The Book of Ezra
Study #14
(Ezra 8:1-36)
The Return of Ezra
Introduction:
• Between the events of chapter 6 and the return of Ezra in chapter 7 is a period of fifty-seven years.
• The entire book of Esther fits between these chapters.
• We now find ourselves at a point of transition.
• Although the people had re-established the Temple worship under Zerubbabel and Jeshua, they were not living in complete obedience to the Law.
• Unfortunately, they had lapsed into sin; and it was Ezra’s task to bring them back to the Lord.
• It was to the task of teaching and preaching the Law that Ezra had resigned himself (vs. 10). (Wiersbe and KJV Bible commentary)
• Two studies ago we looked at the way the Ezra had prepared himself for leadership and the Lord’s blessings.
• Last time, we saw that Ezra asks for permission to leave and head for Jerusalem to minister to the Lord’s people.
• He would minister to:
Those Defiant of the Word (25A)
[25] And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God;
Those Deficient in the Word (25B)
(25B) and teach ye them that know them not.
• Surprisingly, Artaxerxes grants his request.
• And not only that, but provision is made for the journey to be financed by freewill offerings, official government contributions, and tax revenues from the Trans-Euphrates province.
• I marvel that this pagan king is paying for the journey of Ezra, that he might teach the people the word of God!
• Let’s look back at his words concerning the offering:
Ezra 7:17-18 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. [18] And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
• Now, Ezra begins to assemble the people and to make physical and spiritual preparations.
• Please note that, beginning in the last verse of chapter 7 (7:28) through chapter 8, Ezra is referred to in the first person.
NOTE: Once again the careful student of the Bible will observe the repeated mention of “the hand of the Lord.” (See study #13, Conclusion)
I. EZRA’S RETURN ARRANGED (1-30)
A. The Men (1-14)
NOTE: A comparison of verses 3-14 with 2:3-15 shows that Ezra's companions were mainly the relatives of those Jews who had returned 80 years earlier under Sheshbazzar. The one exception was Joab's family (v. 9). (Constable)
NOTE: The total number of males in this section is 1,496 plus the men named, so with the addition of the women and children the number easily approaches 7 - 8,000. (MacArthur, J. J. )
Ezra 8:1-36 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] Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.
• Apparently, the above three men go up to Jerusalem alone, none of their family accompanies them!
♬ “Though none go with me, still I will follow.” (I have decided to follow Jesus)
[3] 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.
• Only males are reckoned here, yet look at 8:21 to see that, clearly, women went also.
• Those associated with each name are sons, grandsons, nephews, etc.
• This Shechaniah is distinguished (“sons of Pharosh”)from the one coming in verse 5.
[4] Of the sons of Pahath-moab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males. [5] Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.
• Of the approximate 1,500 males that went, 300 are relatives Shechaniah!
• How God can bless through family lines.
• God said of Abraham:
Gen 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
[6] Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males. [7] And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males. [8] And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males. [9] Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males. [10] And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males. [11] And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males. [12] And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males. [13] And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males. [14] Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.
• The name Bigvai is not Hebrew.
• It is Babylonian.
• He and his sons are tokens of the grace of God.
• Saved Babylonians who had long ago left the Babylonian religion, and now leave the Babylonian region!!! Amen!
[15a] And I gathered them together to the river than runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days:
• the number of all that went up under their respective heads amounts to 1496. (+ the named men)
• They have their rendezvous near the Ahava river.
• The location of this river is not known today, except that it was near to Babylon.
NOTE: ". . . Babylonia was crisscrossed by a network of irrigation canals that tapped the water of the Euphrates and flowed toward the Tigris, which had a slightly deeper bed." (Constable)
B. The Ministers (15-20) (Levites)
1. The Discovery (15b)
[15b] and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
• The men are mustered for the journey.
• Here Ezra counts them, records their names, associates them by families and the number coming with them.
• But there is one serious omission.
• There are no Levites (other than the two priests of course, but no lower ranking Levites)
• This is not surprising, for under God’s system, they were completely dependent upon the gifts of others.
• All of their expenses were to be met by the offerings of God’s people.
• But during a time of spiritual decline, not much would be expected to come in.
• They no doubt feared that they would starve!
• Zerubbabel had faced a similar problem. Over four thousand priests returned with him to Jerusalem, but only 74 Levites were among the returnees (2:36–42). (Nelson Study Bible)
APPLY: Even among the redeemed, we find few with a servant spirit!
Don’t wait to ask to serve. Volunteer!
Ezra and his party lost time trying to find Levites.
2. The Delegation (16-17)
[16] 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] 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.
a. Who is Sent
Dr. Gill tells us:
• These were all in the camp, in some part of it, to whom Ezra sent messengers to come unto him;
• three of them are of the same name;
• the first nine were men of chief note, rank, and dignity in their family,
• and the other two were noted for men of good sense, and that could speak to a case well, and so fit to be sent on such an affair as they were.
b. Where They Are Sent
• Iddo is the head of a school for training Levites. (or Levitical Community)
• This is a Bible College in Casiphia.(in Metropolitan Babylon)
• Among the learners, those nearest to “graduating” are asked to go on a permanent missions trip.
ILLUS: Keith
3. The Dedication (18-20)
[18] 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 [NOTE: better, “even”] Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen; [19] And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
• As Abram sent his servant to obtain a bride for Isaac ... so sends Ezra these men.
• God blesses the effort!
• Again we see the “hand of our God” (see previous study)
• The permission, the offering, the journey would all be fruitless without these Levites!
APPLY! God knows what we need! We need to pray, we need to act.
• In answer to their prayer and as a reward for their efforts, 38 Levites make the journey!
[20] 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.
• We have discussed the Nethinims extensively.
• They are the descendents of the Gibeonites.
• As penalty for their deception during the days of Joshua, they are made hewers of wood and bearers of water.
• Their proximity to the temple has paid dividends.
• 220 of these make the journey back to Jerusalem.
C. The Mourning (21-23)
1. The Repentance (21a)
[21] Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict [Heb., to look down upon, to browbeat, to humble] ourselves before our God,
• A time of old fashioned repentance is held.
• There is fasting and prayer.
• Fasting facilitates prayer; it does not manipulate God. (Constable)
• Ezra knew that this was not the time to assume God’s blessings.
• This was the time to seek them and to seek them God’s way.
ILLUS: In a Revival Meeting in New Zealand, God gave these words to J. Edwin Orr, in 1936. Orr wrote these words down, taking less than five minutes to put them down on paper. (Cyberhymnal.org)
♬ Search me, O God, And know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior, Know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be Some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin, And set me free.
2. The Reason (21b-22)
[21b] to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. [22] 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.
• They will need God’s help in choosing the right path to Jerusalem.
• Not being armed (or lightly if at all) the people needed protection.
• The group included children who would be very vulnerable, even a liability in a fight.
• Ezra had confidently proclaimed to Artaxerxes that he did not need and escort, for the Lord would take care of them.
• They were carrying a very substantial sum of wealth.
• Bandits were notorious along these routes (then and today). (This is IRAQ!)
• So they get very serious with God!
• It is one thing to brag on God’s power.
• Ezra, wanting the King to grant his request, had portrayed Jehovah as a powerful God whose wrath must be appeased (even by kings).
• Artaxerxes believed this.
• Now, for Ezra, It is another thing to realize that God’s power may be hindered (in our behalf) by our actions and attitudes.
3. The Response (23)
[23] So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
• God heard their prayer!
• Fasting is never extolled as a discipline within itself.
• Fasting is always associated with prayer.
• Fasting allows us to be free from distractions during prayer.
• God honors serious prayer from pure hearts!
Psa 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
D. The Money (24-30, 33-34)
NOTE: The total weight of the precious cargo the exiles took with them seems to have been about 28 tons. There are records that indicate that there were some very wealthy Jews living in Babylon at this time. (Constable) This would be many, many millions of dollars in our currency. (BKC)
A. The Counting (24-27)
• They are carrying a vast offering for the work back with them.
• Finances are a touchy matter that always deserve special attention.
• Ezra does not want the task at hand to be criticized as to its handling of the offering.
• He is very careful to keep himself aloof from suspicion.
• We have a parallel to this in the NT.
• Paul writes to the Corinthian Church:
1Co 16:1-4 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. (2) Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. (3) And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. (4) And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.
[24] Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
• 12 Priests
• 2 Levites (Sherebiah, Hashabiah)
• 10 of their brethren.
• = 24 total that are placed over this task.
[25] 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 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] Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
1. Men of Character are Chosen.
“twelve of the chief of the priests”
2. Proper Accounting Methods are Used.
• They weigh
• They record
3. The Accounting is Done Publicly
“twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them.”
• It is a dangerous thing for one person to handle funds alone!
• It is a dangerous thing for two people of the same family to handle funds together.
QUOTE: "Following Ezra's example, Christian leaders should delegate responsibility. Ezra carefully chose the people to whom he gave responsibility. It may seem exaggerated to have taken such precautions with the money, to weigh it out carefully, to record every detail. However, to do things carefully, with decisions and transactions documented in writing, is a sign of wisdom rather than a lack of confidence. It protects everyone involved. Many present-day scandals could be avoided if Christian leaders would learn from Ezra." (Constable)
B. The Commission (28-30)
[28] 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] 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] 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.
• They are reminded of their sacred responsibility.
• They are reminded that they must perform their duties well (“watch ye, keep them”).
• They are reminded of a coming accountability in Jerusalem.
“You had better count again what I have given you to see if it matches the records, because that is what you will be responsible for.”
II. EZRA’S RETURN ACCOMPLISHED (31-36)
A. The Return (31-32)
[31] 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.
• 12th Day of the First Month – The month Nisan, answering to part of March and part of April; this was two days before the Passover began:
• They had started to leave on the 1st day of the month (see 7:8,9)
• The delay was caused by the recruiting of the Levites!
• Hand of our God – God answers their prayer.
• The longer I live the more I realize that this is where it is at!
[32] And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
• After such a journey as this, it is appropriate that there be a period of rest before business begins.
• They had traveled hard (900 miles on foot, 4 months of camping)
• There is worship to be done, but Rest is important.
• There are important letters to deliver, but rest is important.
• God gives no rebuke for the delay of three days.
B. The Reckoning (33-34)
[33] 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] By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.
• As promised, there is a time of reckoning.
• We too have been entrusted with talents.
• There will be a reckoning day!
• We want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.”
• I am sure that Ezra commended these men for their work.
ILLUS: We have a whole list of officers. For some it is nothing more than a name on a paper. For others, there is nominal effort. For some, the work is done as unto God! You will be figured out for what you are after a while. But more importantly, God knows. And HIS reckoning day is coming.
Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Rom 14:10 . . . for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
C. The Renewal (35)
[35] 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.
• children of those ... carried away – Those who came with Ezra.
• burnt offerings – an offering of thanksgiving for the safe journey.
• sin offering – the first offering that these had been able in their WHOLE LIFETIME to offer according to God’s instructions in God’s appointed place!
• What joy this must have brought.
• It always does when we get back to doing things God’s way!
ILLUS: Revival at Greer Baptist Camp Meeting. People made amends with one another and God poured into that place.
D. The Report (36)
[36] And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered [NOTE: Lit., “lifted up”] the people, and the house of God.
• They recount to the Trans Euphrates governors the commands sent by Artaxerxes.
• We saw the content of that letter in Ezra 7:21-26.
Ezr 7:21-26 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, (22) Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. (23) Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? (24) Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them. (25) And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. (26) And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
CONCLUSION:
• God did not have to put this journey into the heart of Ezra.
• He had given them repeated warnings IN the land.
• Then he cast them FROM the land.
• Then, under Zerubbabel he had brought some back TO the land.
• Those worshiped for a while, then turned cold.
• God could have left them as they were.
• Those in Babylon had had their chance earlier to come and didn’t.
• God owned them NOTHING!
• Yet he puts it into the heart of Ezra (and even Artexerxes) to send ministers back to His people.
• What a marvelous picture of the grace of our God!
Jon 2:2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
Psa 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
QUOTE: As is quite clear from these verses, Ezra sensed his great need for God's help in the dangerous trip that lay before them. This moved him to seek God's favor in prayer. Verse 21 was the text of John Robinson's last sermon at Leiden before the Pilgrims sailed for the New World in 1620. (Constable)
APPLY: Whatever your journey, long or short, easy or difficult, you need God’s blessings.
A final note: I miss aspects of society in previous years. I miss the time when no one argued about what marriage was. I miss the time when lines were more clearly drawn. Sometimes, I wish I could just go back to the church of my childhood and hear my Old Pastor, Dr. Sightler, preach. I would love to hear some Tabernacle singing again. Oh what it must have been like for these Jews to be back in Jerusalem, at God’s temple, offering sacrifices to God. How clean and pure they must have felt as they went to their tents that evening. Oh, God give us a spirit of REVIVAL!!!
