Ezra 1:9 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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⁹ And this is the number ^H4557 of them: thirty ^H7970 chargers ^H105 of gold, ^H2091 a thousand ^H505 chargers ^H105 of silver, ^H3701 nine ^H8672 and twenty ^H6242 knives, ^H4252

Cross Reference

Numbers 7:19-89 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

He offered ^H7126 for his offering ^H7133 one ^H259 silver ^H3701 charger, ^H7086 the weight ^H4948 whereof was an hundred ^H3967 and thirty ^H7970 shekels, one ^H259 silver ^H3701 bowl ^H4219 of seventy ^H7657 shekels, ^H8255 after the shekel ^H8255 of the sanctuary; ^H6944 both ^H8147 of them full ^H4392 of fine flour ^H5560 mingled ^H1101 with oil ^H8081 for a meat offering: ^H4503 One ^H259 spoon ^H3709 of gold ^H2091 of ten ^H6235 shekels, full ^H4392 of incense: ^H7004 One ^H259 young ^H1241 bullock, ^H6499 one ^H259 ram, ^H352 one ^H259 lamb ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year, ^H8141 for a burnt offering: ^H5930 One ^H259 kid ^H8163 of the goats ^H5795 for a sin offering: ^H2403 And for a sacrifice ^H2077 of peace offerings, ^H8002 two ^H8147 oxen, ^H1241 five ^H2568 rams, ^H352 five ^H2568 he goats, ^H6260 five ^H2568 lambs ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year: ^H8141 this was the offering ^H7133 of Nethaneel ^H5417 the son ^H1121 of Zuar. ^H6686 On the third ^H7992 day ^H3117 Eliab ^H446 the son ^H1121 of Helon, ^H2497 prince ^H5387 of the children ^H1121 of Zebulun, ^H2074 did offer: His offering ^H7133 was one ^H259 silver ^H3701 charger, ^H7086 the weight ^H4948 whereof was an hundred ^H3967 and thirty ^H7970 shekels, one ^H259 silver ^H3701 bowl ^H4219 of seventy ^H7657 shekels, ^H8255 after the shekel ^H8255 of the sanctuary; ^H6944 both ^H8147 of them full ^H4392 of fine flour ^H5560 mingled ^H1101 with oil ^H8081 for a meat offering: ^H4503 One ^H259 golden ^H2091 spoon ^H3709 of ten ^H6235 shekels, full ^H4392 of incense: ^H7004 One ^H259 young ^H1241 bullock, ^H6499 one ^H259 ram, ^H352 one ^H259 lamb ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year, ^H8141 for a burnt offering: ^H5930 One ^H259 kid ^H8163 of the goats ^H5795 for a sin offering: ^H2403 And for a sacrifice ^H2077 of peace offerings, ^H8002 two ^H8147 oxen, ^H1241 five ^H2568 rams, ^H352 five ^H2568 he goats, ^H6260 five ^H2568 lambs ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year: ^H8141 this was the offering ^H7133 of Eliab ^H446 the son ^H1121 of Helon. ^H2497 On the fourth ^H7243 day ^H3117 Elizur ^H468 the son ^H1121 of Shedeur, ^H7707 prince ^H5387 of the children ^H1121 of Reuben, ^H7205 did offer: His offering ^H7133 was one ^H259 silver ^H3701 charger ^H7086 of the weight ^H4948 of an hundred ^H3967 and thirty ^H7970 shekels, one ^H259 silver ^H3701 bowl ^H4219 of seventy ^H7657 shekels, ^H8255 after the shekel ^H8255 of the sanctuary; ^H6944 both ^H8147 of them full ^H4392 of fine flour ^H5560 mingled ^H1101 with oil ^H8081 for a meat offering: ^H4503 One ^H259 golden ^H2091 spoon ^H3709 of ten ^H6235 shekels, full ^H4392 of incense: ^H7004 One ^H259 young ^H1241 bullock, ^H6499 one ^H259 ram, ^H352 one ^H259 lamb ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year, ^H8141 for a burnt offering: ^H5930 One ^H259 kid ^H8163 of the goats ^H5795 for a sin offering: ^H2403 And for a sacrifice ^H2077 of peace offerings, ^H8002 two ^H8147 oxen, ^H1241 five ^H2568 rams, ^H352 five ^H2568 he goats, ^H6260 five ^H2568 lambs ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year: ^H8141 this was the offering ^H7133 of Elizur ^H468 the son ^H1121 of Shedeur. ^H7707 On the fifth ^H2549 day ^H3117 Shelumiel ^H8017 the son ^H1121 of Zurishaddai, ^H6701 prince ^H5387 of the children ^H1121 of Simeon, ^H8095 did offer: His offering ^H7133 was one ^H259 silver ^H3701 charger, ^H7086 the weight ^H4948 whereof was an hundred ^H3967 and thirty ^H7970 shekels, one ^H259 silver ^H3701 bowl ^H4219 of seventy ^H7657 shekels, ^H8255 after the shekel ^H8255 of the sanctuary; ^H6944 both ^H8147 of them full ^H4392 of fine flour ^H5560 mingled ^H1101 with oil ^H8081 for a meat offering: ^H4503 One ^H259 golden ^H2091 spoon ^H3709 of ten ^H6235 shekels, full ^H4392 of incense: ^H7004 One ^H259 young ^H1241 bullock, ^H6499 one ^H259 ram, ^H352 one ^H259 lamb ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year, ^H8141 for a burnt offering: ^H5930 One ^H259 kid ^H8163 of the goats ^H5795 for a sin offering: ^H2403 And for a sacrifice ^H2077 of peace offerings, ^H8002 two ^H8147 oxen, ^H1241 five ^H2568 rams, ^H352 five ^H2568 he goats, ^H6260 five ^H2568 lambs ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year: ^H8141 this was the offering ^H7133 of Shelumiel ^H8017 the son ^H1121 of Zurishaddai. ^H6701 On the sixth ^H8345 day ^H3117 Eliasaph ^H460 the son ^H1121 of Deuel, ^H1845 prince ^H5387 of the children ^H1121 of Gad, ^H1410 offered: His offering ^H7133 was one ^H259 silver ^H3701 charger ^H7086 of the weight ^H4948 of an hundred ^H3967 and thirty ^H7970 shekels, a silver ^H3701 bowl ^H4219 of seventy ^H7657 shekels, ^H8255 after the shekel ^H8255 of the sanctuary; ^H6944 both ^H8147 of them full ^H4392 of fine flour ^H5560 mingled ^H1101 with oil ^H8081 for a meat offering: ^H4503 One ^H259 golden ^H2091 spoon ^H3709 of ten ^H6235 shekels, full ^H4392 of incense: ^H7004 One ^H259 young ^H1241 bullock, ^H6499 one ^H259 ram, ^H352 one ^H259 lamb ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year, ^H8141 for a burnt offering: ^H5930 One ^H259 kid ^H8163 of the goats ^H5795 for a sin offering: ^H2403 And for a sacrifice ^H2077 of peace offerings, ^H8002 two ^H8147 oxen, ^H1241 five ^H2568 rams, ^H352 five ^H2568 he goats, ^H6260 five ^H2568 lambs ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year: ^H8141 this was the offering ^H7133 of Eliasaph ^H460 the son ^H1121 of Deuel. ^H1845 On the seventh ^H7637 day ^H3117 Elishama ^H476 the son ^H1121 of Ammihud, ^H5989 prince ^H5387 of the children ^H1121 of Ephraim, ^H669 offered: His offering ^H7133 was one ^H259 silver ^H3701 charger, ^H7086 the weight ^H4948 whereof was an hundred ^H3967 and thirty ^H7970 shekels, one ^H259 silver ^H3701 bowl ^H4219 of seventy ^H7657 shekels, ^H8255 after the shekel ^H8255 of the sanctuary; ^H6944 both ^H8147 of them full ^H4392 of fine flour ^H5560 mingled ^H1101 with oil ^H8081 for a meat offering: ^H4503 One ^H259 golden ^H2091 spoon ^H3709 of ten ^H6235 shekels, full ^H4392 of incense: ^H7004 One ^H259 young ^H1241 bullock, ^H6499 one ^H259 ram, ^H352 one ^H259 lamb ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year, ^H8141 for a burnt offering: ^H5930 One ^H259 kid ^H8163 of the goats ^H5795 for a sin offering: ^H2403 And for a sacrifice ^H2077 of peace offerings, ^H8002 two ^H8147 oxen, ^H1241 five ^H2568 rams, ^H352 five ^H2568 he goats, ^H6260 five ^H2568 lambs ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year: ^H8141 this was the offering ^H7133 of Elishama ^H476 the son ^H1121 of Ammihud. ^H5989 On the eighth ^H8066 day ^H3117 offered Gamaliel ^H1583 the son ^H1121 of Pedahzur, ^H6301 prince ^H5387 of the children ^H1121 of Manasseh: ^H4519 His offering ^H7133 was one ^H259 silver ^H3701 charger ^H7086 of the weight ^H4948 of an hundred ^H3967 and thirty ^H7970 shekels, one ^H259 silver ^H3701 bowl ^H4219 of seventy ^H7657 shekels, ^H8255 after the shekel ^H8255 of the sanctuary; ^H6944 both ^H8147 of them full ^H4392 of fine flour ^H5560 mingled ^H1101 with oil ^H8081 for a meat offering: ^H4503 One ^H259 golden ^H2091 spoon ^H3709 of ten ^H6235 shekels, full ^H4392 of incense: ^H7004 One ^H259 young ^H1241 bullock, ^H6499 one ^H259 ram, ^H352 one ^H259 lamb ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year, ^H8141 for a burnt offering: ^H5930 One ^H259 kid ^H8163 of the goats ^H5795 for a sin offering: ^H2403 And for a sacrifice ^H2077 of peace offerings, ^H8002 two ^H8147 oxen, ^H1241 five ^H2568 rams, ^H352 five ^H2568 he goats, ^H6260 five ^H2568 lambs ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year: ^H8141 this was the offering ^H7133 of Gamaliel ^H1583 the son ^H1121 of Pedahzur. ^H6301 On the ninth ^H8671 day ^H3117 Abidan ^H27 the son ^H1121 of Gideoni, ^H1441 prince ^H5387 of the children ^H1121 of Benjamin, ^H1144 offered: His offering ^H7133 was one ^H259 silver ^H3701 charger, ^H7086 the weight ^H4948 whereof was an hundred ^H3967 and thirty ^H7970 shekels, one ^H259 silver ^H3701 bowl ^H4219 of seventy ^H7657 shekels, ^H8255 after the shekel ^H8255 of the sanctuary; ^H6944 both ^H8147 of them full ^H4392 of fine flour ^H5560 mingled ^H1101 with oil ^H8081 for a meat offering: ^H4503 One ^H259 golden ^H2091 spoon ^H3709 of ten ^H6235 shekels, full ^H4392 of incense: ^H7004 One ^H259 young ^H1241 bullock, ^H6499 one ^H259 ram, ^H352 one ^H259 lamb ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year, ^H8141 for a burnt offering: ^H5930 One ^H259 kid ^H8163 of the goats ^H5795 for a sin offering: ^H2403 And for a sacrifice ^H2077 of peace offerings, ^H8002 two ^H8147 oxen, ^H1241 five ^H2568 rams, ^H352 five ^H2568 he goats, ^H6260 five ^H2568 lambs ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year: ^H8141 this was the offering ^H7133 of Abidan ^H27 the son ^H1121 of Gideoni. ^H1441 On the tenth ^H6224 day ^H3117 Ahiezer ^H295 the son ^H1121 of Ammishaddai, ^H5996 prince ^H5387 of the children ^H1121 of Dan, ^H1835 offered: His offering ^H7133 was one ^H259 silver ^H3701 charger, ^H7086 the weight ^H4948 whereof was an hundred ^H3967 and thirty ^H7970 shekels, one ^H259 silver ^H3701 bowl ^H4219 of seventy ^H7657 shekels, ^H8255 after the shekel ^H8255 of the sanctuary; ^H6944 both ^H8147 of them full ^H4392 of fine flour ^H5560 mingled ^H1101 with oil ^H8081 for a meat offering: ^H4503 One ^H259 golden ^H2091 spoon ^H3709 of ten ^H6235 shekels, full ^H4392 of incense: ^H7004 One ^H259 young ^H1241 bullock, ^H6499 one ^H259 ram, ^H352 one ^H259 lamb ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year, ^H8141 for a burnt offering: ^H5930 One ^H259 kid ^H8163 of the goats ^H5795 for a sin offering: ^H2403 And for a sacrifice ^H2077 of peace offerings, ^H8002 two ^H8147 oxen, ^H1241 five ^H2568 rams, ^H352 five ^H2568 he goats, ^H6260 five ^H2568 lambs ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year: ^H8141 this was the offering ^H7133 of Ahiezer ^H295 the son ^H1121 of Ammishaddai. ^H5996 On the eleventh ^H6249 ^H6240 day ^H3117 Pagiel ^H6295 the son ^H1121 of Ocran, ^H5918 prince ^H5387 of the children ^H1121 of Asher, ^H836 offered: His offering ^H7133 was one ^H259 silver ^H3701 charger, ^H7086 the weight ^H4948 whereof was an hundred ^H3967 and thirty ^H7970 shekels, one ^H259 silver ^H3701 bowl ^H4219 of seventy ^H7657 shekels, ^H8255 after the shekel ^H8255 of the sanctuary; ^H6944 both ^H8147 of them full ^H4392 of fine flour ^H5560 mingled ^H1101 with oil ^H8081 for a meat offering: ^H4503 One ^H259 golden ^H2091 spoon ^H3709 of ten ^H6235 shekels, full ^H4392 of incense: ^H7004 One ^H259 young ^H1241 bullock, ^H6499 one ^H259 ram, ^H352 one ^H259 lamb ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year, ^H8141 for a burnt offering: ^H5930 One ^H259 kid ^H8163 of the goats ^H5795 for a sin offering: ^H2403 And for a sacrifice ^H2077 of peace offerings, ^H8002 two ^H8147 oxen, ^H1241 five ^H2568 rams, ^H352 five ^H2568 he goats, ^H6260 five ^H2568 lambs ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year: ^H8141 this was the offering ^H7133 of Pagiel ^H6295 the son ^H1121 of Ocran. ^H5918 On the twelfth ^H6240 ^H8147 day ^H3117 Ahira ^H299 the son ^H1121 of Enan, ^H5881 prince ^H5387 of the children ^H1121 of Naphtali, ^H5321 offered: His offering ^H7133 was one ^H259 silver ^H3701 charger, ^H7086 the weight ^H4948 whereof was an hundred ^H3967 and thirty ^H7970 shekels, one ^H259 silver ^H3701 bowl ^H4219 of seventy ^H7657 shekels, ^H8255 after the shekel ^H8255 of the sanctuary; ^H6944 both ^H8147 of them full ^H4392 of fine flour ^H5560 mingled ^H1101 with oil ^H8081 for a meat offering: ^H4503 One ^H259 golden ^H2091 spoon ^H3709 of ten ^H6235 shekels, full ^H4392 of incense: ^H7004 One ^H259 young ^H1241 bullock, ^H6499 one ^H259 ram, ^H352 one ^H259 lamb ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year, ^H8141 for a burnt offering: ^H5930 One ^H259 kid ^H8163 of the goats ^H5795 for a sin offering: ^H2403 And for a sacrifice ^H2077 of peace offerings, ^H8002 two ^H8147 oxen, ^H1241 five ^H2568 rams, ^H352 five ^H2568 he goats, ^H6260 five ^H2568 lambs ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year: ^H8141 this was the offering ^H7133 of Ahira ^H299 the son ^H1121 of Enan. ^H5881 This was the dedication ^H2598 of the altar, ^H4196 in the day ^H3117 when it was anointed, ^H4886 by the princes ^H5387 of Israel: ^H3478 twelve ^H6240 ^H8147 chargers ^H7086 of silver, ^H3701 twelve silver ^H3701 bowls, ^H4219 twelve ^H6240 ^H8147 spoons ^H3709 of gold: ^H2091 Each ^H259 charger ^H7086 of silver ^H3701 weighing an hundred ^H3967 and thirty ^H7970 shekels, each ^H259 bowl ^H4219 seventy: ^H7657 all the silver ^H3701 vessels ^H3627 weighed two thousand ^H505 and four ^H702 hundred ^H3967 shekels, after the shekel ^H8255 of the sanctuary: ^H6944 The golden ^H2091 spoons ^H3709 were twelve, ^H6240 ^H8147 full ^H4392 of incense, ^H7004 weighing ten ^H6235 shekels apiece, ^H3709 after the shekel ^H8255 of the sanctuary: ^H6944 all the gold ^H2091 of the spoons ^H3709 was an hundred ^H3967 and twenty ^H6242 shekels. All the oxen ^H1241 for the burnt offering ^H5930 were twelve ^H8147 ^H6240 bullocks, ^H6499 the rams ^H352 twelve, ^H8147 ^H6240 the lambs ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year ^H8141 twelve, ^H8147 ^H6240 with their meat offering: ^H4503 and the kids ^H8163 of the goats ^H5795 for sin offering ^H2403 twelve. ^H8147 ^H6240 And all the oxen ^H1241 for the sacrifice ^H2077 of the peace offerings ^H8002 were twenty ^H6242 and four ^H702 bullocks, ^H6499 the rams ^H352 sixty, ^H8346 the he goats ^H6260 sixty, ^H8346 the lambs ^H3532 of the first ^H1121 year ^H8141 sixty. ^H8346 This was the dedication ^H2598 of the altar, ^H4196 after ^H310 that it was anointed. ^H4886 And when Moses ^H4872 was gone ^H935 into the tabernacle ^H168 of the congregation ^H4150 to speak ^H1696 with him, then he heard ^H8085 the voice ^H6963 of one speaking ^H1696 unto him from off the mercy seat ^H3727 that was upon the ark ^H727 of testimony, ^H5715 from between the two ^H8147 cherubims: ^H3742 and he spake ^H1696 unto him.

2 Chronicles 4:21-22 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

And the flowers, ^H6525 and the lamps, ^H5216 and the tongs, ^H4457 made he of gold, ^H2091 and that perfect ^H4357 gold; ^H2091 And the snuffers, ^H4212 and the basons, ^H4219 and the spoons, ^H3709 and the censers, ^H4289 of pure ^H5462 gold: ^H2091 and the entry ^H6607 of the house, ^H1004 the inner ^H6442 doors ^H1817 thereof for the most ^H6944 holy ^H6944 place, and the doors ^H1817 of the house ^H1004 of the temple, ^H1964 were of gold. ^H2091

Matthew 10:29-31 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

Are ^G4453 not ^G3780 two ^G1417 sparrows ^G4765 sold ^G4453 for a farthing? ^G787 and ^G2532 one ^G1520 of ^G1537 them ^G846 shall ^G4098 not ^G3756 fall ^G4098 on ^G1909 the ground ^G1093 without ^G427 your ^G5216 Father. ^G3962 But ^G1161 the very ^G2532 hairs ^G2359 of your ^G5216 head ^G2776 are ^G1526 all ^G3956 numbered. ^G705 Fear ye ^G5399 not ^G3361 therefore, ^G3767 ye ^G5210 are of more value ^G1308 than many ^G4183 sparrows. ^G4765

Commentary on Ezra 1 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill Keil & Delitzsch Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of

The Book of Ezra

Chapter 1

In this chapter we have,

I. The proclamation which Cyrus, king of Persia, issued out for the release of all the Jews that he found captives in Babylon, and the building of their temple in Jerusalem (v. 1-4).
II. The return of many thereupon (v. 5, 6).
III. Orders given for the restoring of the vessels of the temple (v. 7-11). And this is the dawning of the day of their deliverance.

Ezr 1:1-4

It will be proper for us here to consider,

1. What was the state of the captive Jews in Babylon. It was upon many accounts very deplorable; they were under the power of those that hated them, had nothing they could call their own; they had no temple, no altar; if they sang psalms, their enemies ridiculed them; and yet they had prophets among them. Ezekiel and Daniel were kept distinct from the heathen. Some of them were preferred at court, others had comfortable settlements in the country, and they were all borne up with hope that, in due time, they should return to their own land again, in expectation of which they preserved among them the distinction of their families, the knowledge of their religion, and an aversion to idolatry.
2. What was the state of the government under which they were. Nebuchadnezzar carried many of them into captivity in the first year of his reign, which was the fourth of Jehoiakim; he reigned forty-five years, his son Evil-merodach twenty-three, and his grandson Belshazzar three years, which make up the seventy years. So Dr. Lightfoot, It is charged upon Nebuchadnezzar that he opened not the house of his prisoners, Isa. 14:17. And, if he had shown mercy to the poor Jews, Daniel told him it would have been the lengthening of his tranquillity, Dan. 4:27. But the measure of the sins of Babylon was at length full, and then destruction was brought upon them by Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian, which we read of, Dan. 5. Darius, being old, left the government to Cyrus, and he was employed as the instrument of the Jews' deliverance, which he gave orders for as soon as ever he was master of the kingdom of Babylon, perhaps in contradiction to Nebuchadnezzar, whose family he had cut off, and because he took a pleasure in undoing what he had done, or in policy, to recommend his newly-acquired dominion as merciful and gentle, or (as some think) in a pious regard to the prophecy of Isaiah, which had been published, and well known, above 150 years before, where he was expressly named as the man that should do this for God, and for whom God would do great things (Isa. 44:28; 45:1, etc.), and which perhaps was shown to him by those about him. His name (some say) in the Persian language signifies the sun, for he brought light and healing to the church of God, and was an eminent type of Christ the Sun of righteousness. Some was that his name signifies a father, and Christ is the everlasting Father. Now here we are told,
- I. Whence this proclamation took its rise. The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus. Note, The hearts of kings are in the hand of the Lord, and, like the rivulets of water, he turneth them which way soever he will. It is said of Cyrus that he knew not God, nor how to serve him; but God knew him, and how to serve himself by him, Isa. 45:4. God governs the world by his influence on the spirits of men, and, whatever good is done at any time, it is God that stirs up the spirit to do it, puts thoughts into the mind, gives to the understanding to form a right judgment, and directs the will which way he pleases. Whatever good offices therefore are, at any time, done for the church of God, he must have the glory of them.
- II. The reference it had to the prophecy of Jeremiah, by whom God had not only promised that they should return, but had fixed the time, which set time to favour Sion had now come. Seventy years were determined (Jer. 25:12; 29:10); and he that kept the promise made concerning Israel's deliverance out of Egypt to a day (Ex. 12:41) was doubtless as punctual to this. What Cyrus now did was long since said to be the confirming of the word of God's servants, Isa. 44:26. Jeremiah, while he lived, was hated and despised; yet thus did Providence honour him long after, that a mighty monarch was influenced to act in pursuance of the word of the Lord by his mouth.
- III. The date of this proclamation. It was in his first year, not the first of his reign over Persia, the kingdom he was born to, but the first of his reign over Babylon, the kingdom he had conquered. Those are much honoured whose spirits are stirred up to begin with God and to serve him in their first years.
- IV. The publication of it, both by word of mouth (he caused a voice to pass throughout all his kingdom, like a jubilee-trumpet, a joyful sabbatical year after many melancholy ones, proclaiming liberty to the captives), and also in black and white: he put it in writing, that it might be the more satisfactory, and might be sent to those distant provinces where the ten tribes were scattered in Assyria and Media, 2 Ki. 17:6.
- V. The purport of this proclamation of liberty.
  - 1. The preamble shows the causes and considerations by which he was influenced, v. 2. It should seem, his mind was enlightened with the knowledge of Jehovah (for so he calls him), the God of Israel, as the only living and true God, the God of heaven, who is the sovereign Lord and disposer of all the kingdoms of the earth; of him he says (v. 3), He is the God, God alone, God above all. Though he had not known God by education, God made him so far to know him now as that he did this service with an eye to him. He professes that he does it,
    - (1.) In gratitude to God for the favours he had bestowed upon him: The God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. This sounds a little vain-glorious, for there were many kingdoms of the earth which he had nothing to do with; but he means that God had given him all that was given to Nebuchadnezzar, whose dominion, Daniel says, was to the end of the earth, Dan. 4:22; 5:19. Note, God is the fountain of power; the kingdoms of the earth are at his disposal; whatever share any have of them they have from him: and those whom God has entrusted with great power and large possessions should look upon themselves as obliged thereby to do much for him.
    - (2.) In obedience to God. He hat charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem; probably by a dream or vision of the night, confirmed by comparing it with the prophecy of Isaiah, where his doing it was foretold. Israel's disobedience to God's charge, which they were often told of, is aggravated by the obedience of this heathen king.
  - 2. He gives free leave to all the Jews that were in his dominions to go up to Jerusalem, and to build the temple of the Lord there, v. 3. His regard to God made him overlook,
    - (1.) The secular interest of his government. It would have been his policy to keep so great a number of serviceable men in his dominions, and seemed impolitic to let them go and take root again in their own land; but piety is the best policy.
    - (2.) The honour of the religion of his country. Why did he not order them to build a temple to the gods of Babylon or Persia? He believed the God of Israel to be the God of heaven, and therefore obliged his Israel to worship him only. Let them walk in the name of the Lord their God.
  - 3. He subjoins a brief for a collection to bear the charges of such as were poor and not able to bear their own, v. 4. "Whosoever remaineth, because he has not the means to bear his charges to Jerusalem, let the men of his place help him.' Some take it as an order to the king's officers to supply them out of his revenue, as ch. 6:8. But it may mean a warrant to the captives to ask and receive the alms and charitable contributions of all the king's loving subjects. And we may suppose the Jews had conducted themselves so well among their neighbours that they would be as forward to accommodate them because they loved them as the Egyptians were because they were weary of them. At least many would be kind to them because they saw the government would take it well. Cyrus not only gave his good wishes with those that went (Their God be with them, v. 3), but took care also to furnish them with such things as they needed. He took it for granted that those among them who were of ability would offer their free-will offerings for the house of God, to promote the rebuilding of it. But, besides that, he would have them supplied out of his kingdom. Well-wishers to the temple should be well-doers for it.

Ezr 1:5-11

We are here told,

I. How Cyrus's proclamation succeeded with others.
- 1. He having given leave to the Jews to go up to Jerusalem, many of them went up accordingly, v. 5. The leaders herein were the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, eminent and experienced men, from whom it might justly be expected that, as they were above their brethren in dignity, so they should go before them in duty. The priests and Levites were (as became them) with the first that set their faces again towards Zion. If any good work is to be done, let ministers lead in it. Those that accompanied them were such as God had inclined to go up. The same God that had raised up the spirit of Cyrus to proclaim this liberty raised up their spirits to take the benefit of it; for it was done, not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, Zec. 4:6. The temptation perhaps was strong to some of them to stay in Babylon. They had convenient settlements there, had contracted an agreeable acquaintance with the neighbours, and were ready to say, It is good to be here. The discouragements of their return were many and great, the journey long, their wives and children unfit for travelling, their own land was to them a strange land, the road to it an unknown road. Go up to Jerusalem! And what should they do there? It was all in ruins, and in the midst of enemies to whom they would be an easy prey. Many were wrought upon by these considerations to stay in Babylon, at least not to go with the first. But there were some that got over these difficulties, that ventured to break the ice, and feared not the lion in the way, the lion in the streets; and they were those whose spirits God raised. He, by his Spirit and grace, filled them with a generous ambition of liberty, a gracious affection to their own land, and a desire of the free and public exercise of their religion. Had God left them to themselves, and to the counsels of flesh and blood, they would have staid in Babylon; but he put it into their hearts to set their faces Zionward, and, as strangers, to ask the way thither (Jer. 50:5); for they, being a new generation, went out like their father Abraham from this land of the Chaldees, not knowing whither they went, Heb. 11:8. Note, Whatever good we do, it is owing purely to the grace of God, and he raises up our spirits to the doing of it, works in us both to will and to do. Our spirits naturally incline to this earth and to the things of it. If they move upwards, in any good affections or good actions, it is God that raises them. The call and offer of the gospel are like Cyrus's proclamation. Deliverance is preached to the captives, Lu. 4:18. Those that are bound under the unrighteous dominion of sin, and bound over to the righteous judgment of God, may be made free by Jesus Christ. Whoever will, by repentance and faith, return to God, his duty to God, his happiness in God, Jesus Christ has opened the way for him, and let him go up out of the slavery of sin into the glorious liberty of the children of God. The offer is general to all. Christ makes it, in pursuance of the grant which the Father has made him of all power both in heaven and in earth (a much greater dominion than that given to Cyrus, v. 2) and of the charge given him to build God a house, to set him up a church in the world, a kingdom among men. Many that hear this joyful sound choose to sit still in Babylon, are in love with their sins and will not venture upon the difficulties of a holy life; but some there are that break through the discouragements, and resolve to build the house of God, to make heaven of their religion, whatever it cost them, and they are those whose spirit God has raised above the world and the flesh and whom he has made willing in the day of his power, Ps. 110:3. Thus will the heavenly Canaan be replenished, though many perish in Babylon; and the gospel-offer will not be made in vain.
- 2. Cyrus having given order that their neighbours should help them, they did so, v. 6. All those that were about them furnished them with plate and goods to bear the charges of their journey, and to help them in building and furnishing both their own houses and God's temple. As the tabernacle was made of the spoils of Egypt, and the first temple built by the labours of the strangers, so the second by the contributions of the Chaldeans, all intimating the admission of the Gentiles into the church in due time. God can, where he pleases, incline the hearts of strangers to be kind to his people, and make those to strengthen their hands that have weakened them. The earth helped the woman. Besides what was willingly offered by the Jews themselves who staid behind, from a principle of love to God and his house, much was offered, as one may say, unwillingly by the Babylonians, who were influenced to do it by a divine power on their minds of which they themselves could give no account.
II. How this proclamation was seconded by Cyrus himself. To give proof of the sincerity of his affection to the house of God, he not only released the people of God, but restored the vessels of the temple, v. 7, 8. Observe here,
- 1. How careful Providence was of the vessels of the temple, that they were not lost, melted down, or so mixed with other vessels that they could not be known, but that they were all now forthcoming. Such care God has of the living vessels of mercy, vessels of honour, of whom it is said (2 Tim. 2:19, 20), The Lord knows those that are his, and they shall none of them perish.
- 2. Though they had been put into an idol's temple, and probably used in the service of idols, yet they were given back, to be used for God. God will recover his own; and the spoil of the strong man armed shall be converted to the use of the conqueror.
- 3. Judah had a prince, even in captivity. Sheshbazzar, supposed to be the same with Zerubbabel, is here called prince of Judah; the Chaldeans called him Sheshbazzar, which signifies joy in tribulation; but among his own people he went by the name of Zerubbabel-a stranger in Babylon; so he looked upon himself, and considered Jerusalem his home, though, as Josephus says, he was captain of the life-guard to the king of Babylon. He took care of the affairs of the Jews, and had some authority over them, probably from the death of Jehoiachin, or Jeconiah, who made him his heir, he being of the house of David.
- 4. To him the sacred vessels were numbered out (v. 8), and he took care for their safe conveyance to Jerusalem, v. 11. It would encourage them to build the temple that they had so much rich furniture ready to put into it when it was built. Though God's ordinances, like the vessels of the sanctuary, may be corrupted and profaned by the New-Testament Babylon, they shall, in due time, be restored to their primitive use and intention; for not one jot or tittle of divine institution shall fall to the ground.

Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Ezra » Chapter 1 » Verse 9

Ezra 1:9 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

Cross Reference

Numbers 7:19-89 STRONG

2 Chronicles 4:21-22 STRONG

Matthew 10:29-31 STRONG

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ezra 1

Commentary on Ezra 1 Matthew Henry Commentary

An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of

The Book of Ezra

Chapter 1