CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Ezra 8
Chapter 8 of 10
Chapter Overview
What happens in Ezra 8
Ezra lists the family leaders who traveled with him from Babylon. He finds that no Levites are in the group and recruits some. He calls for a fast to ask God for protection on the journey. They safely arrive in Jerusalem and deliver the temple treasures.
Scripture
Ezra 8
The Families Who Traveled with Ezra
Study note
This list records the heads of families who joined Ezra's group for the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. The total number of men listed is about 1,500, but with women and children the group may have been around 5,000 people. These families represented many of the same clans listed in chapter 2, showing a continued connection between the first and second groups of returnees.
1 Here are the family leaders and their family records. These are the ones who traveled with me from Babylon when King Artaxerxes ruled: These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.
2 From Phinehas's line: Gershom. From Ithamar's line: Daniel. From David's line: Hattush. Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.
3 From Shechaniah's family (of the Parosh line): Zechariah, with 150 men listed with him. Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.
4 From the Pahath-moab family: Elihoenai son of Zerahiah, with 200 men. Of the sons of Pahath-moab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.
5 From Shechaniah's family: Jahaziel's son, with 300 men. Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.
6 From Adin's family: Ebed son of Jonathan, with 50 men. Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.
7 From Elam's family: Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, with 70 men. And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.
8 From Shephatiah's family: Zebadiah son of Michael, with 80 men. And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.
9 From Joab's family: Obadiah son of Jehiel, with 218 men. Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.
10 From Shelomith's family: Josiphiah's son, with 160 men. And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males.
11 From Bebai's family: Zechariah son of Bebai, with 28 men. And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.
12 From Azgad's family: Johanan son of Hakkatan, with 110 men. And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.
13 The last members of Adonikam's family to return were Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, with 60 men. And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.
14 From Bigvai's family: Uthai and Zabbud, with 70 men. Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.
Ezra Recruits Levites
Study note
When Ezra gathered the people at the river near Ahava, he discovered that not a single Levite had volunteered for the trip. This was a serious problem because Levites were essential for temple service. Ezra sent a delegation to a place called Casiphia, where Levites were known to live. By God's hand, they convinced 38 Levites and 220 temple servants to join the group.
15 I gathered everyone at the canal flowing toward Ahava, and we set up camp for three days. Looking over the group, I found priests among us, but not a single Levite. And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
16 I sent for several leaders and scholars: Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, Meshullam, Joiarib, and Elnathan. Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
17 I sent them to Iddo, the leader in the town of Casiphia. I told them exactly what to say to Iddo and his relatives, the temple workers living at Casiphia. I asked them to send us people to serve in God's temple. And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
18 Because God's hand was graciously on us, they sent us a brilliant man named Sherebiah from the family of Mahli, son of Levi, son of Israel. He brought his sons and relatives -- eighteen men total. And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
19 They also sent Hashabiah along with Jeshaiah from Merari's family. His relatives and their sons came too — twenty men in all. And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
20 They also sent 220 temple workers. David and his officials had originally assigned these workers to help the Levites. Every one of them was listed by name. Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.
Fasting and Prayer for Safe Travel
Study note
The journey from Babylon to Jerusalem was roughly 900 miles through dangerous territory full of bandits. Ezra had already told the king that God protects those who trust in Him, so he was too embarrassed to ask for a military escort. Instead, he called the people to fast and pray, humbling themselves before God and asking for His protection. God answered their prayers.
21 At the Ahava canal, I called for a time of fasting. We humbled ourselves before God and asked him to protect us, our families, and everything we owned during the journey. Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
22 I had been too embarrassed to ask the king for soldiers and cavalry to guard us along the way. After all, we had told the king, "God's hand protects everyone who seeks him, but his fierce power works against everyone who abandons him." For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
23 So we fasted and pleaded with God for safety, and he answered our prayers. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.
The Treasures Entrusted to the Priests
Study note
Ezra carefully weighed and recorded every piece of gold, silver, and every item before the journey. He placed twelve leading priests in charge of guarding these treasures, which were worth an enormous amount. He reminded them that both they and the items were holy to the Lord. This careful accounting showed that Ezra valued both honesty and stewardship.
24 I then chose twelve leading priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their relatives. Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
25 I carefully weighed out the silver, gold, and sacred items. Then I gave them to the priests and Levites to carry. The king, his advisors, officials, and all the Israelites present had donated these for God's temple. And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
26 I weighed out and gave them 650 talents of silver. I gave 100 talents' worth of silver items. I gave 100 talents of gold. I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;
27 I also gave twenty gold bowls worth a thousand gold coins each. I gave two pieces of shiny bronze. They were as fine as gold. Also twenty basins of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
28 I told them, "You are set apart for God, and these items are sacred. This silver and gold is a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your ancestors. And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.
29 "Guard all of it closely. Keep it safe until you can weigh it at the Lord's temple in Jerusalem. Do this before the chief priests, Levites, and family heads of Israel." Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.
30 The priests and Levites took charge of the weighed-out silver, gold, and sacred items. Their job was to carry them to God's temple in Jerusalem. So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.
Safe Arrival and Offerings in Jerusalem
Study note
God protected the travelers from enemies and bandits along the way. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they rested for three days. On the fourth day, they weighed the treasures at the temple, and everything was accounted for. They offered sacrifices to God, including twelve bulls for all Israel, showing their connection to all twelve tribes. They also delivered the king's orders to the local officials, who then supported the people and the temple.
31 We left the Ahava canal on the twelfth day of the first month, heading for Jerusalem. God's hand shielded us, keeping us safe from enemies and bandits the whole way. Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
32 We made it to Jerusalem and rested for three days. And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
33 On the fourth day, we weighed everything out at God's temple. The items were placed in the care of Priest Meremoth son of Uriah, assisted by Eleazar son of Phinehas, and the Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui. Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;
34 Every item was counted and weighed. The total weight was written down in the official record. By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.
35 The people who had returned then offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel. They offered twelve bulls for all of Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering. All of it was burned as an offering to the Lord. Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.
36 They also gave the king's official orders to the royal governors and officials west of the Euphrates. Those officials then helped the people and the work on God's temple. And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.
Key Themes
Themes in Ezra 8
Fasting and prayer before important undertakingsTrusting God rather than human protectionAccountability in handling sacred resourcesGod's faithful protection on the journey
Apply This Today
Living Ezra 8
Ezra was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers because He had declared that God protects those who seek Him. So He fasted and prayed instead — and God answered. There are times when trusting God means not reaching for the easy human solution. Let your faith match your words.
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