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Selected Verse: Ezra 8:15 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ezr 8:15	Strong Concordance	And I gathered them together [06908] to the river [05104] that runneth [0935] to Ahava [0163]; and there abode we in tents [02583] three [07969] days [03117]: and I viewed [0995] the people [05971], and the priests [03548], and found [04672] there none of the sons [01121] of Levi [03878].
	King James	And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
HE SENDS TO IDDO FOR MINISTERS FOR THE TEMPLE SERVICE. (Ezr 8:15-20) I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava--This river has not been ascertained. It is probable that the Ahava was one of the streams or numerous canals of Mesopotamia communicating with the Euphrates [CyclopÃ&brvbr;dia of Biblical Literature]. But it was certainly in Babylonia on the banks of that stream; and perhaps the place appointed for general rendezvous was in the neighborhood of a town of the same name. The emigrants encamped there for three days, according to Oriental custom, while the preparations for the departure were being completed and Ezra was arranging the order of the caravan. I . . . found there none of the sons of Levi--that is, the ordinary Levites. Notwithstanding the privilege of exemption from all taxes granted to persons engaged in the temple service, none of the Levitical tribes were induced to join the settlement in Jerusalem; and it was even not without difficulty Ezra persuaded some of the priestly families to accompany him.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

HE SENDS TO IDDO FOR MINISTERS FOR THE TEMPLE SERVICE. (Ezr 8:15-20)

I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava--This river has not been ascertained. It is probable that the Ahava was one of the streams or numerous canals of Mesopotamia communicating with the Euphrates [CyclopÃ&brvbr;dia of Biblical Literature]. But it was certainly in Babylonia on the banks of that stream; and perhaps the place appointed for general rendezvous was in the neighborhood of a town of the same name. The emigrants encamped there for three days, according to Oriental custom, while the preparations for the departure were being completed and Ezra was arranging the order of the caravan.

I . . . found there none of the sons of Levi--that is, the ordinary Levites. Notwithstanding the privilege of exemption from all taxes granted to persons engaged in the temple service, none of the Levitical tribes were induced to join the settlement in Jerusalem; and it was even not without difficulty Ezra persuaded some of the priestly families to accompany him.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Ahava was both a town and a river Ezr 8:21. The modern name of the place is Hit. It is famous for its bitumen springs, and is situated on the Euphrates, at a distance of about 80 miles from Babylon, toward the northwest. None of the sons of Levi - The Levites appear to have been disinclined to return to Jerusalem (see Ezr 3:8 note).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
Account of the journey. - Ezr 8:15 The assembling of the expedition. When the Israelites who were about to return to Jerusalem had assembled, and were ready for starting, Ezra perceived that there were no Levites among them. He then sent for certain chief men among them, and by means of the influence of Iddo, the chief at the place Casiphia, induced a number of Levites and Nethinim to determine on joining the expedition (Ezr 8:15). He then proclaimed a fast at the place of meeting, for the purpose of supplicating God to grant them a prosperous journey (Ezr 8:21). Ezr 8:15-17 The travellers assembled at the river Ahava, where they encamped three days. In Ezr 8:15 the river is designated אל־אהוא הבּא, i.e., either which comes (flows) towards Ahava, or flows into Ahava; in Ezr 8:21 it is more briefly called אהוא נהר, and in Ezr 8:31 אהוא נהר, which may mean the river of Ahava, of the region or district called Ahava, or, after the analogy of פּרת נהר, merely the river of the name of Ahava. It is doubtful which of these meanings is correct, the name Ahava being still unexplained. Comp. the various conjectures in A. G. F. Schirmer, observationes exeg. crit. in libr. Esdrae, Vratisl. 1820, p. 28ff. The connection points to a place or district in the neighbourhood of Babylon; hence Bertheau is inclined to regard Ahava as a tributary or canal of the Euphrates, flowing through a place, perhaps only a field or open space, of the same name, in the immediate neighbourhood of Babylon; while Ewald supposes it may be the river somewhat to the west or south of Euphrates, called by the Greeks Pallacopas, whose situation would suit the context, and whose name might arise from אהוא פלג, the river Ahwa or Aba. The lxx gives the name Εὐί; in 1 Esdr. 8:40 and 61 we find Θερά, evidently a false reading. Josephus says quite generally, εἰς τὸ πέραν τοῦ Εύφράτου. - When Ezra, during the three days' encampment at this place, directed his attention to the people and the priests (ב הבין, to give heed, Neh 13:7; Dan 9:23, and elsewhere), he found no Levites among those who had assembled. Ezr 8:16 He then sent several chief men to Iddo, the chief man in the place Casiphia, to beg him and his brethren to bring him servants for the house of God. The lxx translates ל אשׁלחה, "I sent to (or for) Eliezer," etc., which would mean to fetch them: "that I might then send them to Iddo." The Vulgate, on the other hand, and many expositors, understand ל as nota accus., like Ch2 17:7, which is simpler. Of the nine men here designated as ראשׁים, the names of Eliezer, Shemaiah, Jarib, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam occur again in Ezr 10:15, Ezr 10:18-31, though we cannot certainly infer the identify of those who bear them. The appellation ראשׁים does not determine whether they belonged to the priesthood or laity. The two remaining are called מבינים, teachers; comp. Neh 8:7, Neh 8:9; Ch1 15:22; Ch1 25:8, and elsewhere. Although this word is, in the passages cited, used of Levites, yet we cannot suppose those here named to have been teaching Levites, because, according to Ezr 8:16, there were as yet no Levites amongst the assemblage; hence, too, they could not be teachers properly so called, but only men of wisdom and understanding. The Chethiv ואוצאה must be read ואוצאה: I sent them to (על, according to later usage, for אל); the Keri is ואצוּה, I despatched, sent them. Both readings suit the sense. The place Casiphia is entirely unknown, but cannot have been far from the river Ahava. Caspia, the region of the Caspian Sea, is out of the question, being far too remote. "I put words in their mouth to speak to Iddo," i.e., I told them exactly what they should say to Iddo; comp. Sa2 14:3, Sa2 14:19. The words אדּו אחיו הנּתוּנים give no intelligible meaning; for אהיו we must, with the Vulgate, 1 Esdras, and others, read ואחיו: to Iddo and his brethren, the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia. This would seem to say that Iddo was one of the Nethinim. Such an inference is not, however, a necessary one; for the expression may also, like "Zadok the (high) priest and his brethren, the (ordinary) priests," Ch1 16:39, be understood to mean that Iddo, the chief man of that place, was a Levite, and that the Nethinim were, as a lower order of temple servants, called brethren of Iddo the Levite. The circumstance that not only Nethinim, but also Levites, were induced by Iddo to join the expedition (Ezr 8:8), requires us thus to understand the words. אל לבית משׁרתים, servants for the house of God, are Levites and Nethinim, the upper and lower orders of the temple ministers. From Ezr 8:17 it appears that both Levites and Nethinim had settled in the place Casiphia, and that Iddo, as the chief man of the place, held an influential position among them. No further inferences, however, concerning their settlement and employment can be drawn from this circumstance. Ezr 8:18-19 The delegates sent to Iddo succeeded, through the gracious assistance of God (אל בּיד, see Ezr 7:6), in inducing forty Levites, and two hundred and twenty Nethinim, by means of Iddo's influence, to join their fellow-countrymen in their journey to Jerusalem. They brought to us ... לנוּ and עלינוּ refer to Ezra and his fellow-travellers. שׂכל אישׁ, a man of understanding, seems to be a proper name, being joined to Sherebiah, the name following, by a ו copulative. He was one of the descendants of Mahli, the son, i.e., grandson, of Levi the son of Israel, i.e., Jacob: comp. Exo 6:16, Exo 6:19; Ch1 6:4. Sherebiah occurs again in Ezr 8:24, and Neh 8:7; Neh 9:4, etc., Ezr 10:13; 12:24. The Levite Hashabiah, Ezr 10:19, is also named again, Ezr 8:24, Neh 10:2, and Neh 12:24, while the name of the Levite Jeshaiah, on the contrary, is not again met with in the books of either Ezra or Nehemiah. Ezr 8:20 With respect to the Nethinim, whom David and the princes (of Israel) had given for the service of the Levites (i.e., made servants of the temple, to perform the lowest offices for the Levites), comp. Jos 9:21 and Ezr 2:43. "They all were distinguished by name," i.e., were men of note; comp. remarks on Ch1 12:31. Ezr 8:21-30 The last preparations for the journey. - Ezr 8:21 Then the company of fellow-travellers was thus completed, Ezra proclaimed a fast at the place of meeting at the river Ahava, "that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of Him a prosperous journey for ourselves, our families, and our goods," Fasting, as a means of humbling themselves before God, for the purpose of obtaining an answer to their petitions, was an ancient custom with the Israelites: Jdg 20:26; Sa1 7:6; Joe 1:14; Ch2 20:3. ישׁרה דּרך, a straight way, a way made level by the removal of obstructions, i.e., a prosperous journey; comp. Psa 112:7. טף, a noun collective, properly the little children, more frequently denoted the entire family, a man's wives and children; see remarks on Exo 12:37. רכוּשׁ, possessions in cattle and other goods. Ezr 8:22-23 For I was ashamed to request of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against enemies in the way (i.e., to protect us from hostile attacks during our journey); for we had said to the king: The hand of our God is over all them that seek him for good (i.e., for their good), and His power and His wrath against all them that forsake Him. עזּו in connection with אפּו is not His powerful wrath, but His power and might to conquer all enemies, evidencing itself in wrath against the wicked. This confession, which they had uttered before the king, they desired to make good by earnest humble supplication, that God would prove Himself their help and defence against all their enemies. And for this - adds Ezra, looking back on their prosperous journey after it was accomplished - He was entreated of us. Because they had supplicated His assistance by prayer and fasting, God granted them His protection by the way. Ezr 8:24-30 Then Ezra delivered the gold, the silver, and the vessels, which he had received as gifts for the temple, to twelve of the chiefs of the priests, and twelve Levites, that they might take charge of them during the journey, and bring them to Jerusalem. "I separated twelve of the chief of the priests," i.e., from the whole company of priests who were journeying with us. The following לשׁרביה does not suit the sense, whether we take the ל as a sign of the dative (lxx) or of the accusative (Vulgate, and several expositors). For Sherebiah and Hashabiah were neither priests nor chiefs of priests, but Levites of the race of Merari (v. 18), and cannot therefore be reckoned among the twelve chiefs of priests. If we take לשׁרביה for a dative, and translate, "I separated twelve of the chiefs of the priests for Sherebiah and Hashabiah," this would place the priests in a servile relation to the Levites, contrary to their true position. For לשׁרביה we must read ושׁרביה, and accept the reading of 1 Esdras, καὶ Ἐσερεβίαν, as correct. Ezra separated twelve chiefs of the priests and twelve Levites, for the purpose of delivering to their custody the gifts of gold, silver, and implements for the temple. Of the chiefs of the priests no names are mentioned; of the Levites, the two names Sherebiah and Hashabiah are given as those of heads of houses, with whom ten other Levites were associated. Ezr 8:25-27 To these chief priests and Levites Ezra weighed the silver and the gold and the vessels; שׁקל, to weigh, i.e., to deliver by weight. In the Chethiv אשׁקולה the O sound is maintained, and consequently the Keri is pointed -. On the other hand, in Ezr 8:26 the וּ is dropped, and the form pointed with -, though many MSS, followed by J. H. Michaelis, have ו- here also. אל בּית תּרוּמת is in apposition with the before-named objects: the gold, the silver, and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God, which the king, his councillors ... had offered; comp. Ezr 7:15-16, Ezr 7:19. In ההרימוּ the article represents the relative pronoun; see on Ch1 26:28. הנּמצאים, all Israelites who were found, met with, in Babylon, and were not going with them to Jerusalem; comp. Ch1 29:17; Ch2 5:11. ידם על, like יד על, Ezr 1:8, to their hand, i.e., handed over to their keeping. The gifts amounted to: six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels one hundred in talents, i.e., one hundred talents in value, one hundred talents of gold, and twenty covered basins of gold (comp. Ezr 1:10) one thousand dariks in value, and two brazen vessels of fine golden brilliancy, precious as gold. מצהב is an abstract noun, formed from the participle Hophal of צהב, to glitter like gold, and constructed as a feminine. The word, with its adjective, either depends upon נחשׁט, in the stat. construct., or stands in apposition thereto, and is not, as a participle Hophal, used adjectively and combined with נחשׁט, for then the two adjectives מצהב and טובה would not be in different genders. חמוּדות, like חמוּדות כּלי, Ch2 20:25. Ezr 8:28-29 On delivering these treasures, Ezra adds the admonition: Ye are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the gold and the silver are a free-will offering unto the Lord God of your fathers; watch and keep (that which is committed to you). Since they were themselves, as priests and Levites, holy to the Lord, they were also to treat and keep the gifts committed to their charge as holy gifts, until, on their arrival at Jerusalem, they should weigh them (i.e., deliver them by weight) before the priests, the Levites, and the princes of Israel, in the chambers of the house of the Lord. The article to הלּשׁכוה (stat. construct.) is among the incorrectnesses of the later Hebrew. Ezr 8:30 Then they took the weight of the silver, ... i.e., received the silver, etc., delivered to them by weight. Ezr 8:31-36 The start, the journey, and the arrival at Jerusalem. - Ezr 8:31 The start from the river Ahava (comp. Ezr 8:15) did not take place till the twelfth day of the first month; while according to Ezr 7:9, the journey from Babylon was appointed for the first day of the month, and according to Ezr 8:15, the bands of travellers who assembled at the river Ahava encamped there three days. These statements may be reconciled as follows: On the first day the company of travellers began to assemble, and during the three days' encampment at the place of meeting Ezra became aware that no Levites were found among the travellers; upon which he took the measures mentioned, Ezr 8:16, etc., to induce certain Levites and Nethinim to accompany them. When these were afterwards present, Ezra ordained a fast, to supplicate the divine protection for the journey, and committed the sacred gifts to the care of the priests and Levites. Eight days elapsed while these preparations for departure were being made, so that the start from the river Ahava did not take place till the twelfth day. The journey was successfully accomplished, God's gracious protection delivering them from the hands of enemies and marauders; comp. Ezr 8:22. Ezr 8:32-33 They arrived at Jerusalem, as stated Ezr 7:9, on the first day of the fifth month, the journey consequently occupying three months and a half. The particulars of the journey are not communicated; and as we do not even know the locality of the place of meeting at the river Ahava, the length of road to be traversed cannot be determined. After their arrival at Jerusalem, they abode, i.e., remained, as Nehemiah subsequently did, quiet and inactive three days, to recover from the fatigues and hardships of the journey, Neh 2:11, before they undertook the arrangement of their affairs. On the fourth day, the gifts they had brought with them were delivered in the house of God (נשׁקל, like אשׁקלה, Ezr 8:16) into the hand of Meremoth and Eleazar the priests, and Jozabad and Noadiah, two Levites, who took charge of them, the chiefs of the priests and Levites being, according to Ezr 8:29, also present. Meremoth Ben Uriah reappears in Neh 3:4, Neh 3:21, and is also intended Neh 12:3. Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and the Levite Noadiah, are not again met with. Jozabad, of the sons of Jeshua (Ezr 2:40), may be the Levite Jozabad mentioned Neh 10:23. Binnui is named among the Levites, Neh 10:10 and Neh 12:8. Ezr 8:34 "By number, by weight, as to all," i.e., all was delivered by number and weight; and the whole weight was written at that time, i.e., an authentic list was made at the delivery which then took place. Ezr 8:35 After the delivery of the dedicated gifts, those who had come up out of captivity (with Ezra), the sons of the captivity, offered burnt-offerings and sin-offerings, out of gratitude for the favour shown by God in the gracious restoration of His people Israel. This is implied in the words: "burnt-offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel" (the twelve tribes), and twelve he-goats for a sin-offering, as in Ezr 6:17. Ninety-six (8 x 12) lambs and seventy-seven lambs (77, the intensified seven) were likewise brought as a burnt-offering. "All this was a burnt-offering for the Lord," of which, therefore, nothing could be eaten by the offerers. The sin-offering preceded the burnt-offering, as the necessary basis of an acceptable burnt-offering. The sin-offerings availed as an atonement for the sins of all Israel, and the burnt-offerings typified the surrender of the entire nation to the service of the Lord. Thus the fact that these were offered for all Israel was an actual declaration that they who had now returned were henceforth resolved, together with all Israel, to dedicate their lives to the service of the Lord their God. Ezr 8:36 Hereupon the royal decrees (the commission, Ezr 7:12-26) were delivered to the satraps of the king, and to the governors on this side the river; and they furthered the people and the house of God, as Artaxerxes had commanded in his edict, Ezr 7:20-24. On אחשׁדּרפּנים and פּחוות, see rem. on Dan 3:2. The satraps were the military chiefs of the province, the פּחוות, the heads of the civil government. נשּׂא, to lift up, to support, like Ezr 1:4.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

Account of the journey. - Ezr 8:15 The assembling of the expedition. When the Israelites who were about to return to Jerusalem had assembled, and were ready for starting, Ezra perceived that there were no Levites among them. He then sent for certain chief men among them, and by means of the influence of Iddo, the chief at the place Casiphia, induced a number of Levites and Nethinim to determine on joining the expedition (Ezr 8:15). He then proclaimed a fast at the place of meeting, for the purpose of supplicating God to grant them a prosperous journey (Ezr 8:21).

Ezr 8:15-17

The travellers assembled at the river Ahava, where they encamped three days. In Ezr 8:15 the river is designated אל־אהוא הבּא, i.e., either which comes (flows) towards Ahava, or flows into Ahava; in Ezr 8:21 it is more briefly called אהוא נהר, and in Ezr 8:31 אהוא נהר, which may mean the river of Ahava, of the region or district called Ahava, or, after the analogy of פּרת נהר, merely the river of the name of Ahava. It is doubtful which of these meanings is correct, the name Ahava being still unexplained. Comp. the various conjectures in A. G. F. Schirmer, observationes exeg. crit. in libr. Esdrae, Vratisl. 1820, p. 28ff. The connection points to a place or district in the neighbourhood of Babylon; hence Bertheau is inclined to regard Ahava as a tributary or canal of the Euphrates, flowing through a place, perhaps only a field or open space, of the same name, in the immediate neighbourhood of Babylon; while Ewald supposes it may be the river somewhat to the west or south of Euphrates, called by the Greeks Pallacopas, whose situation would suit the context, and whose name might arise from אהוא פלג, the river Ahwa or Aba. The lxx gives the name Εὐί; in 1 Esdr. 8:40 and 61 we find Θερά, evidently a false reading. Josephus says quite generally, εἰς τὸ πέραν τοῦ Εύφράτου. - When Ezra, during the three days' encampment at this place, directed his attention to the people and the priests (ב הבין, to give heed, Neh 13:7; Dan 9:23, and elsewhere), he found no Levites among those who had assembled. Ezr 8:16 He then sent several chief men to Iddo, the chief man in the place Casiphia, to beg him and his brethren to bring him servants for the house of God. The lxx translates ל אשׁלחה, "I sent to (or for) Eliezer," etc., which would mean to fetch them: "that I might then send them to Iddo." The Vulgate, on the other hand, and many expositors, understand ל as nota accus., like Ch2 17:7, which is simpler. Of the nine men here designated as ראשׁים, the names of Eliezer, Shemaiah, Jarib, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam occur again in Ezr 10:15, Ezr 10:18-31, though we cannot certainly infer the identify of those who bear them. The appellation ראשׁים does not determine whether they belonged to the priesthood or laity. The two remaining are called מבינים, teachers; comp. Neh 8:7, Neh 8:9; Ch1 15:22; Ch1 25:8, and elsewhere. Although this word is, in the passages cited, used of Levites, yet we cannot suppose those here named to have been teaching Levites, because, according to Ezr 8:16, there were as yet no Levites amongst the assemblage; hence, too, they could not be teachers properly so called, but only men of wisdom and understanding. The Chethiv ואוצאה must be read ואוצאה: I sent them to (על, according to later usage, for אל); the Keri is ואצוּה, I despatched, sent them. Both readings suit the sense. The place Casiphia is entirely unknown, but cannot have been far from the river Ahava. Caspia, the region of the Caspian Sea, is out of the question, being far too remote. "I put words in their mouth to speak to Iddo," i.e., I told them exactly what they should say to Iddo; comp. Sa2 14:3, Sa2 14:19. The words אדּו אחיו הנּתוּנים give no intelligible meaning; for אהיו we must, with the Vulgate, 1 Esdras, and others, read ואחיו: to Iddo and his brethren, the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia. This would seem to say that Iddo was one of the Nethinim. Such an inference is not, however, a necessary one; for the expression may also, like "Zadok the (high) priest and his brethren, the (ordinary) priests," Ch1 16:39, be understood to mean that Iddo, the chief man of that place, was a Levite, and that the Nethinim were, as a lower order of temple servants, called brethren of Iddo the Levite. The circumstance that not only Nethinim, but also Levites, were induced by Iddo to join the expedition (Ezr 8:8), requires us thus to understand the words. אל לבית משׁרתים, servants for the house of God, are Levites and Nethinim, the upper and lower orders of the temple ministers. From Ezr 8:17 it appears that both Levites and Nethinim had settled in the place Casiphia, and that Iddo, as the chief man of the place, held an influential position among them. No further inferences, however, concerning their settlement and employment can be drawn from this circumstance.

Ezr 8:18-19

The delegates sent to Iddo succeeded, through the gracious assistance of God (אל בּיד, see Ezr 7:6), in inducing forty Levites, and two hundred and twenty Nethinim, by means of Iddo's influence, to join their fellow-countrymen in their journey to Jerusalem. They brought to us ... לנוּ and עלינוּ refer to Ezra and his fellow-travellers. שׂכל אישׁ, a man of understanding, seems to be a proper name, being joined to Sherebiah, the name following, by a ו copulative. He was one of the descendants of Mahli, the son, i.e., grandson, of Levi the son of Israel, i.e., Jacob: comp. Exo 6:16, Exo 6:19; Ch1 6:4. Sherebiah occurs again in Ezr 8:24, and Neh 8:7; Neh 9:4, etc., Ezr 10:13; 12:24. The Levite Hashabiah, Ezr 10:19, is also named again, Ezr 8:24, Neh 10:2, and Neh 12:24, while the name of the Levite Jeshaiah, on the contrary, is not again met with in the books of either Ezra or Nehemiah.

Ezr 8:20

With respect to the Nethinim, whom David and the princes (of Israel) had given for the service of the Levites (i.e., made servants of the temple, to perform the lowest offices for the Levites), comp. Jos 9:21 and Ezr 2:43. "They all were distinguished by name," i.e., were men of note; comp. remarks on Ch1 12:31.

Ezr 8:21-30

The last preparations for the journey. - Ezr 8:21 Then the company of fellow-travellers was thus completed, Ezra proclaimed a fast at the place of meeting at the river Ahava, "that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of Him a prosperous journey for ourselves, our families, and our goods," Fasting, as a means of humbling themselves before God, for the purpose of obtaining an answer to their petitions, was an ancient custom with the Israelites: Jdg 20:26; Sa1 7:6; Joe 1:14; Ch2 20:3. ישׁרה דּרך, a straight way, a way made level by the removal of obstructions, i.e., a prosperous journey; comp. Psa 112:7. טף, a noun collective, properly the little children, more frequently denoted the entire family, a man's wives and children; see remarks on Exo 12:37. רכוּשׁ, possessions in cattle and other goods.

Ezr 8:22-23

For I was ashamed to request of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against enemies in the way (i.e., to protect us from hostile attacks during our journey); for we had said to the king: The hand of our God is over all them that seek him for good (i.e., for their good), and His power and His wrath against all them that forsake Him. עזּו in connection with אפּו is not His powerful wrath, but His power and might to conquer all enemies, evidencing itself in wrath against the wicked. This confession, which they had uttered before the king, they desired to make good by earnest humble supplication, that God would prove Himself their help and defence against all their enemies. And for this - adds Ezra, looking back on their prosperous journey after it was accomplished - He was entreated of us. Because they had supplicated His assistance by prayer and fasting, God granted them His protection by the way.

Ezr 8:24-30

Then Ezra delivered the gold, the silver, and the vessels, which he had received as gifts for the temple, to twelve of the chiefs of the priests, and twelve Levites, that they might take charge of them during the journey, and bring them to Jerusalem. "I separated twelve of the chief of the priests," i.e., from the whole company of priests who were journeying with us. The following לשׁרביה does not suit the sense, whether we take the ל as a sign of the dative (lxx) or of the accusative (Vulgate, and several expositors). For Sherebiah and Hashabiah were neither priests nor chiefs of priests, but Levites of the race of Merari (v. 18), and cannot therefore be reckoned among the twelve chiefs of priests. If we take לשׁרביה for a dative, and translate, "I separated twelve of the chiefs of the priests for Sherebiah and Hashabiah," this would place the priests in a servile relation to the Levites, contrary to their true position. For לשׁרביה we must read ושׁרביה, and accept the reading of 1 Esdras, καὶ Ἐσερεβίαν, as correct. Ezra separated twelve chiefs of the priests and twelve Levites, for the purpose of delivering to their custody the gifts of gold, silver, and implements for the temple. Of the chiefs of the priests no names are mentioned; of the Levites, the two names Sherebiah and Hashabiah are given as those of heads of houses, with whom ten other Levites were associated.

Ezr 8:25-27

To these chief priests and Levites Ezra weighed the silver and the gold and the vessels; שׁקל, to weigh, i.e., to deliver by weight. In the Chethiv אשׁקולה the O sound is maintained, and consequently the Keri is pointed -. On the other hand, in Ezr 8:26 the וּ is dropped, and the form pointed with -, though many MSS, followed by J. H. Michaelis, have ו- here also. אל בּית תּרוּמת is in apposition with the before-named objects: the gold, the silver, and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God, which the king, his councillors ... had offered; comp. Ezr 7:15-16, Ezr 7:19. In ההרימוּ the article represents the relative pronoun; see on Ch1 26:28. הנּמצאים, all Israelites who were found, met with, in Babylon, and were not going with them to Jerusalem; comp. Ch1 29:17; Ch2 5:11. ידם על, like יד על, Ezr 1:8, to their hand, i.e., handed over to their keeping. The gifts amounted to: six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels one hundred in talents, i.e., one hundred talents in value, one hundred talents of gold, and twenty covered basins of gold (comp. Ezr 1:10) one thousand dariks in value, and two brazen vessels of fine golden brilliancy, precious as gold. מצהב is an abstract noun, formed from the participle Hophal of צהב, to glitter like gold, and constructed as a feminine. The word, with its adjective, either depends upon נחשׁט, in the stat. construct., or stands in apposition thereto, and is not, as a participle Hophal, used adjectively and combined with נחשׁט, for then the two adjectives מצהב and טובה would not be in different genders. חמוּדות, like חמוּדות כּלי, Ch2 20:25.

Ezr 8:28-29

On delivering these treasures, Ezra adds the admonition: Ye are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the gold and the silver are a free-will offering unto the Lord God of your fathers; watch and keep (that which is committed to you). Since they were themselves, as priests and Levites, holy to the Lord, they were also to treat and keep the gifts committed to their charge as holy gifts, until, on their arrival at Jerusalem, they should weigh them (i.e., deliver them by weight) before the priests, the Levites, and the princes of Israel, in the chambers of the house of the Lord. The article to הלּשׁכוה (stat. construct.) is among the incorrectnesses of the later Hebrew.

Ezr 8:30

Then they took the weight of the silver, ... i.e., received the silver, etc., delivered to them by weight.

Ezr 8:31-36

The start, the journey, and the arrival at Jerusalem. - Ezr 8:31 The start from the river Ahava (comp. Ezr 8:15) did not take place till the twelfth day of the first month; while according to Ezr 7:9, the journey from Babylon was appointed for the first day of the month, and according to Ezr 8:15, the bands of travellers who assembled at the river Ahava encamped there three days. These statements may be reconciled as follows: On the first day the company of travellers began to assemble, and during the three days' encampment at the place of meeting Ezra became aware that no Levites were found among the travellers; upon which he took the measures mentioned, Ezr 8:16, etc., to induce certain Levites and Nethinim to accompany them. When these were afterwards present, Ezra ordained a fast, to supplicate the divine protection for the journey, and committed the sacred gifts to the care of the priests and Levites. Eight days elapsed while these preparations for departure were being made, so that the start from the river Ahava did not take place till the twelfth day. The journey was successfully accomplished, God's gracious protection delivering them from the hands of enemies and marauders; comp. Ezr 8:22.

Ezr 8:32-33

They arrived at Jerusalem, as stated Ezr 7:9, on the first day of the fifth month, the journey consequently occupying three months and a half. The particulars of the journey are not communicated; and as we do not even know the locality of the place of meeting at the river Ahava, the length of road to be traversed cannot be determined. After their arrival at Jerusalem, they abode, i.e., remained, as Nehemiah subsequently did, quiet and inactive three days, to recover from the fatigues and hardships of the journey, Neh 2:11, before they undertook the arrangement of their affairs. On the fourth day, the gifts they had brought with them were delivered in the house of God (נשׁקל, like אשׁקלה, Ezr 8:16) into the hand of Meremoth and Eleazar the priests, and Jozabad and Noadiah, two Levites, who took charge of them, the chiefs of the priests and Levites being, according to Ezr 8:29, also present. Meremoth Ben Uriah reappears in Neh 3:4, Neh 3:21, and is also intended Neh 12:3. Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and the Levite Noadiah, are not again met with. Jozabad, of the sons of Jeshua (Ezr 2:40), may be the Levite Jozabad mentioned Neh 10:23. Binnui is named among the Levites, Neh 10:10 and Neh 12:8.

Ezr 8:34

"By number, by weight, as to all," i.e., all was delivered by number and weight; and the whole weight was written at that time, i.e., an authentic list was made at the delivery which then took place.

Ezr 8:35

After the delivery of the dedicated gifts, those who had come up out of captivity (with Ezra), the sons of the captivity, offered burnt-offerings and sin-offerings, out of gratitude for the favour shown by God in the gracious restoration of His people Israel. This is implied in the words: "burnt-offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel" (the twelve tribes), and twelve he-goats for a sin-offering, as in Ezr 6:17. Ninety-six (8 x 12) lambs and seventy-seven lambs (77, the intensified seven) were likewise brought as a burnt-offering. "All this was a burnt-offering for the Lord," of which, therefore, nothing could be eaten by the offerers. The sin-offering preceded the burnt-offering, as the necessary basis of an acceptable burnt-offering. The sin-offerings availed as an atonement for the sins of all Israel, and the burnt-offerings typified the surrender of the entire nation to the service of the Lord. Thus the fact that these were offered for all Israel was an actual declaration that they who had now returned were henceforth resolved, together with all Israel, to dedicate their lives to the service of the Lord their God.

Ezr 8:36

Hereupon the royal decrees (the commission, Ezr 7:12-26) were delivered to the satraps of the king, and to the governors on this side the river; and they furthered the people and the house of God, as Artaxerxes had commanded in his edict, Ezr 7:20-24. On אחשׁדּרפּנים and פּחוות, see rem. on Dan 3:2. The satraps were the military chiefs of the province, the פּחוות, the heads of the civil government. נשּׂא, to lift up, to support, like Ezr 1:4.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Of Levi - None who were simple Levites, and not the priests. And therefore the Levites mentioned, Ezr 7:7, by anticipation were not yet come to him.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The river that runneth to Ahava - Ahava was a river itself, which is supposed to be the same that is called Diava or Adiava, in the province of Adiabene; and perhaps the place whence the people of Ava came who were brought by the king of Assyria to Palestine, Kg2 17:24. None of the sons of Levi - None that were simply Levites. He found priests, and they were sons of Levi; but no Levites that were not priests.

Top

¹⁵ And I gathered them together [06908] to the river [05104] that runneth [0935] to Ahava [0163]; and there abode we in tents [02583] three [07969] days [03117]: and I viewed [0995] the people [05971], and the priests [03548], and found [04672] there none of the sons [01121] of Levi [03878].
¹⁶ Then sent [07971] I for Eliezer [0461], for Ariel [0740], for Shemaiah [08098], and for Elnathan [0494], and for Jarib [03402], and for Elnathan [0494], and for Nathan [05416], and for Zechariah [02148], and for Meshullam [04918], chief men [07218]; also for Joiarib [03114], and for Elnathan [0494], men of understanding [0995].
¹⁷ And I sent [06680] them with commandment [03318] unto Iddo [0112] the chief [07218] at the place [04725] Casiphia [03703], and I told [07760] [06310] them what [01697] they should say [01696] unto Iddo [0112], and to his brethren [0251] the Nethinims [05411] [05411], at the place [04725] Casiphia [03703], that they should bring [0935] unto us ministers [08334] for the house [01004] of our God [0430].
¹⁸ And by the good [02896] hand [03027] of our God [0430] upon us they brought [0935] us a man [0376] of understanding [07922], of the sons [01121] of Mahli [04249], the son [01121] of Levi [03878], the son [01121] of Israel [03478]; and Sherebiah [08274], with his sons [01121] and his brethren [0251], eighteen [08083] [06240];
¹⁹ And Hashabiah [02811], and with him Jeshaiah [03470] of the sons [01121] of Merari [04847], his brethren [0251] and their sons [01121], twenty [06242];
²⁰ Also of the Nethinims [05411], whom David [01732] and the princes [08269] had appointed [05414] for the service [05656] of the Levites [03881], two hundred [03967] and twenty [06242] Nethinims [05411]: all of them were expressed [05344] by name [08034].

⁸ Now in the second [08145] year [08141] of their coming [0935] unto the house [01004] of God [0430] at Jerusalem [03389], in the second [08145] month [02320], began [02490] Zerubbabel [02216] the son [01121] of Shealtiel [07597], and Jeshua [03442] the son [01121] of Jozadak [03136], and the remnant [07605] of their brethren [0251] the priests [03548] and the Levites [03881], and all they that were come out [0935] of the captivity [07628] unto Jerusalem [03389]; and appointed [05975] the Levites [03881], from twenty [06242] years [08141] old [01121] and upward [04605], to set forward [05329] the work [04399] of the house [01004] of the LORD [03068].

⁴ And whosoever remaineth [07604] in any place [04725] where he sojourneth [01481], let the men [0582] of his place [04725] help [05375] him with silver [03701], and with gold [02091], and with goods [07399], and with beasts [0929], beside the freewill offering [05071] for the house [01004] of God [0430] that is in Jerusalem [03389].

² Then Nebuchadnezzar [05020] the king [04430] sent [07972] to gather together [03673] the princes [0324], the governors [05460], and the captains [06347], the judges [0148], the treasurers [01411], the counsellors [01884], the sheriffs [08614], and all [03606] the rulers [07984] of the provinces [04083], to come [0858] to the dedication [02597] of the image [06755] which Nebuchadnezzar [05020] the king [04430] had set up [06966].

²⁰ And whatsoever more [07606] shall be needful [02819] for the house [01005] of thy God [0426], which thou shalt have occasion [05308] to bestow [05415], bestow [05415] it out of [04481] the king's [04430] treasure [01596] house [01005].
²¹ And I [04481], even I [0576] Artaxerxes [0783] the king [04430], do make [07761] a decree [02942] to all [03606] the treasurers [01490] which are beyond [05675] the river [05103], that whatsoever Ezra [05831] the priest [03549], the scribe [05613] of the law [01882] of the God [0426] of heaven [08065], shall require [07593] of you, it be done [05648] speedily [0629],
²² Unto [05705] an hundred [03969] talents [03604] of silver [03702], and to an hundred [03969] measures [03734] of wheat [02591], and to an hundred [03969] baths [01325] of wine [02562], and to an hundred [03969] baths [01325] of oil [04887], and salt [04416] without [03809] prescribing [03792] how much.
²³ Whatsoever [03606] is commanded by [02941] [04481] the God [0426] of heaven [08065], let it be diligently [0149] done [05648] for the house [01005] of the God [0426] of heaven [08065]: for [01768] why [04101] should there be [01934] wrath [07109] against [05922] the realm [04437] of the king [04430] and his sons [01123]?
²⁴ Also we certify [03046] you, that touching any [03606] of the priests [03549] and Levites [03879], singers [02171], porters [08652], Nethinims [05412], or ministers [06399] of this [01836] house [01005] of God [0426], it shall not [03809] be lawful [07990] to impose [07412] toll [04061], tribute [01093], or custom [01983], upon [05922] them.

¹² Artaxerxes [0783], king [04430] of kings [04430], unto Ezra [05831] the priest [03549], a scribe [05613] of the law [01882] of the God [0426] of heaven [08065], perfect [01585] peace, and at such a time [03706].
¹³ I [04481] make [07761] a decree [02942], that all [03606] they of [04481] the people [05972] of Israel [03479], and of his priests [03549] and Levites [03879], in my realm [04437], which are minded of their own freewill [05069] to go up [01946] to Jerusalem [03390], go [01946] with thee [05974].
¹⁴ Forasmuch [01768] [06903] as [03606] thou art sent [07972] of [04481] [06925] the king [04430], and of his seven [07655] counsellors [03272], to enquire [01240] concerning [05922] Judah [03061] and Jerusalem [03390], according to the law [01882] of thy God [0426] which is in thine hand [03028];
¹⁵ And to carry [02987] the silver [03702] and gold [01722], which the king [04430] and his counsellors [03272] have freely offered [05069] unto the God [0426] of Israel [03479], whose [01768] habitation [04907] is in Jerusalem [03390],
¹⁶ And all [03606] the silver [03702] and gold [01722] that thou canst find [07912] in all [03606] the province [04083] of Babylon [0895], with [05974] the freewill offering [05069] of the people [05972], and of the priests [03549], offering willingly [05069] for the house [01005] of their God [0426] which is in Jerusalem [03390]:
¹⁷ That [03606] [06903] thou mayest buy [07066] speedily [0629] with this [01836] money [03702] bullocks [08450], rams [01798], lambs [0563], with their meat offerings [04504] and their drink offerings [05261], and offer [07127] them [01994] upon [05922] the altar [04056] of the house [01005] of your God [0426] which is in Jerusalem [03390].
¹⁸ And whatsoever [04101] [01768] shall seem good [03191] to thee, and to [05922] thy brethren [0252], to do [05648] with the rest [07606] of the silver [03702] and the gold [01722], that do [05648] after the will [07470] of your God [0426].
¹⁹ The vessels [03984] also that are given [03052] thee for the service [06402] of the house [01005] of thy God [0426], those deliver [08000] thou before [06925] the God [0426] of Jerusalem [03390].
²⁰ And whatsoever more [07606] shall be needful [02819] for the house [01005] of thy God [0426], which thou shalt have occasion [05308] to bestow [05415], bestow [05415] it out of [04481] the king's [04430] treasure [01596] house [01005].
²¹ And I [04481], even I [0576] Artaxerxes [0783] the king [04430], do make [07761] a decree [02942] to all [03606] the treasurers [01490] which are beyond [05675] the river [05103], that whatsoever Ezra [05831] the priest [03549], the scribe [05613] of the law [01882] of the God [0426] of heaven [08065], shall require [07593] of you, it be done [05648] speedily [0629],
²² Unto [05705] an hundred [03969] talents [03604] of silver [03702], and to an hundred [03969] measures [03734] of wheat [02591], and to an hundred [03969] baths [01325] of wine [02562], and to an hundred [03969] baths [01325] of oil [04887], and salt [04416] without [03809] prescribing [03792] how much.
²³ Whatsoever [03606] is commanded by [02941] [04481] the God [0426] of heaven [08065], let it be diligently [0149] done [05648] for the house [01005] of the God [0426] of heaven [08065]: for [01768] why [04101] should there be [01934] wrath [07109] against [05922] the realm [04437] of the king [04430] and his sons [01123]?
²⁴ Also we certify [03046] you, that touching any [03606] of the priests [03549] and Levites [03879], singers [02171], porters [08652], Nethinims [05412], or ministers [06399] of this [01836] house [01005] of God [0426], it shall not [03809] be lawful [07990] to impose [07412] toll [04061], tribute [01093], or custom [01983], upon [05922] them.
²⁵ And thou [0607], Ezra [05831], after the wisdom [02452] of thy God [0426], that is in thine hand [03028], set [04483] magistrates [08200] and judges [01782], which may judge [01934] [01778] all [03606] the people [05972] that are beyond [05675] the river [05103], all [03606] such as know [03046] the laws [01882] of thy God [0426]; and teach [03046] ye them that know [03046] them not [03809].
²⁶ And whosoever [03606] will not [03809] do [01934] [05648] the law [01882] of thy God [0426], and the law [01882] of the king [04430], let judgment [01780] be [01934] executed [05648] speedily [0629] upon him [04481], whether [02006] it be unto death [04193], or [02006] to banishment [08332], or [02006] to confiscation [06065] of goods [05232], or to imprisonment [0613].

³⁶ And they delivered [05414] the king's [04428] commissions [01881] unto the king's [04428] lieutenants [0323], and to the governors [06346] on this side [05676] the river [05104]: and they furthered [05375] the people [05971], and the house [01004] of God [0430].

¹⁷ And offered [07127] at the dedication [02597] of this [01836] house [01005] of God [0426] an hundred [03969] bullocks [08450], two hundred [03969] rams [01798], four [0703] hundred [03969] lambs [0563]; and for a sin offering [02402] [02409] for [05922] all [03606] Israel [03479], twelve [08648] [06236] he [06841] goats [05796], according to the number [04510] of the tribes [07625] of Israel [03479].

³⁵ Also the children [01121] of those that had been carried away [01473], which were come out [0935] of the captivity [07628], offered [07126] burnt offerings [05930] unto the God [0430] of Israel [03478], twelve [08147] [06240] bullocks [06499] for all Israel [03478], ninety [08673] and six [08337] rams [0352], seventy [07657] and seven [07651] lambs [03532], twelve [08147] [06240] he goats [06842] for a sin offering [02403]: all this was a burnt offering [05930] unto the LORD [03068].

³⁴ By number [04557] and by weight [04948] of every one: and all the weight [04948] was written [03789] at that time [06256].

⁸ Moreover the Levites [03881]: Jeshua [03442], Binnui [01131], Kadmiel [06934], Sherebiah [08274], Judah [03063], and Mattaniah [04983], which was over the thanksgiving [01960], he and his brethren [0251].

¹⁰ And their brethren [0251], Shebaniah [07645], Hodijah [01941], Kelita [07042], Pelaiah [06411], Hanan [02605],

²³ Hoshea [01954], Hananiah [02608], Hashub [02815],

⁴⁰ The Levites [03881]: the children [01121] of Jeshua [03442] and Kadmiel [06934], of the children [01121] of Hodaviah [01938], seventy [07657] and four [0702].

³ Shechaniah [07935], Rehum [07348], Meremoth [04822],

²¹ After [0310] him repaired [02388] Meremoth [04822] the son [01121] of Urijah [0223] the son [01121] of Koz [06976] another [08145] piece [04060], from the door [06607] of the house [01004] of Eliashib [0475] even to the end [08503] of the house [01004] of Eliashib [0475].

⁴ And next unto them [03027] repaired [02388] Meremoth [04822] the son [01121] of Urijah [0223], the son [01121] of Koz [06976]. And next unto them [03027] repaired [02388] Meshullam [04918] the son [01121] of Berechiah [01296], the son [01121] of Meshezabeel [04898]. And next unto them [03027] repaired [02388] Zadok [06659] the son [01121] of Baana [01195].

²⁹ Watch [08245] ye, and keep [08104] them, until ye weigh [08254] them before [06440] the chief [08269] of the priests [03548] and the Levites [03881], and chief [08269] of the fathers [01] of Israel [03478], at Jerusalem [03389], in the chambers [03957] of the house [01004] of the LORD [03068].

¹⁶ Then sent [07971] I for Eliezer [0461], for Ariel [0740], for Shemaiah [08098], and for Elnathan [0494], and for Jarib [03402], and for Elnathan [0494], and for Nathan [05416], and for Zechariah [02148], and for Meshullam [04918], chief men [07218]; also for Joiarib [03114], and for Elnathan [0494], men of understanding [0995].

¹¹ So I came [0935] to Jerusalem [03389], and was there three [07969] days [03117].

⁹ For upon the first [0259] day of the first [07223] month [02320] began [03246] he to go up [04609] from Babylon [0894], and on the first [0259] day of the fifth [02549] month [02320] came [0935] he to Jerusalem [03389], according to the good [02896] hand [03027] of his God [0430] upon him.

³² And we came [0935] to Jerusalem [03389], and abode [03427] there three [07969] days [03117].
³³ Now on the fourth [07243] day [03117] was the silver [03701] and the gold [02091] and the vessels [03627] weighed [08254] in the house [01004] of our God [0430] by the hand [03027] of Meremoth [04822] the son [01121] of Uriah [0223] the priest [03548]; and with him was Eleazar [0499] the son [01121] of Phinehas [06372]; and with them was Jozabad [03107] the son [01121] of Jeshua [03442], and Noadiah [05129] the son [01121] of Binnui [01131], Levites [03881];

²² For I was ashamed [0954] to require [07592] of the king [04428] a band of soldiers [02428] and horsemen [06571] to help [05826] us against the enemy [0341] in the way [01870]: because we had spoken [0559] unto the king [04428], saying [0559], The hand [03027] of our God [0430] is upon all them for good [02896] that seek [01245] him; but his power [05797] and his wrath [0639] is against all them that forsake [05800] him.

³¹ Then we departed [05265] from the river [05104] of Ahava [0163] on the twelfth [08147] [06240] day of the first [07223] month [02320], to go [03212] unto Jerusalem [03389]: and the hand [03027] of our God [0430] was upon us, and he delivered [05337] us from the hand [03709] of the enemy [0341], and of such as lay in wait [0693] by the way [01870].
³² And we came [0935] to Jerusalem [03389], and abode [03427] there three [07969] days [03117].
³³ Now on the fourth [07243] day [03117] was the silver [03701] and the gold [02091] and the vessels [03627] weighed [08254] in the house [01004] of our God [0430] by the hand [03027] of Meremoth [04822] the son [01121] of Uriah [0223] the priest [03548]; and with him was Eleazar [0499] the son [01121] of Phinehas [06372]; and with them was Jozabad [03107] the son [01121] of Jeshua [03442], and Noadiah [05129] the son [01121] of Binnui [01131], Levites [03881];
³⁴ By number [04557] and by weight [04948] of every one: and all the weight [04948] was written [03789] at that time [06256].
³⁵ Also the children [01121] of those that had been carried away [01473], which were come out [0935] of the captivity [07628], offered [07126] burnt offerings [05930] unto the God [0430] of Israel [03478], twelve [08147] [06240] bullocks [06499] for all Israel [03478], ninety [08673] and six [08337] rams [0352], seventy [07657] and seven [07651] lambs [03532], twelve [08147] [06240] he goats [06842] for a sin offering [02403]: all this was a burnt offering [05930] unto the LORD [03068].
³⁶ And they delivered [05414] the king's [04428] commissions [01881] unto the king's [04428] lieutenants [0323], and to the governors [06346] on this side [05676] the river [05104]: and they furthered [05375] the people [05971], and the house [01004] of God [0430].

³⁰ So took [06901] the priests [03548] and the Levites [03881] the weight [04948] of the silver [03701], and the gold [02091], and the vessels [03627], to bring [0935] them to Jerusalem [03389] unto the house [01004] of our God [0430].

²⁸ And I said [0559] unto them, Ye are holy [06944] unto the LORD [03068]; the vessels [03627] are holy [06944] also; and the silver [03701] and the gold [02091] are a freewill offering [05071] unto the LORD [03068] God [0430] of your fathers [01].
²⁹ Watch [08245] ye, and keep [08104] them, until ye weigh [08254] them before [06440] the chief [08269] of the priests [03548] and the Levites [03881], and chief [08269] of the fathers [01] of Israel [03478], at Jerusalem [03389], in the chambers [03957] of the house [01004] of the LORD [03068].

²⁵ And when Jehoshaphat [03092] and his people [05971] came [0935] to take away [0962] the spoil [07998] of them, they found [04672] among them in abundance [07230] both riches [07399] with the dead bodies [06297], and precious [02532] jewels [03627], which they stripped off [05337] for themselves, more than [0369] they could carry away [04853]: and they were three [07969] days [03117] in gathering [0962] of the spoil [07998], it was so much [07227].

¹⁰ Thirty [07970] basons [03713] of gold [02091], silver [03701] basons [03713] of a second [04932] sort four [0702] hundred [03967] and ten [06235], and other [0312] vessels [03627] a thousand [0505].

⁸ Even those did Cyrus [03566] king [04428] of Persia [06539] bring forth [03318] by the hand [03027] of Mithredath [04990] the treasurer [01489], and numbered [05608] them unto Sheshbazzar [08339], the prince [05387] of Judah [03063].

¹¹ And it came to pass, when the priests [03548] were come out [03318] of the holy [06944] place: (for all the priests [03548] that were present [04672] were sanctified [06942], and did not then wait [08104] by course [04256]:

¹⁷ I know [03045] also, my God [0430], that thou triest [0974] the heart [03824], and hast pleasure [07521] in uprightness [03476]. As for me, in the uprightness [04339] of mine heart [03824] I have willingly offered [05068] all these things: and now have I seen [07200] with joy [08057] thy people [05971], which are present [04672] here, to offer willingly [05068] unto thee.

²⁸ And all that Samuel [08050] the seer [07200], and Saul [07586] the son [01121] of Kish [07027], and Abner [074] the son [01121] of Ner [05369], and Joab [03097] the son [01121] of Zeruiah [06870], had dedicated [06942]; and whosoever had dedicated [06942] any thing, it was under the hand [03027] of Shelomith [08019], and of his brethren [0251].

¹⁹ The vessels [03984] also that are given [03052] thee for the service [06402] of the house [01005] of thy God [0426], those deliver [08000] thou before [06925] the God [0426] of Jerusalem [03390].

¹⁵ And to carry [02987] the silver [03702] and gold [01722], which the king [04430] and his counsellors [03272] have freely offered [05069] unto the God [0426] of Israel [03479], whose [01768] habitation [04907] is in Jerusalem [03390],
¹⁶ And all [03606] the silver [03702] and gold [01722] that thou canst find [07912] in all [03606] the province [04083] of Babylon [0895], with [05974] the freewill offering [05069] of the people [05972], and of the priests [03549], offering willingly [05069] for the house [01005] of their God [0426] which is in Jerusalem [03390]:

²⁶ I even weighed [08254] unto their hand [03027] six [08337] hundred [03967] and fifty [02572] talents [03603] of silver [03701], and silver [03701] vessels [03627] an hundred [03967] talents [03603], and of gold [02091] an hundred [03967] talents [03603];

²⁵ And weighed [08254] unto them the silver [03701], and the gold [02091], and the vessels [03627], even the offering [08641] of the house [01004] of our God [0430], which the king [04428], and his counsellors [03289], and his lords [08269], and all Israel [03478] there present [04672], had offered [07311]:
²⁶ I even weighed [08254] unto their hand [03027] six [08337] hundred [03967] and fifty [02572] talents [03603] of silver [03701], and silver [03701] vessels [03627] an hundred [03967] talents [03603], and of gold [02091] an hundred [03967] talents [03603];
²⁷ Also twenty [06242] basons [03713] of gold [02091], of a thousand [0505] drams [0150]; and two [08147] vessels [03627] of fine [02896] [06668] copper [05178], precious [02532] as gold [02091].

²⁴ Then I separated [0914] twelve [08147] [06240] of the chief [08269] of the priests [03548], Sherebiah [08274], Hashabiah [02811], and ten [06235] of their brethren [0251] with them,
²⁵ And weighed [08254] unto them the silver [03701], and the gold [02091], and the vessels [03627], even the offering [08641] of the house [01004] of our God [0430], which the king [04428], and his counsellors [03289], and his lords [08269], and all Israel [03478] there present [04672], had offered [07311]:
²⁶ I even weighed [08254] unto their hand [03027] six [08337] hundred [03967] and fifty [02572] talents [03603] of silver [03701], and silver [03701] vessels [03627] an hundred [03967] talents [03603], and of gold [02091] an hundred [03967] talents [03603];
²⁷ Also twenty [06242] basons [03713] of gold [02091], of a thousand [0505] drams [0150]; and two [08147] vessels [03627] of fine [02896] [06668] copper [05178], precious [02532] as gold [02091].
²⁸ And I said [0559] unto them, Ye are holy [06944] unto the LORD [03068]; the vessels [03627] are holy [06944] also; and the silver [03701] and the gold [02091] are a freewill offering [05071] unto the LORD [03068] God [0430] of your fathers [01].
²⁹ Watch [08245] ye, and keep [08104] them, until ye weigh [08254] them before [06440] the chief [08269] of the priests [03548] and the Levites [03881], and chief [08269] of the fathers [01] of Israel [03478], at Jerusalem [03389], in the chambers [03957] of the house [01004] of the LORD [03068].
³⁰ So took [06901] the priests [03548] and the Levites [03881] the weight [04948] of the silver [03701], and the gold [02091], and the vessels [03627], to bring [0935] them to Jerusalem [03389] unto the house [01004] of our God [0430].

³⁷ And the children [01121] of Israel [03478] journeyed [05265] from Rameses [07486] to Succoth [05523], about six [08337] hundred [03967] thousand [0505] on foot [07273] that were men [01397], beside [0905] children [02945].

⁷ He shall not be afraid [03372] of evil [07451] tidings [08052]: his heart [03820] is fixed [03559], trusting [0982] in the LORD [03068].

³ And Jehoshaphat [03092] feared [03372], and set [05414] himself [06440] to seek [01875] the LORD [03068], and proclaimed [07121] a fast [06685] throughout [05921] all Judah [03063].

¹⁴ Sanctify [06942] ye a fast [06685], call [07121] a solemn assembly [06116], gather [0622] the elders [02205] and all the inhabitants [03427] of the land [0776] into the house [01004] of the LORD [03068] your God [0430], and cry [02199] unto the LORD [03068],

⁶ And they gathered together [06908] to Mizpeh [04709], and drew [07579] water [04325], and poured it out [08210] before [06440] the LORD [03068], and fasted [06684] on that day [03117], and said [0559] there, We have sinned [02398] against the LORD [03068]. And Samuel [08050] judged [08199] the children [01121] of Israel [03478] in Mizpeh [04708].

²⁶ Then all the children [01121] of Israel [03478], and all the people [05971], went up [05927], and came [0935] unto the house [01004] of God [0430] [01008], and wept [01058], and sat [03427] there before [06440] the LORD [03068], and fasted [06684] that day [03117] until even [06153], and offered [05927] burnt offerings [05930] and peace offerings [08002] before [06440] the LORD [03068].

²¹ Then I proclaimed [07121] a fast [06685] there, at the river [05104] of Ahava [0163], that we might afflict [06031] ourselves before [06440] our God [0430], to seek [01245] of him a right [03477] way [01870] for us, and for our little ones [02945], and for all our substance [07399].
²² For I was ashamed [0954] to require [07592] of the king [04428] a band of soldiers [02428] and horsemen [06571] to help [05826] us against the enemy [0341] in the way [01870]: because we had spoken [0559] unto the king [04428], saying [0559], The hand [03027] of our God [0430] is upon all them for good [02896] that seek [01245] him; but his power [05797] and his wrath [0639] is against all them that forsake [05800] him.
²³ So we fasted [06684] and besought [01245] our God [0430] for this: and he was intreated [06279] of us.
²⁴ Then I separated [0914] twelve [08147] [06240] of the chief [08269] of the priests [03548], Sherebiah [08274], Hashabiah [02811], and ten [06235] of their brethren [0251] with them,
²⁵ And weighed [08254] unto them the silver [03701], and the gold [02091], and the vessels [03627], even the offering [08641] of the house [01004] of our God [0430], which the king [04428], and his counsellors [03289], and his lords [08269], and all Israel [03478] there present [04672], had offered [07311]:
²⁶ I even weighed [08254] unto their hand [03027] six [08337] hundred [03967] and fifty [02572] talents [03603] of silver [03701], and silver [03701] vessels [03627] an hundred [03967] talents [03603], and of gold [02091] an hundred [03967] talents [03603];
²⁷ Also twenty [06242] basons [03713] of gold [02091], of a thousand [0505] drams [0150]; and two [08147] vessels [03627] of fine [02896] [06668] copper [05178], precious [02532] as gold [02091].
²⁸ And I said [0559] unto them, Ye are holy [06944] unto the LORD [03068]; the vessels [03627] are holy [06944] also; and the silver [03701] and the gold [02091] are a freewill offering [05071] unto the LORD [03068] God [0430] of your fathers [01].
²⁹ Watch [08245] ye, and keep [08104] them, until ye weigh [08254] them before [06440] the chief [08269] of the priests [03548] and the Levites [03881], and chief [08269] of the fathers [01] of Israel [03478], at Jerusalem [03389], in the chambers [03957] of the house [01004] of the LORD [03068].
³⁰ So took [06901] the priests [03548] and the Levites [03881] the weight [04948] of the silver [03701], and the gold [02091], and the vessels [03627], to bring [0935] them to Jerusalem [03389] unto the house [01004] of our God [0430].

³¹ And of the half [02677] tribe [04294] of Manasseh [04519] eighteen [08083] [06240] thousand [0505], which were expressed [05344] by name [08034], to come [0935] and make David [01732] king [04427].

⁴³ The Nethinims [05411]: the children [01121] of Ziha [06727], the children [01121] of Hasupha [02817], the children [01121] of Tabbaoth [02884],

²¹ And the princes [05387] said [0559] unto them, Let them live [02421]; but let them be hewers [02404] of wood [06086] and drawers [07579] of water [04325] unto all the congregation [05712]; as the princes [05387] had promised [01696] them.

²⁰ Also of the Nethinims [05411], whom David [01732] and the princes [08269] had appointed [05414] for the service [05656] of the Levites [03881], two hundred [03967] and twenty [06242] Nethinims [05411]: all of them were expressed [05344] by name [08034].

²⁴ And the chief [07218] of the Levites [03881]: Hashabiah [02811], Sherebiah [08274], and Jeshua [03442] the son [01121] of Kadmiel [06934], with their brethren [0251] over against them, to praise [01984] and to give thanks [03034], according to the commandment [04687] of David [01732] the man [0376] of God [0430], ward [04929] over against [05980] ward [04929].

² Seraiah [08304], Azariah [05838], Jeremiah [03414],

²⁴ Then I separated [0914] twelve [08147] [06240] of the chief [08269] of the priests [03548], Sherebiah [08274], Hashabiah [02811], and ten [06235] of their brethren [0251] with them,

¹⁹ And they gave [05414] their hands [03027] that they would put away [03318] their wives [0802]; and being guilty [0818], they offered a ram [0352] of the flock [06629] for their trespass [0819].

¹³ But [061] the people [05971] are many [07227], and it is a time [06256] of much rain [01653], and we are not able [03581] to stand [05975] without [02351], neither is this a work [04399] of one [0259] day [03117] or two [08147]: for we are many [07235] that have transgressed [06586] in this thing [01697].

⁴ Then stood up [06965] upon the stairs [04608], of the Levites [03881], Jeshua [03442], and Bani [01137], Kadmiel [06934], Shebaniah [07645], Bunni [01138], Sherebiah [08274], Bani [01137], and Chenani [03662], and cried [02199] with a loud [01419] voice [06963] unto the LORD [03068] their God [0430].

⁷ Also Jeshua [03442], and Bani [01137], and Sherebiah [08274], Jamin [03226], Akkub [06126], Shabbethai [07678], Hodijah [01941], Maaseiah [04641], Kelita [07042], Azariah [05838], Jozabad [03107], Hanan [02605], Pelaiah [06411], and the Levites [03881], caused the people [05971] to understand [0995] the law [08451]: and the people [05971] stood in their place [05977].

²⁴ Then I separated [0914] twelve [08147] [06240] of the chief [08269] of the priests [03548], Sherebiah [08274], Hashabiah [02811], and ten [06235] of their brethren [0251] with them,

⁴ Eleazar [0499] begat [03205] Phinehas [06372], Phinehas [06372] begat [03205] Abishua [050],

¹⁹ And the sons [01121] of Merari [04847]; Mahali [04249] and Mushi [04187]: these are the families [04940] of Levi [03878] according to their generations [08435].

¹⁶ And these are the names [08034] of the sons [01121] of Levi [03878] according to their generations [08435]; Gershon [01648], and Kohath [06955], and Merari [04847]: and the years [08141] of the life [02416] of Levi [03878] were an hundred [03967] thirty [07970] and seven [07651] years [08141].

⁶ This Ezra [05830] went up [05927] from Babylon [0894]; and he was a ready [04106] scribe [05608] in the law [08451] of Moses [04872], which the LORD [03068] God [0430] of Israel [03478] had given [05414]: and the king [04428] granted [05414] him all his request [01246], according to the hand [03027] of the LORD [03068] his God [0430] upon him.

¹⁸ And by the good [02896] hand [03027] of our God [0430] upon us they brought [0935] us a man [0376] of understanding [07922], of the sons [01121] of Mahli [04249], the son [01121] of Levi [03878], the son [01121] of Israel [03478]; and Sherebiah [08274], with his sons [01121] and his brethren [0251], eighteen [08083] [06240];
¹⁹ And Hashabiah [02811], and with him Jeshaiah [03470] of the sons [01121] of Merari [04847], his brethren [0251] and their sons [01121], twenty [06242];

¹⁷ And I sent [06680] them with commandment [03318] unto Iddo [0112] the chief [07218] at the place [04725] Casiphia [03703], and I told [07760] [06310] them what [01697] they should say [01696] unto Iddo [0112], and to his brethren [0251] the Nethinims [05411] [05411], at the place [04725] Casiphia [03703], that they should bring [0935] unto us ministers [08334] for the house [01004] of our God [0430].

⁸ And of the sons [01121] of Shephatiah [08203]; Zebadiah [02069] the son [01121] of Michael [04317], and with him fourscore [08084] males [02145].

³⁹ And Zadok [06659] the priest [03548], and his brethren [0251] the priests [03548], before [06440] the tabernacle [04908] of the LORD [03068] in the high place [01116] that was at Gibeon [01391],

¹⁹ And the king [04428] said [0559], Is not the hand [03027] of Joab [03097] with thee in all this? And the woman [0802] answered [06030] and said [0559], As thy soul [05315] liveth [02416], my lord [0113] the king [04428], none [0376] can [0786] turn to the right hand [03231] or to the left [08041] from ought that my lord [0113] the king [04428] hath spoken [01696]: for thy servant [05650] Joab [03097], he bade [06680] me, and he put [07760] all these words [01697] in the mouth [06310] of thine handmaid [08198]:

³ And come [0935] to the king [04428], and speak [01696] on this manner [01697] unto him. So Joab [03097] put [07760] the words [01697] in her mouth [06310].

⁸ And they cast [05307] lots [01486], ward [04931] against [05980] ward, as well the small [06996] as the great [01419], the teacher [0995] as the scholar [08527].

²² And Chenaniah [03663], chief [08269] of the Levites [03881], was for song [04853]: he instructed [03256] about the song [04853], because he was skilful [0995].

⁹ And Nehemiah [05166], which is the Tirshatha [08660], and Ezra [05830] the priest [03548] the scribe [05608], and the Levites [03881] that taught [0995] the people [05971], said [0559] unto all the people [05971], This day [03117] is holy [06918] unto the LORD [03068] your God [0430]; mourn [056] not, nor weep [01058]. For all the people [05971] wept [01058], when they heard [08085] the words [01697] of the law [08451].

¹⁸ And among the sons [01121] of the priests [03548] there were found [04672] that had taken [03427] strange [05237] wives [0802]: namely, of the sons [01121] of Jeshua [03442] the son [01121] of Jozadak [03136], and his brethren [0251]; Maaseiah [04641], and Eliezer [0461], and Jarib [03402], and Gedaliah [01436].
¹⁹ And they gave [05414] their hands [03027] that they would put away [03318] their wives [0802]; and being guilty [0818], they offered a ram [0352] of the flock [06629] for their trespass [0819].
²⁰ And of the sons [01121] of Immer [0564]; Hanani [02607], and Zebadiah [02069].
²¹ And of the sons [01121] of Harim [02766]; Maaseiah [04641], and Elijah [0452], and Shemaiah [08098], and Jehiel [03171], and Uzziah [05818].
²² And of the sons [01121] of Pashur [06583]; Elioenai [0454], Maaseiah [04641], Ishmael [03458], Nethaneel [05417], Jozabad [03107], and Elasah [0501].
²³ Also of the Levites [03881]; Jozabad [03107], and Shimei [08096], and Kelaiah [07041], (the same is Kelita [07042],) Pethahiah [06611], Judah [03063], and Eliezer [0461].
²⁴ Of the singers [07891] also; Eliashib [0475]: and of the porters [07778]; Shallum [07967], and Telem [02928], and Uri [0221].
²⁵ Moreover of Israel [03478]: of the sons [01121] of Parosh [06551]; Ramiah [07422], and Jeziah [03150], and Malchiah [04441], and Miamin [04326], and Eleazar [0499], and Malchijah [04441], and Benaiah [01141].
²⁶ And of the sons [01121] of Elam [05867]; Mattaniah [04983], Zechariah [02148], and Jehiel [03171], and Abdi [05660], and Jeremoth [03406], and Eliah [0452].
²⁷ And of the sons [01121] of Zattu [02240]; Elioenai [0454], Eliashib [0475], Mattaniah [04983], and Jeremoth [03406], and Zabad [02066], and Aziza [05819].
²⁸ Of the sons [01121] also of Bebai [0893]; Jehohanan [03076], Hananiah [02608], Zabbai [02140] [02079], and Athlai [06270].
²⁹ And of the sons [01121] of Bani [01137]; Meshullam [04918], Malluch [04409], and Adaiah [05718], Jashub [03437], and Sheal [07594], and Ramoth [07433].
³⁰ And of the sons [01121] of Pahathmoab [06355]; Adna [05733], and Chelal [03636], Benaiah [01141], Maaseiah [04641], Mattaniah [04983], Bezaleel [01212], and Binnui [01131], and Manasseh [04519].
³¹ And of the sons [01121] of Harim [02766]; Eliezer [0461], Ishijah [03449], Malchiah [04441], Shemaiah [08098], Shimeon [08095],

¹⁵ Only Jonathan [03129] the son [01121] of Asahel [06214] and Jahaziah [03167] the son [01121] of Tikvah [08616] were employed [05975] about this matter: and Meshullam [04918] and Shabbethai [07678] the Levite [03881] helped [05826] them.

⁷ Also in the third [07969] year [08141] of his reign [04427] he sent [07971] to his princes [08269], even to Benhail [01134], and to Obadiah [05662], and to Zechariah [02148], and to Nethaneel [05417], and to Michaiah [04322], to teach [03925] in the cities [05892] of Judah [03063].

²³ At the beginning [08462] of thy supplications [08469] the commandment [01697] came forth [03318], and I am come [0935] to shew [05046] thee; for thou art greatly beloved [02532]: therefore understand [0995] the matter [01697], and consider [0995] the vision [04758].

⁷ And I came [0935] to Jerusalem [03389], and understood [0995] of the evil [07451] that Eliashib [0475] did [06213] for Tobiah [02900], in preparing [06213] him a chamber [05393] in the courts [02691] of the house [01004] of God [0430].

⁷ And there went up [05927] some of the children [01121] of Israel [03478], and of the priests [03548], and the Levites [03881], and the singers [07891], and the porters [07778], and the Nethinims [05411], unto Jerusalem [03389], in the seventh [07651] year [08141] of Artaxerxes [0783] the king [04428].

²⁴ And the king [04428] of Assyria [0804] brought [0935] men from Babylon [0894], and from Cuthah [03575], and from Ava [05755], and from Hamath [02574], and from Sepharvaim [05617], and placed [03427] them in the cities [05892] of Samaria [08111] instead of the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: and they possessed [03423] Samaria [08111], and dwelt [03427] in the cities [05892] thereof.