(KJV) Ezra 81

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⥃The Exiles Who Returned with Ezra

[1] These [are] now the chief2 of their fathers, and [this is] the genealogy3 of them that went up4 with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. [2] Of the sons of Phinehas5; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David6; Hattush. [3] Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh7; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty. [4] Of the sons of Pahath–moab8; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males. [5] Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males. [6] Of the sons also of Adin9; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males. [7] And of the sons of Elam10; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males. [8] And of the sons of Shephatiah11; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males. [9] Of the sons of Joab12; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males. [10] And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males. [11] And of the sons of Bebai13; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males. [12] And of the sons of Azgad14; Johanan the son of Hakkatan15, and with him an hundred and ten males. [13] And of the last sons of Adonikam16, whose names [are] these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males. [14] Of the sons also of Bigvai17; Uthai, and Zabbud18, and with them seventy males.

⥃Ezra Sends for the Levites

[15] [¶]And I gathered them together to the river that runneth19 to Ahava20; and there abode21 we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found22 there none of the sons of Levi. [16] Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah23, and for Elnathan24, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah25, and for Meshullam, chief men26; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding27. [17] And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia28, and I told them29 what they should say unto Iddo, [and] to his brethren the Nethinims30, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers31 for the house of our God. [18] And by the good hand32 of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding33, of the sons of Mahli34, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah35, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; [19] And Hashabiah36, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari37, his brethren and their sons, twenty; [20] Also of the Nethinims38, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them39 were expressed by name.

⥃Fasting for Protection

[21] Then I proclaimed40 a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves41 before our God, to seek42 of him a right way for us, and for our little ones43, and for all our substance. [22] For I was ashamed44 to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand45 of our God [is] upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath46 [is] against all them that forsake him. [23] So we fasted47 and besought48 our God for this: and he was intreated49 of us.

⥃Priests to Guard the Offerings

[24] Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah50, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them, [25] And weighed51 unto them the silver52, and the gold, and the vessels, [even] the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel [there] present, had offered: [26] I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, [and] of gold an hundred talents; [27] Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper53, precious54 as gold. [28] And I said unto them, Ye [are] holy55 unto the Lord; the vessels56 [are] holy also; and the silver and the gold [are] a freewill offering unto the Lord God of your fathers. [29] Watch ye57, and keep [them], until ye weigh [them] before58 the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord. [30] So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring [them] to Jerusalem unto the house of our God59.

[31] Then we departed from the river of Ahava60 on the twelfth [day] of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand61 of our God was upon us, and he delivered62 us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.

⥃Arrival in Jerusalem

[32] And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.63

[33] [¶]Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed64 in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth65 the son of Uriah66 the priest; and with him [was] Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them [was] Jozabad67 the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui68, Levites; [34] By number [and] by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time. [35] [Also] the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt69 offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks70 for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats [for] a sin offering: all [this was] a burnt offering unto the Lord.

[36] [¶]And they delivered the king’s commissions71 unto the king’s lieutenants72, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered73 the people, and the house of God.

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  1. Ezra 8:1, The companions of Ezra, who returned from Babylon; Ezra 8:15, He sends to Iddo for ministers for the temple; Ezra 8:21, He keeps a fast; Ezra 8:24, He commits the treasures to the custody of the priests; Ezra 8:31, From Ahava they come to Jerusalem; Ezra 8:33, The treasure is weighed in the temple; Ezra 8:36, The commission is delivered. ↩

  2. Ezra 1:5; 1Chr 9:34, 1Chr 24:31, 1Chr 26:32; 2Chr 26:12; Neh 7:70-71 ↩

  3. Ezra 2:62; 1Chr 4:33, 1Chr 9:1 ↩

  4. Ezra 7:7, Ezra 7:13 ↩

  5. 1Chr 6:3, 1Chr 6:4-15, 1Chr 24:1-6 ↩

  6. 1Chr 3:1, 1Chr 3:22 ↩

  7. This variation is attributable to the translators; the original being uniformly Parosh. Ezra 2:3; Neh 7:8, Neh 10:14, Parosh ↩

  8. Ezra 2:6; Neh 7:11, Neh 10:14 ↩

  9. Ezra 2:15; Neh 7:20, Neh 10:16 ↩

  10. Ezra 2:7, Ezra 2:31; Neh 7:12, Neh 7:34 ↩

  11. Ezra 2:4; Neh 7:9, Neh 11:4 ↩

  12. Ezra 2:6; Neh 7:11 ↩

  13. Ezra 2:11, Ezra 10:28; Neh 7:16 ↩

  14. Ezra 2:12; Neh 7:17 ↩

  15. or, the youngest son ↩

  16. Ezra 2:13; Neh 7:18 ↩

  17. Ezra 2:14; Neh 7:19 ↩

  18. or, Zaccur, as some read, Neh 10:12 ↩

  19. 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 minutes; 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." Ps 137:1; Ezek 1:1, Ezek 3:15; Acts 16:13 ↩

  20. Ezra 8:21, Ezra 8:31 ↩

  21. Heb. pitched ↩

  22. Ezra 8:2, Ezra 7:7, Ezra 7:24 ↩

  23. Ezra 8:13, Ezra 10:21 ↩

  24. Ezra 10:39 ↩

  25. Ezra 8:11 ↩

  26. Ezra 8:1 ↩

  27. Ezra 8:18; 1Kgs 3:11; 1Chr 12:32, 1Chr 26:14; 2Chr 2:12; Prov 2:6, Prov 20:5, Prov 28:2; Dan 2:21; 2Tim 2:7; 1John 5:20 ↩

  28. Casiphia is supposed to denote the Caspian mountains, between Media and Hyrcania, near the Caspian Sea. It is evident, from a comparison of Ezra 7:9 with Ezra 8:31, that Casiphia could not be far from Ahava. ↩

  29. Heb. I put words in their mouth, Exod 4:15; Deut 18:18; 2Sam 14:3, 2Sam 14:19; Jer 1:9, Jer 15:19 ↩

  30. Ezra 2:43, Ezra 2:58, Ezra 7:7 ↩

  31. Num 8:22-26, Num 18:6; 1Chr 23:3-6, 1Chr 23:26-32; Titus 1:5 ↩

  32. Ezra 8:22, Ezra 7:28; Neh 2:8; Prov 3:6 ↩

  33. Ezra 8:16; Prov 24:3; Jer 3:15; Dan 1:20; 1Cor 14:20 ↩

  34. Num 3:20; 1Chr 6:19 ↩

  35. Ezra 8:24; Neh 8:7, Neh 9:4-5, Neh 10:12, Neh 12:24 ↩

  36. Neh 3:17, Neh 10:11 ↩

  37. 1Chr 6:1, 1Chr 6:16, 1Chr 6:19 ↩

  38. Ezra 8:17, Ezra 2:43, Ezra 7:7; 1Chr 9:2 ↩

  39. Phil 4:3 ↩

  40. Judg 20:26; 1Sam 7:6; 2Chr 20:3; Joel 1:14, Joel 2:12-18; Jonah 3:5 ↩

  41. Lev 16:29, Lev 16:31, Lev 23:29; Isa 58:3, Isa 58:5; Jer 31:8-9, Jer 50:4-5 ↩

  42. Ps 5:8, Ps 107:2-8, Ps 143:8-10; Prov 3:6; Isa 30:21, Isa 35:8, Isa 42:16, Isa 49:10; Jer 10:23 ↩

  43. Num 14:3, Num 14:31; Ps 8:2; Mark 10:13-16; Acts 2:39 ↩

  44. 1Cor 9:15; 2Cor 7:14 ↩

  45. Ezra 7:6, Ezra 7:9, Ezra 7:28; 1Chr 28:9; 2Chr 16:9; Ps 33:18-19, Ps 34:15, Ps 34:22; Isa 3:10-11; Lam 3:25; Rom 8:28; 1Pet 3:12 ↩

  46. Josh 23:16; 2Chr 15:2; Ps 21:8-9, Ps 34:16, Ps 90:11; Zeph 1:2-6; Heb 10:38; 1Pet 3:12 ↩

  47. Neh 9:1; Esth 4:16; Dan 9:3; Luke 2:37; Acts 10:30 ↩

  48. Jer 29:12-13, Jer 33:3, Jer 50:4-5 ↩

  49. Ezra 8:31; Deut 4:29; 1Chr 5:20; 2Chr 33:12-13; Ps 66:18-20; Isa 19:22; Jer 29:12-13; Matt 7:7-8 ↩

  50. Ezra 8:18-19 ↩

  51. Ezra 8:33, Ezra 1:8; 2Cor 8:20-21; Phil 4:8 ↩

  52. Ezra 7:15-16 ↩

  53. 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 manuscript 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." ↩

  54. Heb. desirable, Lam 4:2 ↩

  55. Lev 21:6-8; Deut 33:8; Isa 52:11 ↩

  56. Ezra 1:7-11; Lev 22:2-3; Num 4:4-15, Num 4:19-20, Num 7:13, Num 7:84-88; 1Kgs 7:48-51; 1Chr 23:28; 2Chr 24:14 ↩

  57. 1Chr 26:20-26; Mark 13:34-35; Acts 20:31; 2Tim 4:5 ↩

  58. Ezra 8:33-34 ↩

  59. Ezra 8:22; 1Chr 29:2-3; Ps 122:9; Isa 60:13 ↩

  60. Ezra 8:15, Ezra 8:21 ↩

  61. Ezra 8:22, Ezra 7:9, Ezra 7:28; Job 5:19-24; Ps 91:9-14; Isa 41:10-14; Acts 25:3, Acts 26:22 ↩

  62. 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," (Ezra 8:22), 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. ↩

  63. Ezra 7:8-9; Neh 2:11 ↩

  64. Ezra 8:26, Ezra 8:30; 1Chr 28:14-18; 2Cor 8:20-21 ↩

  65. Neh 10:5 ↩

  66. Neh 3:4, Urijah ↩

  67. Neh 8:7 ↩

  68. Neh 10:9 ↩

  69. Lev. 1:1-7:38; 2Chr 29:31-32; Ps 66:10-15, Ps 116:12-19; Luke 1:74-75 ↩

  70. Ezra 6:17; Num 7:27 ↩

  71. Ezra 7:21-24 ↩

  72. Ezra 4:7-23, Ezra 5:6-17 ↩

  73. Ezra 6:13; Isa 56:6-7; Acts 18:27; Rev 12:16 ↩