Ezra 8:15-23
canal ... flows <0935 05104> [the river that runneth.]
Ahava is supposed to be the river Adiava, which, with the Diava, is said by Ammianus to have given name to Adiabene, a province of Assyria, through which they flowed into the Tigris. These rivers were also called respectively, Anzabas and Zabas, the Caprus and Lycus of Ptolemy; the former of which he places, at its source, in long. 79 degrees, lat. 39« degrees, and at its junction with the Tigris, in long. 79« degrees, lat. 36 degrees 6'; and the latter, at its source, in long 78 degrees, lat. 39 degrees; and where it falls into the Tigris, in long. 79 degrees, lat. 36« degrees. They are now called the Great and Little Zab, or the Zabein, i.e., the two Zabs, which, says Ibn Haukal, "are considerable streams, each about half as large as the Dejleh (or Tigris). They rise among the mountains of Azerbaijan: of these, the larger is that which runs towards Haditheh. These streams form part of the Tigris, and water the district of Semerah."
Ahava <0163> [Ahava.]
camped <02583> [abode. Heb. pitched. and found.]
Shemaiah <08098> [Shemaiah.]
Nathan <05416> [Nathan.]
Zechariah <02148> [Zechariah.]
leaders <07218> [chief men.]
teachers <0995> [men of understanding.]
Casiphia ................... Casiphia <03703> [Casiphia.]
Casiphia is supposed to denote the Caspian mountains, between Media and Hyrcania, near the Caspian Sea. It is evident, from a comparison of ch. 7:9 with ver. 31, that Casiphia could not be far from Ahava.
told ... what <07760 01697> [I told them. Heb. I put words in their mouth.]
temple servants <05411> [the Nethinims.]
attendants <08334> [ministers.]
good hand <03027 02896> [by the good hand.]
skilled man <07922 0376> [a man of understanding.]
Mahli <04249> [Mahli.]
Sherebiah <08274> [Sherebiah.]
Hashabiah <02811> [Hashabiah.]
Merari <04847> [Merari.]
temple servants ................. them <05411> [Nethinims.]
designated <05344> [all of them.]
called <07121> [I proclaimed.]
humble ... before <06031 06440> [afflict ourselves.]
seek <01245> [to seek.]
children <02945> [for our little ones.]
embarrassed <0954> [I was ashamed.]
hand <03027> [The hand.]
great anger <0639 05797> [his power and his wrath.]
fasted <06684> [we fasted.]
prayed <01245> [besought.]
answered <06279> [and he was intreated.]
