Ezra 8

This chapter belongs to the second half of Ezra (chapters 7–10). Ezra, who was introduced in Ezra 7 along with the decree of King Artaxerxes, here narrates the return journey in the first person. The returnees leave Babylon and arrive in Jerusalem.

Outline

• Verses 1–14: A list of the chiefs of the fathers and the families who went up with Ezra. The priestly families of the sons of Phinehas and the sons of Ithamar, along with Hattush of the sons of David, are listed first. They are followed by the chiefs of twelve families, including Parosh and Pahath-moab, with the number of males in each. The figures in verses 3–14 total 1,496 men.
• Verses 15–20: Ezra gathered the company at the river that runs to Ahava and stayed there three days, but he found none of the sons of Levi among them. He therefore sent chief men and men of understanding to Iddo, the chief at the place Casiphia. As a result, the following joined the company:
• A man of understanding from the sons of Mahli
• Sherebiah with his sons and brethren, 18 in all
• Hashabiah and Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with others, 20 in all
• 220 of the Nethinims
• Verses 21–23: At the river Ezra proclaimed a fast and sought of God a right way for the journey. Because he had earlier told the king that the hand of God is upon all who seek him for good, he was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen as an escort. God answered their entreaty.
• Verses 24–30: Ezra appointed twelve men and weighed out the offerings to entrust to them:
• 650 talents of silver
• Silver vessels of 100 talents
• 100 talents of gold
• 20 basins of gold weighing 1,000 darics
• 2 vessels of fine copper

He then declared, "Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also," and charged them to guard everything until it was weighed again in the chambers of the temple in Jerusalem.

• Verses 31–34: The company departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, and God delivered them from the hand of the enemy and of those who lay in wait along the way. After staying three days in Jerusalem, on the fourth day they handed the offerings over to Meremoth the priest. Eleazar, Jozabad, and Noadiah were present; everything was counted and weighed, and the weight was recorded at once.
• Verses 35–36: The returnees offered burnt offerings: 12 bullocks, 96 rams, and 77 lambs, together with 12 he goats for a sin offering. They then delivered the king's commissions to the king's lieutenants and to the governors "on this side the river" (west of the Euphrates), who furthered the people and the house of God.

Key Verses

• Ezra 8:21 "I proclaimed a fast there … to seek of him a right way for us." Facing a dangerous journey, Ezra chose prayer over a military escort.
• Ezra 8:22 "The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him." This verse clearly illustrates the recurring theme of "the hand of God" in the book of Ezra.
• Ezra 8:28 "Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also." The verse affirms the holiness both of those entrusted with the offerings and of the offerings entrusted to them.

People and Places

• Artaxerxes: King of Persia, who permitted Ezra's return.
• Phinehas: Grandson of Aaron; his descendant Gershom appears in the list of returnees.
• Hattush: A descendant of David (1 Chronicles 3:22).
• The river of Ahava: The place where the returnees assembled. Its exact location is unknown.
• Casiphia: A place where Levites and Nethinims lived and where Iddo the chief resided.
• Nethinims: Temple servants whom David and the princes had appointed to assist the Levites.
• Sherebiah and Hashabiah: Levitical leaders who joined the company from Casiphia.
• Meremoth: A priest, the son of Uriah, who received the offerings at the temple.
• Eleazar: The Eleazar of verse 33 is the son of Phinehas and is a different person from Eleazar the son of Aaron.

Points for Reflection

• The date of Ezra's return: A widely held view places it in the seventh year of Artaxerxes I, 458 BC. Another view dates it to the reign of Artaxerxes II. Chapter 7, verse 9, says the journey began on the first day of the first month, while this chapter says the company left the river of Ahava on the twelfth day. The difference is usually explained as an intervening period of assembly and preparation.
• The twelve men of verse 24: The Korean Revised Version (Gaeyeok Hangeul) counts Sherebiah and Hashabiah among the twelve. However, both men appear as Levites in verses 18–19. Some interpreters therefore read the verse as distinguishing "twelve of the priests" from "Levites such as Sherebiah and Hashabiah." The phrase "the priests and the Levites" in verse 30 is cited in support of this reading.
• The numbers of the burnt offerings: The twelve bullocks and twelve he goats are commonly interpreted as representing all the twelve tribes of Israel.
• Connections with the New Testament: Acts 13:2–3 records fasting and prayer before setting out on a journey. Likewise, when Paul was entrusted with the collection for the church in Jerusalem, he took care, "avoiding this, that no man should blame us" (2 Corinthians 8:20–21). These two passages are often compared with this chapter's fast and with the weighing and recording of the offerings before witnesses.

In the Korean Church

Verses 21–23 are frequently cited in sermons on fasting and prayer. Verses 24–34 are also sometimes cited as a model for the transparent management of offerings and church finances.