7 And there go up of the sons of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
And these `are' heads of their fathers, and the genealogy of those going up with me, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king, from Babylon. From the sons of Phinehas: Gershom; from the sons of Ithamar: Daniel; from the sons of David: Hattush; from the sons of Shechaniah, from the sons of Pharosh: Zechariah, and with him, reckoning themselves by genealogy, of males a hundred and fifty. From the sons of Pahath-Moab: Elihoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred who are males. From the sons of Shechaniah: the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred who are males. And from the sons of Adin: Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him fifty who are males. And from the sons of Elam: Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him seventy who are males. And from the sons of Shephatiah: Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him eighty who are males. From the sons of Joab: Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen who are males. And from the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah, and with him a hundred and sixty who are males. And from the sons of Bebai: Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight who are males. And from the sons of Azgad: Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him a hundred and ten who are males. And from the younger sons of Adonikam -- and these `are' their names -- Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty who are males. And from the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud, and with them seventy who are males. And I gather them unto the river that is going unto Ahava, and we encamp there three days; and I consider about the people, and about the priests, and of the sons of Levi I have found none there; and I send for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, heads, and for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding; and I charge them for Iddo the head, in the place Casiphia, and put in their mouth words to speak unto Iddo, `and' his brethren the Nethinim, in the place Casiphia, to bring to us ministrants for the house of our God. And they bring to us, according to the good hand of our God upon us, a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel, and Sherebiah, and his sons, and his brethren, eighteen; and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah, of the sons of Merari, his brethren, and their sons, twenty; and from the Nethinim, whom David and the heads gave for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim, all of them defined by name.
And these `are' they whom David stationed over the parts of the song of the house of Jehovah, from the resting of the ark, and they are ministering before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, in song, till the building by Solomon of the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem; and they stand according to their ordinance over their service. And these `are' those standing, and their sons: of the sons of the Kohathite: Heman the singer, son of Joel, son of Shemuel, son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah, son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai, son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel. And his brother Asaph, who is standing on his right -- Asaph, son of Berachiah, son of Shimea, son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malchiah, son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah, son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei, son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi. And sons of Merari, their brethren, `are' on the left. Ethan son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah, son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shamer, son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi. And their brethren the Levites are put to all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
And the gatekeepers `are' Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren -- Shallum `is' the head; and hitherto they `are' at the gate of the king eastward; they `are' the gatekeepers for the companies of the sons of Levi. And Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, `are' over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent, and their fathers `are' over the camp of Jehovah, keepers of the entrance; and Phinehas son of Eleazar hath been leader over them formerly; Jehovah `is' with him. Zechariah son of Meshelemiah `is' gatekeeper at the opening of the tent of meeting. All of those who are chosen for gatekeepers at the thresholds `are' two hundred and twelve; they `are' in their villages, by their genealogy; they whom David and Samuel the seer appointed in their office. And they and their sons `are' over the gates of the house of Jehovah, even of the house of the tent, by watches. At four sides are the gatekeepers, east, west, north, and south. And their brethren in their villages `are' to come in for seven days from time to time with these. For in office `are' the four chiefs of the gatekeepers, they are Levites, and they have been over the chambers, and over the treasuries of the house of God, and round about the house of God they lodge, for on them `is' the watch, and they `are' over the opening, even morning by morning.
And David and the heads of the host separate for service, of the sons of Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun, who are prophesying with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals, and the number of the workmen is according to their service. Of sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, sons of Asaph, `are' by the side of Asaph, who is prophesying by the side of the king. Of Jeduthun: sons of Jeduthun, Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, Shisshah, `are' by the side of their father Jeduthun; with a harp he is prophesying, for giving of thanks and of praise to Jehovah. Of Heman: sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth; all these `are' sons of Heman -- seer of the king in the things of God -- to lift up a horn; and God giveth to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. All these `are' by the side of their father in the song of the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God; by the side of the king `are' Asaph, and Jeduthun, and Heman. And their number, with their brethren -- taught in the song of Jehovah, all who are intelligent -- is two hundred, eighty and eight. And they cause to fall lots -- charge over-against `charge', as well the small as the great, the intelligent with the learner.
The Levites; sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, seventy and four. The singers: sons of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight. Sons of the gatekeepers; sons of Shallum, sons of Ater, sons of Talmon, sons of Akkub, sons of Hatita, sons of Shobai, the whole `are' a hundred thirty and nine. The Nethinim: sons of Ziha, sons of Hasupha, sons of Tabbaoth, Sons of Keros, sons of Siaha, sons of Padon, Sons of Lebanah, sons of Hagabah, sons of Akkub, Sons of Hagab, sons of Shalmai, sons of Hanan, Sons of Giddel, sons of Gahar, sons of Reaiah, Sons of Rezin, sons of Nekoda, sons of Gazzam, Sons of Uzza, sons of Paseah, sons of Besai, Sons of Asnah, sons of Mehunim, sons of Nephusim, Sons of Bakbuk, sons of Hakupha, sons of Harhur, Sons of Bazluth, sons of Mehida, sons of Harsha, Sons of Barkos, sons of Sisera, sons of Thamah, Sons of Neziah, sons of Hatipha. Sons of the servants of Solomon: sons of Sotai, sons of Sophereth, sons of Peruda, Sons of Jaalah, sons of Darkon, sons of Giddel, Sons of Shephatiah, sons of Hattil, sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, sons of Ami. All the Nethinim, and the sons of the servants of Solomon `are' three hundred ninety and two. And these `are' those going up from Tel-Melah, Tel-Harsa, Cherub, Addan, Immer, and they have not been able to declare the house of their fathers, and their seed, whether they `are' of Israel: sons of Delaiah, sons of Tobiah, sons of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two. And of the sons of the priests: sons of Habaiah, sons of Koz, sons of Barzillai (who took from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite a wife, and is called by their name;) these have sought their register among those reckoning themselves by genealogy, and they have not been found, and they are redeemed from the priesthood, and the Tirshatha saith to them, that they eat not of the most holy things till the standing up of a priest with Urim and with Thummim. All the assembly together `is' four myriad two thousand three hundred sixty, apart from their servants and their handmaids; these `are' seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and of them `are' singers and songstresses two hundred. Their horses `are' seven hundred thirty and six, their mules, two hundred forty and five, their camels, four hundred thirty and five, asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty. And some of the heads of the fathers in their coming in to the house of Jehovah that `is' in Jerusalem, have offered willingly for the house of God, to establish it on its base; according to their power they have given to the treasure of the work; of gold, drams six myriads and a thousand, and of silver, pounds five thousand, and of priests' coats, a hundred. And the priests dwell, and the Levites, and of the people, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, in their cities; even all Israel in their cities.
and the elders of the Jews are building and prospering through the prophecy of Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah son of Iddo, and they have built and finished by the decree of the God of Israel, and by the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
And this `is' a copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commands of Jehovah, and of His statutes on Israel: `Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe of the law of the God of heaven, and at such a time:
`And to you we are making known, that upon any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, and servants of the house of God, tribute and custom there is no authority to lift up.
The gatekeepers: sons of Shallum, sons of Ater, sons of Talmon, sons of Akkub, sons of Hatita, sons of Shobai: a hundred thirty and eight. The Nethinim: sons of Ziha, sons of Hasupha, sons of Tabbaoth, sons of Keros, sons of Sia, sons of Padon, sons of Lebanah, sons of Hagaba, sons of Shalmai, sons of Hanan, sons of Giddel, sons of Gahar, sons of Reaiah, sons of Rezin, sons of Nekoda, sons of Gazzam, sons of Uzza, sons of Phaseah, sons of Bezai, sons of Meunim, sons of Nephishesim, sons of Bakbuk, sons of Hakupha, sons of Harhur, sons of Bazlith, sons of Mehida, sons of Harsha, sons of Barkos, sons of Sisera, sons of Tamah, sons of Neziah, sons of Hatipha. Sons of the servants of Solomon: sons of Sotai, sons of Sophereth, sons of Perida, sons of Jaala, sons of Darkon, sons of Giddel, sons of Shephatiah, sons of Hattil, sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, sons of Amon. All the Nethinim and the sons of the servants of Solomon `are' three hundred ninety and two. And these `are' those coming up from Tel-Melah, Tel-Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer -- and they have not been able to declare the house of their fathers, and their seed, whether they `are' of Israel -- sons of Delaiah, sons of Tobiah, sons of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two. And of the priests: sons of Habaiah sons of Koz, sons of Barzillai, who hath taken from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite a wife, and is called by their name. These have sought their register among those reckoning themselves by genealogy, and it hath not been found, and they are redeemed from the priesthood, and the Tirshatha saith to them that they eat not of the most holy things till the standing up of the priest with Urim and Thummim. All the assembly together `is' four myriads two thousand three hundred and sixty, apart from their servants and their handmaids -- these `are' seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven; and of them `are' singers and songstresses, two hundred forty and five. Their horses `are' seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred `and' forty and five; camels, four hundred thirty and five; asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty. And from the extremity of the heads of the fathers they have given to the work; the Tirshatha hath given to the treasure, of gold, drams a thousand, bowls fifty, priests' coats thirty and five hundred. And of the heads of the fathers they have given to the treasure of the work, of gold, drams two myriads, and of silver, pounds two thousand and two hundred. And that which the rest of the people have given `is' of gold, drams two myriads, and of silver, pounds two thousand, and of priests coats, sixty and seven. And they dwell -- the priests, and the Levites, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and `some' of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel -- in their cities, and the seventh month cometh, and the sons of Israel `are' in their cities.
And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and every one who hath been separated from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every knowing intelligent one,
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ezra 7
Commentary on Ezra 7 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 7
Ezra's precious name saluted us, at first, in the title of the book, but in the history we have not met with it till this chapter introduces him into public action in another reign, that of Artaxerxes. Zerubbabel and Jeshua we will suppose, by this time, to have grown old, if not gone off; nor do we hear any more of Haggai and Zechariah; they have finished their testimony. What shall become of the cause of God and Israel when these useful instruments are laid aside? Trust God, who has the residue of the Spirit, to raise up others in their room. Ezra here, and Nehemiah in the next book, are as serviceable in their days as those were in theirs. Here is,
The next chapter will give us a more particular narrative of his associates, his journey, and his arrival at Jerusalem.
Ezr 7:1-10
Here is,
Ezr 7:11-26
We have here the commission which the Persian emperor granted to Ezra, giving him authority to act for the good of the Jews; and it is very ample and full, and beyond what could have been expected. The commission runs, we suppose, in the usual form: Artaxerxes, King of kings. This however is too high a title for any mortal man to assume; he was indeed king of some kings, but to speak as if he were king of all kings was to usurp his prerogative who hath all power both in heaven and in earth. He sends greeting to his trusty and well-beloved Ezra, whom he calls a scribe of the law of the God of heaven (v. 12), a title which (it seems by this) Ezra valued himself by, and desired no other, no, not when he was advanced to the proconsular dignity. He reckoned it more his honour to be a scribe of God's law than to be a peer or prince of the empire. Let us observe the articles of this commission.
Ezr 7:27-28
Ezra cannot proceed in his story without inserting his thankful acknowledgement of the goodness of God to him and his people in this matter. As soon as he has concluded the king's commission, instead of subjoining, God save the king (though that would have been proper enough), he adds, Blessed be the Lord; for we must in every thing give thanks, and, whatever occurrences please us, we must own God's hand in them, and praise his name. Two things Ezra blessed God for:-