Ezr 7 | TSK | STEP | Ezra goes up to Jerusalem. The gracious commission of Artaxerxes to Ezra. Ezra blesses God for this favour. A.M. 3547. B.C. 457. Artaxerxes. Ezra. Seraiah. Hilkiah.

a ready.{Sopher mahir} does not merely signify a speedy writer, or an excellent penman, but one eminently skilful in expounding the law, {sophro chochmo,} "a wise scribe," as the Syriac renders.

11,12,21; Ps 45:1; Mt 13:52

scribe.

Ne 8:4,9,13; 12:26,36; Jer 8:8; 1Co 1:20

the law.

De 4:5; 28:1; Mt 28:20; 1Co 15:1; 1Th 4:1,2

granted him.

11-26

according to.

9,28; 6:22; 8:18,22,31; Ge 32:28; Ne 1:10,11; 2:8,12,18; 4:15

Pr 3:6; Isa 50:2; 59:1

the children.

8:1-14

the Levites.

2:40,41; 8:15-20

singers.

1Ch 6:31-48; 25:1-8

porters.

2:42; 1Ch 9:17-27; Ne 7:45

Nethinims.

24; 2:43-70; 8:20; Ne 7:46-73; 10:28

Artaxerxes.

11,12; 6:14; 8:1; Ne 2:1

began he to go up. Heb. was the foundation of the going up.according to.

6; Ne 2:8,18

prepared.

1Sa 7:3; 1Ch 29:18; 2Ch 12:14; 19:3; Job 11:13; Ps 10:17; 57:7

the law.

6; Ps 1:2; 19:7; 119:45,96-100

to do it.

De 16:12; Mt 5:19; 7:24; Joh 13:17; Re 22:14

and to teach.

25; De 33:10; 2Ch 17:8,9; 30:22; Ne 8:1-9; Mal 2:7; Ac 1:1; 1Ti 3:2

2Ti 4:2; Tit 2:1,15

the copy.

4:11; 5:6

a scribe.

6; Mt 23:2,13; Mr 7:1-13

Artaxerxes.The title of the king would, in Persian, run thus: {Ardsheer shahinshah,} or {padshah,} "Ardsheer, king of kings," i.e., great or supreme king or emperor.

1Ki 4:24; 20:1; Isa 10:8; Eze 26:7; Da 2:37,47; 1Ti 6:15; Re 17:14

Re 19:16

unto Ezra, etc. or, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe ofthe law of the God of heaven, peace, etc. and at such a time.

4:10,11,17

I make.

5:13; 6:1; 2Ch 30:5; Es 3:15; 9:14; Ps 148:6

minded.

1:3; Ps 110:3; Php 2:13; Re 22:17

of the king. Chal. from before the king. seven counsellors.Seven princes of Persia having conspired against and slain the usurper Smerdis, and thus made way for the family of Darius, which afterwards filled the throne, the Persian kings of this race had always seven chief princes as their counsellors, who possessed peculiar privileges, were his chief assistants in the government, and by whose advice all the public affairs of the empire were transacted. The names of these counsellors are given in the parallel place of the book of Esther.

Es 1:14

according.

25,26; De 17:18,19; Isa 8:20

thy God.

1:3; 5:8; 6:12; Da 2:47; 6:20,26

the silver.

6:4,8-10; Ps 68:29,30; 72:10; 76:11; Isa 60:6-9; Re 21:24-26

whose habitation.

6:12; 2Ch 2:6; 6:2,6; Ps 9:11; 26:8; 76:2; 135:21

all the silver.

8:25-28

offering.

1:4,6; 1Ch 29:6,9,17; 2Co 8:12; 9:7

buy speedily.

6:9,10; De 14:24-26; Mt 21:12,13; Joh 2:14

their meat offerings.

offer them.

whatsoever.

that do.

after the will.He gave them the fullest liberty to order every thing according to their own institutions; binding them to no form or mode of worship.

The vessels.

8:27-30,33,34

the God of Jerusalem.

bestow it.

Artaxerxes.

beyond the river.

Ezra the priest.

6,10,11

measures. Chal. cors.

Lu 16:7; *marg:

baths of wine.

Eze 45:14; Lu 16:6; *marg:

salt.

Le 2:13

Whatsoever is commanded. Chal. Whatsoever is of the decree.

13,18

let it be.

Ps 119:4

why should there be wrath.As Artaxerxes believed he was appointed by the Almighty to do this work, he therefore wished to do it heartily; knowing that if he did not, God would be displeased, and that the kingdom would be cut off from him or his posterity.

6:10-12; Zec 12:3

touching any.

7; 2:36-55

the wisdom.

14; 1Ki 3:28; 1Ch 22:12; Ps 19:7; 119:98-100; Pr 2:6; 6:23; Jas 1:5

Jas 3:17,18

set magistrates.

Ex 18:21-25; De 16:18; 1Ch 23:4; 2Ch 19:8-10

beyond the river.That is, "west of the Euphrates," which was beyond with regard to the king of Persia, who was on the east.

6:6

teach ye.

10; 2Ch 17:7-9; Ne 8:1-3,7,8; 9:3; 13:1-3; Mal 2:7; Mt 13:52; 23:2,3

Mr 6:34; Ro 10:14-17

whosoever.

6:11; Da 3:28,29; 6:26

the law of thy God.

2Ch 30:12

whether it be.

Ex 21:1-22:31; Le 20:1-27; De 13:1-18

banishment. Chal. rooting out.

Ps 52:5

Blessed.There is a most amiable spirit of piety in these reflections. Instead of expatiating on the praises of his munificent patron, or boasting of his own services, he blesses God for "putting such a thing in the king's heart;" and for all the assistance and favour shown him by the king and his counsellors.

6:22; 1Ch 29:10-30; Php 4:10

put such.

6:22; Ne 2:12; 7:5; 2Co 8:16; Heb 8:10; 10:16; Jas 1:17; Re 17:17

in the king's heart.

Ne 2:8; Pr 21:1

to beautify.

Isa 60:13

extended.

9:9; Ge 32:28; 43:14; Ne 1:11

his counsellors.

14; Jon 3:7

And I was strengthened.In what the king decreed he saw the hand of God: he therefore gave Him the praise, and took courage.

as the hand.

6,9; 5:5; 8:18; Ne 2:8; 2Ti 4:17,18