· Jarib son of Simeon,one of the leaders Ezra sent to Iddo to ask for recruits,a priest of the Jeshua clan who put away his heathen wife

· Jerusalem the capital city of Israel,a town; the capital of Israel near the southern border of Benjamin

· Jeshaiah son of Hananiah, a descendant of King Jehoiachin,son of Jeduthun the Levite and worship leader under Jeduthun and King David,son of Rehabiah; a Levitical chief treasurer whose descendants returned from exile,son of Athaliah; head of a family group descended from Elam who returned from exile,a Levite of Merari who led recruits to Ezra,a man of Benjamin; ancestor of Sallu, who lived in Jerusalem in Nehemiah's time

· Jeshua chief of a division of priests serving in David's sanctuary,a man a Levite assistant to Kore in managing the free will offerings of the temple under King Hezekiah,a chief priest and leader among those who returned from exile with Zerubbabel; son of Jozadak; father of Joiakim,father of Jozabad, a Levite on duty in the time of Ezra,a man whose descendants returned from exile in Babylon,the father of Ezer who helped to repair the wall,a Levite who helped Ezra explain the reading of the law; son of Kadmiel,son of Nun; successor of Moses,son of Azaniah; a Levite leader who signed the covenant to obey God's law,a town of Judah

· Joiarib one of the leaders Ezra sent to Iddo to ask for recruits,son of Zechariah of Judah,priest and leader among those who returned from exile with Zerubbabel; signer of the contract to obey Moses' law

· Jozabad a man of Gederah; one of the Benjamites who defected to David at Ziklag,two commanders from Manasseh who defected to David in Ziklag,an officer in charge of the temple store house under King Hezekiah,a chief officer of the house of God in Josiah's time,son of Jeshua; a Levite on duty in the time of Ezra,a man who put away his heathen wife; a priest descended from Pashhur,a man who put away his heathen wife; a Levite,a Levite who helped Ezra explain the reading of the law,a chief Levite who helped supervise the outside work on the house of God in Nehemiah's time

· Levi members of the tribe of Levi

· Levites relating to Levi and the priesthood given to him,a tribal name describing people and ceremonies as sacred

· Mahli son of Merari son of Levi; Mahli I,son of Mushi son of Merari son of Levi; Mahli II

· Merari the clan of Merari of the tribe of Levi

· Meremoth son of Uriah the priest,a layman of the Bani Clan who put away his heathen wife,priest leader of some who returned from exile with Zerubbabel

· Meshullam grandfather of Shaphan, King Josiah's secretary,son of Zerubbabel,son of Abihail; a founding father of one of the clans of Gad,son of Elpaal of Benjamin,son of Hodaviah of Benjamin,son of Shephatiah of Benjamin,a high priest; son of Zadok II,son of Meshillemith; a priest,a Kohath Levite overseer of temple restoration for King Josiah,one of the leaders Ezra sent to Iddo to ask for recruits,a man who opposed the Jews putting away their heathen wives,a layman of the Bani Clan who put away his heathen wife,son of Berechiah son of Meshezabel; a repairer of the wall,son of Besodeiah; a man who helped repair a gate in the wall,a man who stood with Ezra when he publicly read the law to the assembly,a priest who signed the covenant to keep God's law,an Israelite chief who signed the covenant to obey God's law,son of Joed of Benjamin; father of Sallu, a returned exile,a priest and head of the house of Ezra under High Priest Joiakim in the time of Nehemiah,a priest, head of the house of Ginnethon in Nehemiah's time,a man who was a gate keeper in the time of Nehemiah

· Nathan a son of David; the father of Mattatha; an ancestor of Jesus.,son of David and Bathsheba,brother of Joel in David's army; a prophet,father of Igal, one of David's military elite; a man from Zobah,father of Azariah and Zabud, priestly officials of King Solomon,son of Attai of Judah,brother of Joel, one of David's military elite,one of the leaders Ezra sent to Iddo to ask for recruits,a layman of the Binnui Clan who put away his heathen wife

· Noadiah son of Binnui; a Levite on duty in the time of Ezra,a prophetess who tried to frighten Nehemiah

· Phinehas son of Eleazar; a chief priest, Phinehas I,a priest; son of Eli; Phinehas II,father of Eleazar, a priest on duty in the days of Ezra

· Shemaiah a prophet in the days of Rehoboam,son of Shecaniah (Hananiah Zerubbabel David Judah),forefather of Ziza, a prince of the tribe of Simeon,son of Joel of Reuben,son of Hasshub; a Levite leader of some returned exiles,son of Galal; a Levite whose descendants returned from exile,son of Elizaphan (Kohath Levi),son of Nethanel, a Levite and scribe in David's time,son of Obed-Edom; a pre-exile Levite gatekeeper,a Levite whom Jehoshaphat sent to teach the law around Judah,a Levite leader of the Jeduthun Clan in Hezekiah's time,a Levite manager of temple offerings under King Hezekiah,a chief officer of the house of God in Josiah's time,a leader of the Adonikam Clan back from exile,one of the leaders Ezra sent to Iddo to ask for recruits,a priest of the Harim Clan who put away his heathen wife,a layman of the Harim Clan who put away his heathen wife,son of Shecaniah; keeper of the East Gate under Nehemiah,son of Delaiah son of Mehetabel; an agent of Nehemiah's enemies,son of Mattaniah; priestly leader among the returned exiles,a Levite musician who helped Zechariah dedicate Nehemiah's wall,a priest who helped dedicate the wall,father of a prophet (Uriah?) from Kiriath-Jearim that Jehoiakim executed,a deceived leader in exile who demanded Jeremiah's execution,father of Delaiah, a prince of Judah in the time of Jehoiakim

· Sherebiah a Levite leader, recruiter, and teacher under Ezra,son of Henadad, a Levite; a signer of Nehemiah's covenant

· Uriah the husband of Bathsheba with whom David committed adultery,a Hittite man who was one of David's military elite,the high priest who served under King Ahaz of Judah,father of Meremoth the priest who received the temple vessels,a man who stood with Ezra when he read the law to the assembly,son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-Jearim

· Zechariah the father of John the baptist,a son of Berekiah, a righteous man who was killed by the Jewish authorities,son and successor of King Jeroboam,father of Abi, the mother of King Hezekiah,a leader of the tribe of Reuben,son of Meshelemiah; a door keeper for the tent of meeting,son of Jeiel and Maacah of Gibeon,a Levite gate keeper and harpist in David's time,a priest and trumpeter in David's time,son of Isshiah (Uzziel Kohath Levi),son of Hosah; a pre-exile Levite gatekeeper,a man of Manasseh in Gilead in Saul and David's time,a prince whom Jehoshaphat sent to teach the law around Judah,son of Benaiah (Asaph Levi),son of King Jehoshaphat,son of Jehoiada the priest; a prophet,a man who influenced King Uzziah for good,a Levite (Asaph) who helped Hezekiah cleanse the temple,a Levite (Kohath) who helped King Josiah restore the temple,a chief officer of the house of God in Josiah's time,son of Berechiah; a priest; writer of the book of Zechariah,leader among the Parosh clansmen who returned from exile,son of Bebai; leader among Bebai clansmen returned from exile,a lay man of the Elam Clan who put away his heathen wife,a man who stood with Ezra when he read the law to the assembly,son of Amariah of Judah,a descendant of Shelah,son of Pashhur; a priest whose descendants returned from exile,son of Jonathan (Asaph Levi),son of Jeberechiah; a witness to Isaiah's prophesy

Table of Contents

Verse Notes / Footnotes NET Notes

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Ezr 8:16 The name “Elnathan” occurs twice in this list. Some, assuming an accidental repetition, would include it only once (cf. NAB).

NET Notes: Ezr 8:17 Heb “in the place called.” This phrase has not been repeated in the translation for stylistic reasons.

NET Notes: Ezr 8:18 Or “relatives” (so CEV; NRSV “kin”); also in v. 19.

NET Notes: Ezr 8:21 Heb “a straight way.”

NET Notes: Ezr 8:22 Heb “his strength and his anger.” The expression is a hendiadys (one concept expressed through two terms).

NET Notes: Ezr 8:24 Or “relatives”; or “colleagues” (cf. NLT “ten other priests”).

NET Notes: Ezr 8:26 Possibly “100 silver vessels worth [?] talents” or “silver vessels weighing 100 talents.”

NET Notes: Ezr 8:29 For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

NET Notes: Ezr 8:30 Heb “received.”

NET Notes: Ezr 8:31 Heb “from the hand of the enemy and the one who lies in wait.” Some modern English versions render the latter phrase as “ambushes...

NET Notes: Ezr 8:33 Heb “upon the hand of.”

NET Notes: Ezr 8:34 The words “everything was verified” are not in the Hebrew text but have been supplied in the translation for clarity.

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