EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)
VIII.(1-14) A list of the chief names, given by families, of those who accompanied Ezra.
(1)This is the genealogy.—The names of the heads of houses is followed generally by that of the wider families they belonged to. With this list is to be compared the register of those who went up with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:2seq.).
Ezra 8:1.
That went up with me from Babylon —Multitudes of the Jews, who loved their ease better than their religion, thinking themselves well where they were, and either not believing that Jerusalem would better their condition, or being deterred by a prospect of the difficulties they might meet with on their journey, preferred staying in Babylon. Some, however, willingly offered themselves to go with Ezra, and the heads of their several families are here recorded for their honour, and the number of males that each brought in, amounting in all to one thousand four hundred and ninety- six.
8:1-20 Ezra assembles the outcasts of Israel, and the dispersed of Judah. God raised up the spirits of a small remnant to accompany him. What a pity that good men should omit a good work, for want of being spoken to!
An abrupt transition from the words of Artaxerxes to those of Ezra. Compare a similar abrupt change in
Ezra 6:6. The language alters at the same time from Chaldee to Hebrew, continuing henceforth to be Hebrew until the close of the book.
CHAPTER 8
Ezr 8:1-14. Ezra's Companions from Babylon.
1. this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon—The number given here amounts to 1754. But this is the register of adult males only, and as there were women and children also (Ezr 8:21), the whole caravan may be considered as comprising between six thousand and seven thousand.Ezra’s companions who returned from Babylon,Ezra 8:1-14. He sendeth to Iddo for Levites to be ministers for the temple,Ezra 8:15-20. He keepeth a fast at Ahava,Ezra 8:21-23. He committeth the treasures to the custody of the priests,Ezra 8:24-30. From Ahava they come to Jerusalem,Ezra 8:31,32. The treasure is weighed in the temple,Ezra 8:33-35. The commission is delivered to the adversaries, and they further the house of God,Ezra 8:36.
No text from Poole on this verse.
These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them,.... Which follows from hence to the end of
Ezra 8:14,
that went up with me from Babylon; with Ezra the priest and scribe, the writer of this book:
in the reign of Artaxerxes the king; that is, Darius Hystaspis, in the seventh year of his reign, seeEzra 7:1, though many think Artaxerxes Longimanus is meant.
Theseare now the chief of their fathers, andthis is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of{a} Artaxerxes the king.(a) Read Ezr 7:1-28.
