EZRA

Ezra 1

1The proclamation of Cyrus for building the temple. 5The people provide for their return. 7Cyrus restoreth the vessels of the temple to Sheshbazzar.


1NOW in thea1first year of 2Cyrus king of Persia, that the wordb of the LORD by the mouth of 3Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD 4stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a 5proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

a 2 Chron. 36:22.

1 Hebr. in the one year; that is, in the first, namely, of his reign at Babel, or of the monarchy, for, he had reigned before this in Persia more than twenty years.

2 Hebr. Koresch. See also of this person Isa. 44:28; 45:1, 13.

b Jer. 25:12; 29:10.

3 See Jer. 25:12; 29:10; where God expressly promises to deliver His people out of the captivity of Babel, when the same would have lasted seventy years, which were now just expired, according to the opinion of some in the year of the creation of the world about 3434, for, the captivity, according to their opinion, had begun in the year 3364.

4 Or, raised up, awakened.

5 Hebr. caused a voice to pass; as Exod. 36:6, see there the first annotation, and 2 Chron. 36:22; Neh. 8:16, etc.

2Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath 6charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in 7Judah.

6 Or. hath laid it upon me; namely, by the word of His prophets (which was made known to me) and by the stirring up of my spirit. See verse 1; Isa. 44:28; 45:1, 13. Other, hath commanded concerning me.

7 That is, in the land of Judah.

38Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in 9Jerusalem.

8 That is, is there anyone dwelling among you, who is of the people of God, being a Jew or an Israelite? Compare Deut. 20 on verse 5.

9 That is, Who hath chosen this place to be present there in a special manner, to make known His Name, and to be served according to His precept. Compare Ezra 6:12; 7:15. Others thus: (he is the God) which (namely, house) is at Jerusalem; also verses 4, 5.

4And whosoever 10remaineth 11in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place 12help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.

10 Through lack of means, or otherwise.

11 Hebr. from, off.

12 Hebr. lift him up, raise him up.

5¶Then rose up the chief of the fathers of 13Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.

13 Under these are comprehended also those who likewise went up out of the other tribes, 1 Chron. 9:2, 3, etc.

6And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with 14precious things, beside 15all that was willingly offered.

14 See Gen. 24 on verse 53.

15 Compare verse 4.

7¶Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzarc had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;

c 2 Kings 24:13; 2 Chron. 36:7.

8Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numberedd them unto 16Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.

d Ezra 5:14.

16 He is held to be Zerubbabel, who was so named in Chaldea. See Ezra 3:2; 5:2, 14, 16.

9And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,

10Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a 17second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a 18thousand.

17 Or, thereon, namely, following. Or, of the second sort, or, double, that is, overlaid.

18 That is, (as some expound it) they were counted, and delivered by the thousand, or, by thousands, as being smaller, and of less value. Compare Psalm 50 on verse 10. Some understand it of other great vessels that were a thousand, and being added to other small vessels which are not named, did make up the following number.

11All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up 19with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.

19 Hebr. with the being carried up of the captivity, that is, of them who were carried away captive out of the land of the Jews.