Genealogy of Those Who Returned with Ezra. Ezra 8:1-36
INTRODUCTION TO EZRA
Ezra was a Jew, sprung from the race of Aaron, and descended from the high priest who was slain at the capture of Jerusalem, 2Ki_25:18-21. This book is not a continuous narrative, but consists of two parts separated by several years. The first part, Ezr_1:1-11; Ezr_2:1-70; Ezr_3:1-13; Ezr_4:1-24; Ezr_5:1-17; Ezr_6:1-22, contains a narrative of the return of the first caravan of Jews from Babylon, under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua. The second part, Ezr_7:1-28; Ezr_8:1-36; Ezr_9:1-15; Ezr_10:1-44, is an account of an expedition, sixty years after the first, conducted by Ezra himself, accompanied by large numbers of his fellow-countrymen, and empowered to re-establish order and religion.
This book is supposed to have been written by Ezra, who was a great student of the holy writings, and a ready scribe in the Law of Moses. He must have been a man of note among the Jewish captives to have won the favor and trust of the king of Persia. There is an absence of the miraculous, and a great similarity to the books of Chronicles. It shows enthusiasm characterizing the beginnings of work for God; then coldness and apathy follow in face of opposition; but when men get back to foundation principles, the work is carried forward to completion.
10. How was Ezra’s belief in the power of prayer manifested? Why was he ashamed to ask for a military escort?
11. What sacred charge was given certain of the priests and Levites?
GENEALOGY OF THOSE WHO RETURNED WITH EZRA
These are the heads of their fathers’ households and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon in the reign of King Artaxerxes:
of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush;
of the sons of Shecaniah who was of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 men by genealogy;
of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, with 200 men;
Eof the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, with 300 men;
of the sons of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, with 50 men;
of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, with 70 men;
of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, with 80 men;
of the sons of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, with 218 men;
of the sons of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, with 160 men;
of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, with 28 men;
of the sons of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, with 110 men;
of the sons of Adonikam, the last to come, their names are Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, with 60 men;
and of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud, with 70 men.
EZRA SENDS FOR LEVITES
Now I gathered them together at the river that runs to Ahava, where we camped for three days. I observed the people and the priests, and I did not find any Levites there.
So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, [who were] leading men, and also for Joiarib and Elnathan, [who were] teachers.
And I sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphia, telling them what to say to Iddo and his brothers, the temple servants at the place Casiphia, that is, to bring us servants (ministers) for the house of our God.
And as the good hand of our God was upon us, they brought us a man of understanding (insight) from the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, named Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers (relatives), 18 men;
and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his brothers (relatives) and their sons, 20 men;
also 220 of the temple servants, whom David and the leaders had set apart [with their descendants] for the service of the Levites. They were all designated by name.
FASTING AND PRAYER FOR PROTECTION
Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, so that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our children, and all our possessions.
For I was ashamed to request troops and horsemen from the king to protect us from the enemy along the way, because we had told the king, “The hand of our God is favorable toward all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who abandon (turn away from) Him.”
So we fasted and sought [help from] our God concerning this [matter], and He heard our plea.
PRIESTS TO GUARD OFFERINGS
Then I set apart twelve leading priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers (relatives),
and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the utensils, the offering for the house of our God which the king, his advisers, his officials, and all Israel who were present there had offered.
I weighed into their hands 650 talents of silver, and silver utensils worth 100 talents, and 100 talents of gold;
also 20 bowls of gold worth 1,000 darics, and two utensils of fine shiny bronze, precious as gold.
Then I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD, the utensils are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.
Guard and keep them until you weigh them before the leading priests and the Levites and the leaders of the fathers’ households of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.”
So the priests and the Levites received the weighed out silver and gold, and the utensils, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.
We set out from the river Ahava on the twelfth [day] of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was upon us, and He rescued us from the hand of the enemy and those who lay in ambushes along the way.
So we came to Jerusalem and remained there for three days.
On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the utensils were weighed out in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them were the Levites–Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui.
Every piece was counted and weighed, and all the weight was recorded at that time.
Also the [former] exiles who had come from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and 12 male goats for a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD.
And they delivered the king’s edicts to the king’s satraps (lieutenants) and to the governors west of the [Euphrates] River, and they supported the people and God’s house.
The number of men who accompanied Ezra amounted to 1754, but the women and children would bring up the gross total to about 7000. The lack of Levites was very serious. These should have been among the very first. A deputation was therefore sent to a neighboring seminary or college, where they were being trained, and here again is the mention of the good hand of God. Sometimes hearts are ready and waiting for service, which need just a word or appeal to complete their plans. There is always special interest in this paragraph for those who are venturing forth on the untried and unknown. The camp at Ahava; the sending for the priests; the waiting for their coming; the recognition of God’s good hand in sending a man of discretion; and then the fast and prayer for protection. We can almost see the little band on the point of plunging into the inhospitable and dangerous desert, spending hours in prayer, and restrained from requesting an escort, lest they might invalidate their leader’s trustful boast. How careful we should be to do nothing inconsistent with the proud position that faith gives us in the keeping power of God! Seek Him, O soul of mine, and He will be found, and His hand shall be upon thee for good.
Into our hands also is committed first the rich treasure and solemn trust of our own souls, and next the great deposit of the gospel; 1Ti_1:11; 1Ti_6:20. In order to fulfil this sacred charge there must be purity, “Ye are holy;” and sleepless vigilance, “Watch ye.” There were ambushes and designs on their safety, but the foe was unable to break through the divine environment, Ezr_8:31. How safe are we who live in God! What joy as the little band weighed the vessels, and rendered up their charge, Luk_19:16. Is not this a picture of our entrance into heaven, when we also shall acknowledge the good hand of the Lord, and sacrifice our burnt offerings of thanksgiving? This incident is no exception. Similar care will be surely and blessedly experienced by all those who trust under the shadow of God’s wing. It is credibly affirmed that, in the American Civil War, none of the Quakers, who of course were non-resisters, suffered any damage from the troops of either side. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Let those who fast and pray for God’s help be sure to return Him thanks when it has been given.
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