Ezra 8:1-31
leaders <07218> [the chief.]
enrolled with them by genealogy <03187> [genealogy.]
coming up <05927> [them that went up.]
Phinehas <06372> [Phinehas.]
David <01732> [David.]
Parosh <06551> [Pharosh.]
This variation is attributable to the translators; the original being uniformly Par“sh.
[Parosh.]
Pahath-Moab <06355> [Pahath-moab.]
Adin <05720> [Adin.]
Elam <05867> [Elam.]
Shephatiah <08203> [Shephatiah.]
Joab <03097> [Joab.]
Bebai ..... Bebai <0893> [Bebai.]
Azgad <05803> [Azgad.]
descendants ..... son ... Hakkatan <01121 06997> [the son of Hakkatan. or, the youngest son.]
Adonikam <0140> [Adonikam.]
Bigvai <0902> [Bigvai.]
Zaccur <02072> [Zabbud. or, Zaccur, as some read.]
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.]
Sherebiah <08274> [Sherebiah.]
weighed <08254> [weighed.]
silver <03701> [the silver.]
exquisite ..... bronze <05178 02896> [fine copper. Heb. yellow, or shining brass.]
The Syriac renders, {nechosho korinthyo tovo,} "good Corinthian brass;" so called from the brass found after the burning of Corinth by Lucius Mummius, which was, as is generally supposed, brass, copper, silver, and gold, melted together. Sir J. Chardin, however, in a MS. note, cited by Harmer, mentioned a factitious metal used in the East, and highly esteemed there, which might probably be of an origin as ancient as Ezra. He says, "I have heard some Dutch gentlemen speak of a metal in the island of Sumatra, and among the Macassars, much more esteemed than gold, which royal personages alone are privileged to wear. It is a mixture, if I remember right, of gold and steel, or copper and steel." He afterwards added, "calmbac is the name of this metal, which is composed of gold and copper."
valuable <02532> [precious. Heb. desirable.]
holy .......... holy <06944> [Ye are holy.]
vessels <03627> [the vessels.]
Be careful ..... protect <08245 08104> [Watch ye.]
weigh .... before <06440 08254> [until ye weigh them before.]
temple .... God <0430 01004> [the house of our God.]
Ahava Canal <0163 05104> [the river of Ahava.]
hand <03027 03709> [the hand.]
delivered <05337> [and he delivered.]
Ezra and his company had now entered upon a journey of several hundred miles through the desert, which they were nearly four months in completing, encumbered with families and possessions, and carrying large treasures with them, which would invite the attempts of the Arabian hordes, and others, that infested that neighbourhood; yet, having declared to the king, "that the hand of God was upon all them for good that seek him, and that his power and wrath were against all them that forsook him," (ver. 22,) he determined to travel without a guard, except that of the Almighty, being ashamed to ask any other, after his former avowed confidence in Him! Having, therefore, humbled themselves before the Lord, and besought his guidance and protection, he was intreated by them, their enemies were restrained or disabled, and they arrived unmolested at Jerusalem.
