Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
The Btdhhrtg of the Temple Hindered. EZRA lY, V. Its £/iii(Ilng (n/ain.Iicnev'ed,
—The name "Jews" was generally used after the return from the captivity, because the reluming exiles belongeti chiefly to the tribes t)f Judah and Benjamin, and lillhoi gU the edict of Cyrus permitted all who chose to return, a permission of which some of the Israelites availed themselves, the great body whowt ul to settle in Judea were the men of Judali. 13. toll, tribute, and custoiit—the vaUs the incarnate Saviour (Ilaggai 2. 9). 13. the people could not discern the sUont of Joy fi-om tlie noiise of the weeping—Among Eastern people, expressions of sorrow are always very loud and vehement. It is indicated by wailing, the howl of which is sometimes not easily distinguishable from joyful acclamations.
first was a poll-tax; the second was a property-tax; the
CHAPTER IV.
tliird the excise-dues on articles of trade and nierchan-
Ver. 1-6. The Buii.ding Hindered. 1. the adverdi.se. Tlieir letter, and the edict that followed, commanding an immediate cessation of the worli at the city walls, form the exclusive subject of narrative from v. 7 to v. And now from this digression he returns at v. 2-1 to resume saries of JiidaU and Benjamin— i. e., strangei-s settled in tlie land of Israel. 3. wc seek yonr Cio<l, as ye do and we do sacrifice nnto hiin since the days of Esarhaddon . . . wliieh toroiight lis up hitlier—A very tile thread of his narrative concerning the building of the temple. 9. the Dinaites—The people named were the colonists sent by the Babj-lonian monarch to occupy the territory of the ten tribes. "The great and noble Asuapper" was Esjir-haddon. Immediately after the murder of Sennacherib, the Babylonians, Medes, Armenians, and other tributary people sei/.ed the opportunity of throwing olF the Assyrian yoke. But Esar-liaddon haviiig, in the thirtieth year of his reign, recovered Babylon, and subdued the other rebellious dependants, transported numbers of them into the waste cities of Samaria, most probably as a punishment of llieir revolt. [Hales.] 14. wc have maintenance from tlie king's palace lit., we are s:vlted with the king's salt. "Eating a prince's salt" is an. Oriental phrase, etiuivalent to "receiving maintenance from liim." !4-t. Then ceased the work of the house of God—It was this occurrence that Jirsl gave interesting explanation of this passage has been recently obtained from the Assyrian sculptures. On a large cylinder, deposited in the British Museum, there is in-.«cribed a long and perfect copy of the annals of Esarhaddon, in wliich the details are given of a large deportation of Israelites from Palestine, and a consequent settlement of Bal)yloniau colonists in their place. It is a striking confirmation of the statement made in this passage. Those Assyrian settlers intermarried with the remnant of Israelite women, and their descendants, a mongrel race, went under the name of Samaritans. Though originally idolaters, they were instructed in the knowledge of God, so that they could say, "We seek your God ;" but they .served Him in a superstitious way of their own (see on 2 Kings 17. 26-34, 41). 3. But Zeruhbabel and JesUua . . . said . . . Ye have nothing to do witit us to build an house unto our God—This refusal to co-operate with the Samaritans, from whatever motives rise to the strong religious antipatliy lietween the Jews and the Samarita)is, which was afterwards greatly aggravated by the erection of a rival temple on Mount Oerizini, it sprang, was overruled by Providence to ultimate good for, had the two peoples worked together, familiar acquaintanceship and intermarriage would have ensued, and the result might have been a relapse of the Jews into
CHAPTER V.
Veil 1-17. Zeuuijii.^bel and Je-siiua set fokwakd THE BUII.niNCi OF THE Te.MI'LE IN THE IvElGN OK DAKfUa
Idolatry, and most certainlj-, confusion and obscurity in the genealogical evidence that proved the descent of the Messiah ; whereas, in their hostile and separate condition, they were jealous observers of each other's proceedings, watching with mutual care over the preservation and integrity of the sacred books, guarding the purity and honour of the Mosaic worship, and thus contributing to the maintenance of religious knowledge and truth. 4. Then the people of the land weakeited the hands of the people of Judah, &c.—Exasperated by this repulse, the Samaritans endeavoured by every means to mohst the workmen as well as obstruct the progress of the building; and, though they could not alter the decree which Cyrus had issued regarding it, yet by bribes and clandestine arts indefatlgably plied at court, tliey laboured to frustrate the effects of the edict. Their success in tho.se underhand dealings was great, for Cyrus, being fre(jueid ly absent, and much absorbed in his warlike expeditions,
1. Titen the prop Siets . . . prophesied ... in tlicikam* of the Gwl of Israel—Prom the recorded wr.tings ot Haggai anti Zei hariah, it appears that the difliculties ex« perienced, and tlie many ol)stacles thrown in the way, had llrstcooled tlie zeal of the Jews in tlie building ol the temple, and then led to an abandonment of the work, under a pretended belief that the time for rebuilding it had not yet come (Haggai 1. 2-U). Kor fifteen year.s the work was completely suspemled. These two prophets upbraided them with severe reprt>aclies for their sloth, negligence, and worldly .selfishness (Haggai 1. 4), threatened them with severe judgments if they continued backward, and proini.sed that they wouUl be blessi-d with great national prosperity If they resumed and prosecuted the work with alacrity and vigour. Zecharlnli, the son of Iddo— /. grandson (Zechariah I. 1). Then rose up Zerubbabel . . . and .Teshua . . . and Iregan to l>uil(i the Itouse of God—The strong appeals and animating exhortations of these prophets gave a new impul.se to the building of the temple. It was In the second year of the reign of Darius Hystaspcs that the work, after a long Interruption, was resiimi'd. 3, 4. at the same time came to tikcm Tatnai, governor on this side the river -Tliu Persian empire west of the Euiihrates included at tliis time Syria, Arabia, Egypt, Pluenicia, and otiier provinces subleft the government in the hands of his son Cambyses, a wicked prince, and extremely hostile to the .lews and their religion. The same arts were assiduously i)ractlsed during the reign of his successor, Smerdis, down to the time of Darius Hystaspcs. In consequence of the dilllculties and obstacles thus Interposed, for a period of twenty years, the progress of tlio work was very slow. 0. Ii> the reign of Ahasuerus, In the beginning of his reign, wrote they . . . an accusation—^Ahasu(M iis was a regal title, and the king referred to was successor of ©arius, the famous Xerxes.
ject to Darius. The empire was divided Into twenty provinces, callcil .satrapies. Syria forme<l one satrap.v, Inclu.si ve of Palestine, Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and furnished an annual revenue of IViO talents. It was presided over by a satrap or viceroy, who at this tinie lesideil at Damascus, and though superior to the native governors of the Jews
7-21. Lh'ITUk to Artaxeuxes. 7. in the days of Ahasuerus wrote BIshlain, Ac.—The three olllcers named are supposed to have been deputy-governors appointed by the king of Persia over all the provinces subject to his empire west of the Euphrates, the Syrian tongue—or ArauQfpan language, called sometimes in our version iippoiiited by the Persian king, never Interfered with their Internal government, except when there was a threatened illstmbaiiceof orderand trai Kiuilllty. ralnak, the governor (wlu'lher this was a personal name or an ol Hcial title Is unknown), had probably been incited bj the complaints and tiubulent outrages of the SamarltanB against the Jtnvs; but he susiiended his judgment, and he prudently rc'solved to repair lo .I'uusalem, that ho might ascertain the real state of matters by personal lu-
This was made use of by the Persians in their decrcas and communications relative to the Jews (cf. 2 Kings 18. 2fi; Isaiah 30. 11). The ol)Jeet of their liU ter was to press upon the royal iiollco the Inexpediency and danger of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. The.y laboured hard to prejudice the king's mind against that measure. 1'-!. tike Jews which came up from tliee to us 290
The Decree of Dai ius in favour of the Jews, EZEA VI. TJie '^emple Finished and Dedicated, the height of a foot or more from the fioor they were entirely filled with them ; some entire, l)Ut the greater part broken into many fragments, proljably by the falling in of the upper part of the building. They were of different
B)vctioii and Inquiry, In company with another dignified olfic-er and liis provincial council. 5. But the eyeof tlitlr God was upon tlic eldt-rs of the Jews, &c.—The unusual presence, the imposing suite, the authoritative inquiries sizes; the largest tablets were fiat, and measured about 9 inches by 6i inches; the smaller were slightly convex, and some were not more than an incli long, with but one or two lines of writing. The cuneiform characters on most of them were singularly sharp and well defined, but so minutein some instances as tobealiaostillegible without a magnifying glass. Tliese documents appear to be of various kinds. The documents that have thus been discovered 'in the house of rolls' at Nineveh probably exceed all that have yet been afforded by the monuments of Egypt, and when the innumerable fragments are put together and transcribed, the publication of these records will be of the greatest importance to tlie history of the ancient world." [Nixevkh and Babylon.] 2. Achmetlia —Long supposed to be the capital of Greater Media—tlie of the satrap appeared formidable, and might have produced a paralyzing influence or led to disastrous eonseqneticcs, if he had been a partial and corrupt judge, or actuated by unfriendly feelings towards the Jewish cause. The historian, therefore, with cliaracteristic piety, throws in this parenthetical verse to intimate that God averted the threatening cloud and procured favour for the elders or 1-eaders of the Jews, that they were not interrupted in their proceedings till communications with the court should 1)6 made and received. Not a word was uttered to dispirit the Jews or afford cause of triumph to their opponents. Matters were to'go on till contrary orders arrived from Babylon. After surveying the work in progress, he inquired, first, by what authority this national temple was undertaken; and, secondly, the names
Ecbatana of classical, the Hamadan of modern times, at the foot of the Elwund range of hills, where, for its coolness and salubrity, Cyrus and his successors on the Persian throne established their summer residence. There was another city, however, of this najne, the Ecbatana of Atropatene, and the most ancient capital of northern Media, and recently Identified by Colonel Rawlinson in the remarkable ruins of Takht-i-Soleiman. Yet as everything tends to showtheattactimentof Cyrus to his native city, the Atropatenian Ecbatana, ratlicr than to the stronger capital of Greater Media, Colonel Rawlinson is inclined to think that he deposited tliere, in his var or fortress, the famous decree relating to the Jews, along with the othei records and treasures of his empire. [Nineveh and Persepolis.] 8-10. of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river . . . expenses be given them—The decree granted them the privilege of drawing from his provincial treasury of Syria, to the amount of whatever they required for the furthering of the work and providing sacrifice for the service of the temple, that the priests might daily pray for the health of the king and the prosperity of the empire. 11. whosoever shall alter this word—The warning was specially directed against the turbulent and fanatical Samaritans. The extremely favourable purport of this edict was no doubt owing in some measure to the influence of Cyrus, of whom Darius entertained a high admiration, and whose two daughters he had married. But it proceeded still more from the deep impressions made even on the idolatrous people of that country and that age, as to the being and providence of the God of Israel.
of the principal promoters and directors of the undertaking. To these two heads of inquiry the Jews returned ready and distinct replies. Then having learned that it originated in a decree of Cyrus, who bail not only released the .Jewish exiles from captivity, and permitted them to return to" their own land for the express purpose of rebuilding the house of God, but, by an act of royal grace, had restored to them the sacred vessels which Nebucha<lnezzar had carried off as trophies from the former temple, Tatnai transmitted all this information in an official report to his imperial master, accompanying
It with a recommendatory suggestion that search should be maile among the national archives at Babylon for the original decree of Cyrus, that the truth of the Jews' statement might be verified. The whole conduct of Tatnai, as well as the general tone of his despatch, is marked by a bound discretion and prudent moderation, free from any party bias, and evincing a desire only to do his duty. In all respects he appears in favourable contrast with his predecessor, Rehum (ch. 4.9). 8. the house of the great God, which is Imllded with great stones—lit., "stones of rolling" i.e., stones of such extraordinary size that they could not be carried—they had to be rolled or dragged along the ground. 1.3. Cynis the king . . . made a decre<—The .Tews were perfectly warranted according to the principles of the Persian government to proceed with the building in virtue of Cyrus' edict. For everywhere a public decree Is considered as remaining in force until it is revoked; but the "laws of the Medes and Persians changed not." 16. Then came . . . Sheshbazzar . . . since that time even until now hath It been in build- 'ng—This was not a part of the Jews' answer—they could nol have said this, knowing the building had long ceased. But Tatnai used these expressions in his report, either looking on the stoppage as a temporary interruption, or supposing that the Jews were always working a little, as thej' had means and opportunities.
13-15. The Temple Finished. 13. Then Tatnai . . . did speedily—A concurrence of favourable events is mentioned as accelerating the restoration of the temple, and infusing a new spirit and energy into the workmen, who now laboured with unabating assiduity till it was brought to a completion. Its foundation was laid in April, .Se B. V. (eh. 3. 8-10), and it was completed on 21st February, 515 M. c, being 21 years after it was begun. [Dightfoot.] IG-IS. FEAST.S OF THE DEDICATION. IG. the Children of Israel . . . kept the dedication . . . with joy—The ceremonial was gone througli with demonstrations of the liveliest joy. The aged who had wept at the laying of the foundation were most, if not all of them, now dead; and all rejoiced at the completion of this national undertaking. 17. twelve he-goats—as at the dedication of the tabernacle (Numbers 8. 17). 18. they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites In their courses . . . as 11 Is written in the book of Moses—Alt liough David arranged the priests and Levltes in courses according to their families, it was Moses who assigned to the priests and licvitcs their rightsnnd privileges, tlieir stations and several duties.
CHAPTER VI.
Ver. 1-12. Daiiius' Decree for Adtancingthe BuiibIKO. 1. Darius the king—This was Darius llystaspes. Great and interesting light has been thrown on the history of this monarch and the transactions of his reign, by the decipherment of the euneatic inscriptions on tlie rocks at I'.ehlstun. In the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up In Babylon—An idea of the form of this llabylonlan register house, as well as the manner of preserving public records within its repositories, can be obtained from the recent discoveries at Nineveh. Two small chambers were discovered in the palace of Koyunjik, wliich, from the fragments found in them, Mr. l.ayard considers "as a house of the rolls." After reminding his readers that the historical records and public documents of the Assyrians were kept on tablets and cylinders of baked clay, many specimens of wliich have been brought to .'his country, he go(!S on to say, "The chambers I am describing appear to have been a depository ill the palace of Nineveh for such documents. To
19-22. And of the Passover. 21. nil such ns had separated themselves . . . from the filthlness of tbe heathen—/, e., who had given satisfactory evidence of being true pros(>lytes by not only renouncing the linpuru worship of idolatry, but by undeigoiiig the rile of circumcision, a condition indispensable te a participation ot
Ezra goes up to Jerusalem. EZEA VII, VIII. His Companions from Babtjlon.
thority of kings. But it was as probably a mere Orientalism, denoting a great and powerful prince, as the heaven of heavens signifled the highest heaverf, and vanity of vanities, tlie greatest vanity. Tliis vainglorious title was assumed by the kings of Assyria, from whom it passed to the sovereigns of Persia, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven—The appointment of Ezra to this influeutial mission was of the highest importance to the Hebrew people, as a large proportion of tliem were become, in a great measure, strangers both to the language and the institutions of their forefathers. 14. sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors—Tbia was the fixed number of the privy council of the kings of Persia (Esther 1. 10, U). The document describes, with great clearness and pj-ecision, the nature of Ezra's commission and the extent of power and prerogatives with which he was invested. It gave him authority, in tlie first place, to organize the colony in Judea, and institute a regular government, according to the laws of the Hebrew people, and by magistrates and rulers of their own nation (v. 25, 26), with power to punish offenders by fines, imprisonment, exile, or death, according to the degree of their criminality. Secondly, he was empowered to carry a large donation in money, partly from the royal treasury, and partly raised by voluntary contributions among his countrymen to create a fund out of which to make suitable provision for maintaining the regular worship of God in Jerusalem (v. 16, 17). Thirdly, the Persian ollicers in Syria were commanded to afford him every assistance by gifts of money within a certain specified limit, in carrying out the objects of his patriotic mission (u. 21). ari. an hundred talents of silver—£22,000, according to the rate of the silver talent of Babylon. Fourthly, Artaxerxes gave his royal sanction in establishment of the Divine law, which exempted priests and Levites from taxation or tribute, and confirmed to them the exclusive right to officiate in the sacred services of the sanctuary. And, finally, in the expression of the king's desire for the Divine blessing upon the king and his government («. 23), we see the strong persuasion which pervaded the Persiaa court, and had been produced by the captivity of the Hebrew people, as to the being and directing providence of the God they worshipped. It will be observed, however, that the commission related exclusively to the rebuilding of the temple—not of the walls. The Samaritans (ch. 4. 20-22) had succeeded In alarming the Persian court by their representations of the danger to the empire of fortifying a city notorious for the turbulent character of its Inhabltjints and the prowess of Its kings.
the passover. 23. kept tlie feast . . . tvitli joy : for the Lord . , , turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them i. e., king of the Persian empire, which now inolnded the possessions, and had surpassed the glory, of Assyria. The favoni-able disposition which Darius had evinced towards the Jews secured them peace and prosperity, and tlie privileges of their own religion during the rest of his reign. The religious joy that so remarkably characterized the celebration of this feast, was testified by expressions of lively gratitude to God, whose overruling power and converting grace had produced so marvellous a change on the hearts of the mighty potentates, and disposed them, heathens though they were, to aid the cause and provide for the worship of the true God.
CHAPTER VII.
Ver. 1-10. Ezra Goes ttp to Jerusalem. 1. in the reign of Artaxerxes—the Ahasuerus of Esther. Ezra the son of Seralah i. e., grandson or great-grandson. .Seraiah was the high priest put to death by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah (2 Kings 25. 18). A period of 130 years had elapsed between that catastrophe and the journey of Ezra to Jerusalem, and as a grandson of Seraiah, viz., Jeshua, who held the office of high priest, had accompanied Zerubbabelin the first caravan of returning exiles, Ezra must have been in all probability a grandson, descended, too, from a younger son, the elder branch being in possession of the pontificate. 6. This Kzra . . . was a ready scribe in the law of Moses—The term "scribe" does not mean a penman, nor even an attorney well versant in forms of law, and skilled in the method of preparing public or private deeds. He was a rabbi, or doctor, learned in the Mosaic law, and in all that related to the civil and ecclesiastical polity and customs of the Hebrew people. .Scribes of this description possessed great authority and influence
(cf. Matthew 23.2.5; Mark 12.28). the king granted lilin all his requestHe left Babylon entrusted with an important commission to be executed in Jerusalem. The nianner in which he obtained this oflice is minutely related in a subsequent passage. Here it is noticed, but with a pious acknowledgment of the Divine grace and goodness which disposed the royal mind in favour of Ezra's patriotic objects. The Levites, &c., did not go at that time, and are mentioned here by anticipation. 8. he came to Jerusalem in tl»e flfth month— i. e., corresponding to the end of our July or beglnningof our August. As he left Babylon on New Year's Day (v. 9), the journey must have occupied not less than four months—a long periodbut it was necessary to move at a slow pace, and by short, easy stages, as he had to conduct a large caravan of poor people, including women, children, and all their household gear (see on ch. 8). 10. Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the I>ord, Ac—His reigning desire had been to study the Divine law—its principles, institutions, privileges, and requirements; and now from love and zeal, ho devoted himself, as the business of his
27, 28. Ezra Blesses God for this Favour. 37. Blessed be the Lonl God of our fathers—This devout thanksgiving is in unison with the whole character of Ezra, who discerns the hand of God In every event, and is always ready to express a pious acknowledgment for the Divine goodness.
CHAPTER VIII.
life, to the work of instructing, reforming, and edifying others.
Ver. 1-14. Ezra's Companions from Babylon. 1. thU
Is the genealogy of tltem that went up wltli me ft-om Babylon—The number given hero amounts to 1751. But this is the register of adult males only, and as there were women and children also (v. 21) the whole caravan may be considered as comprising between 6000 and 7000.
11-26. Gracious Commission OF Artaxerxes. 11. this Is the copy of the letter that the King Artaxrrxes gave—The measure which this document authorized, and the remarkable Interest in the .Tews displayed In it, were most probably owing to the influence of Esther, wlio Is thought to have been raised to the high position of queen a few months previous to the departure of Ezi a. (Halks.] According to others, who adopt a different chronology, it was more proljably pressed upon the attention of tlie Persian court by Ezra, who, like Daniel, showed tlie prophecies to the king; or by some leading Jews on his accession, wlio, seeing the unsettled and disordered state of the colony after the death of Zerubbabcsl, Jeshua, Haggal, and Zecliariali, recommended the appointment of ac'ominlssion to reform abuses, suppress disorder, and enf<)rco the observance of the law. Iti. Arlaxerxes, king of kings-That title might have been assumed as, with literal truth, applicable to him, Kinco many of the tributary princes of his empire still retained the name and au-
15-20. He Sends to Iddo for Ministers for the Temple Service, in. I gatheml them together to the river that runneth to Ahava—This river has not been ascertained. The probability Is, that the Ahava was one of the streams or numerous canals of Mesopotnmia communicating with the Euphrates. [Cyclopaedia of Biblical IjIterature.) But It was certainly In Babylonia on the banks of that stream; and perhaps In the nelghbovirhood of a town of the same name was the place appointed for general rendezvous. 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 on* of Lievl—i. e., the ordinary Le-
THE RIVEU THAT liUNNETlI TO AHAVA.
OPI N SEPULCII::E3.—JEHtMIAH V. 16.
A Fast Proclaimed. EZRA IX. Ezra's Player and Confession, vites. Notwithstanding the privilege of exemption from
CHAPTER IX.
all taxes granted to persons engaged In the temple service, none of the Levltical tribes were induced to join the settlement in Jerusalem; and it was even not witliout
Ver. 1-4. Ezra Mourns for the Affinity of the People with Strangers. 1. Now wlien these tilings were done—The first days after Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem were occupied in executing the different trusts committed to him. The nature and design of tlie office with which the royal authority had invested him was publicly made known to his own people by the formal delivery of the contribution and the sacred vessels brought from Babylon to the priests to be deposited in the temple. Then his credentials were privately presented to the provincial governors; and by this prudent, orderly proceeding he put himself in the best position to avail himself of all the advantages guaranteed him by the king. On a superficial view everything contributed to gratify his patriotic feelings in the apparently flourishing state of the church and country. But a further acquaintance discovered the existence of great corruptions, which demanded immediate correction; and one was particularly brouglit under his notice as being the source and origin of all othei's, viz., a serious abuse that was practised respecting the law of marriage, tlie princes came to me, saying—The information they lodged with him was to the eflect tliat numbers of the people, in violation of the Divine law (Deuteronomy 7.2, 3), had contracted marriages with Gentile women, and that the guilt of tlie disorderly practice, far from being confined to the lower classes, was shared in by several of the priests and Levites, as well as of tlie leading men in the country. This great irregularity would inevitalily bring many evils in its train; it would encourage and increase idolatry, as well as break down the barriers of distinction which, for important purposes, God had raised between the Israeldifficulty Ezra persuaded some of the priestly families to accompany hini. 16, 17. then sent I for Ellezer . . . with commandment unto Iddo the chief— Ezra sent this deputation, either by virtue of authority which by his priestly character he had over the Levites, or of the royal commission with which he was invested. The deputation were despatched to Iddo, who was a prince or chief of tlie Nethlnims—for the Persian government allowed the Hebrews during their exile to retain their ecclesiastical government by their own chiefs, as well as to enjoy the privilege of free worship. Iddo's influence procured and brought to the camp at Ahava thirty-eight Levites, and
220 Nethinims, the descendants of tlie Gibeouites, who performed the servile duties of the temple.
21-30. A Fast Proclaimed. 21. Then I proclaimed a fast there—The dangers to travelling caravans from tlie Bedouin Arabs that prowl through the desert were in ancient times as great as they still are; and it seems that travellers usually sought the protection of a military escort. But Ezra had spoken so much to the king of the sufficiency of the Divine care of his people that lie would have blushed to apply for a guard of soldiers; and therefore he resolved that his followers should, by a solemn act of fasting and prayer, commit themselves to the Keeper of Israel. Their faitli, considering the many and constant perils of a journey across the Bedouin regions, must have been great, and it was rewarded by the enjoyment of perfect safety during the whole way. 24-33. Then I sei>arated twelve of the chief of the priests . . . and weiglied unto them the silver, &c.—The custody of the contributions and of the sacred vessels was, during the journey, committed to twelve of the chief priests, who, with the assistance of ten of their brethren, were to watch closely over them by the way, and deliver them into the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. The treasures in silver and gold, ites and all other people. Ezra foresaw these dangerous consequences, but was overwiielraed witli a sense of the difficulty of correcting the evil, when matrimonial alliances had been formed, families liad been reared, affections engaged, and important interests estaljlislied. 3. wlicn I lieard tliis ... I rent my garment and my mantle, &c.—the outer and inner garment, which was a token not only of great grief, but of dread at tiie same time of the Divine wrath; "plucked off the hair of my head and my beard," which was a still more significant sign of overpowering grief. 4. Then were assembled nnto me every one that trembled at the words of . . . God, &c.—All the pious people who reverenced God's word and dreaded its threatenings and judgments joined with Ezra in bewailing the public sin, and devising tlie means of redressing it. I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice—The intelligence of so gross a violation of God's law by those who had been carried into captivity on account of their sins, and who, though restored, were yet unreformed, produced such a stunning effect on the mind of Ezra that he remained for awhile incapable a( cording to the value of the Babylonian talent, amounted to about £515,000 sterling. 37. two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold — Almost all commentators agree in maintaining that the vessels referred to were not made of copper, but of an alloy capable of taking on a bright polish, which we think highly probable, as copper was then in common use amongst the Babylonians, and would not be as precious as gold. This alloy, much esteemed amongst the Jews, was composed of gold and other metals, which took on a high polish and was not subject to tar Dish. [No YES.] 31. we departed from the river of Aliava on the twelfth day of the flrst montli—Computing from the time of their setting out to the period of their arrival, they occupied about four months on the way. Their health and security were marvellous during so long a journey. The pilgrim-cai'avans of the present day perform long journeys through the wildest deserts of tlie East under, the protection of a firman from the Porte, and an escort of soldiers. But for a large body, composed as tliat of Ezra— of some thousands of men, women, and children, unaccustomed to travel, undisciplined to order, and without military strength, and with so large an amount of treasure tempting the cupidity of the marauding, plundering tribes of the desert— to accomplish a journey so long and so arduous in perfect safety, is one of tlie most astonishing events recorded in liistory. Notliing but the vigilant care of a superintending Providence could have brought tliem securely to tlieir destination. 33. Now, on the fourth day was the silver . . . weighed in the Ikouse of our God—Devoted the flrst three days after their arrival in Jerusalem to repose; on the next, the treasures were weighed and handed over to the custody of the officiating priests of the temple. The returned exiles offered l)urnt of Terings, and Ezra delivered the royal commission to the satraps and inferior magistrates; while the Leviteitlier of speecli or of action. The hour of the evening sacrifice was tlie usual time of the people assembling, and at that season, having again rent his hair and garments, he made public prayer and confession of sin.
5-15. Prays to God. 5. I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God — Tlie burden of his prayer, which was dictated by a deep sense of the emergency, was tiiat lie was overwhelmed at the flagrant enormity of this sin, and the bold impiety of continuing in it after having, as a people, so recently experienced the heavy marks of the Divine displeasure. God had begun to show returning favour to Israel by tlie restoration of some. But this only aggravated tlit-ir sin, that, so soon after their re-establishment in their native land, they openly violated the express and repeated precepts which commanded tliem to extirpate the Canaanites. Such conduct, he exclaimed, could issue only in drawing down some great punishment from oft'ended Heaven and ensuring the destruction of tlie small remnant of us that is left, unless, by the help of Divine grace, we repent and bring (ortii the fruits of repentance in »u immediate and thorough reformation.
ical portion of them lent all the assistance they could in performing the additional work which the arrival of so many new worshippers occasioned.