Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 7:1-10

Here is, I. Ezra's pedigree. He was one of the sons of Aaron, a priest. Him God chose to be an instrument of good to Israel, that he might put honour upon the priesthood, the glory of which had been much eclipsed by the captivity. He is said to be the son of Seraiah, that Seraiah, as is supposed, whom the king of Babylon put to death when he sacked Jerusalem, 2 Kgs. 25:18, 21. If we take the shortest computation, it was seventy-five years since Seraiah died; many reckon it much longer, and,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 7:11-26

We have here the commission which the Persian emperor granted to Ezra, giving him authority to act for the good of the Jews; and it is very ample and full, and beyond what could have been expected. The commission runs, we suppose, in the usual form: Artaxerxes, King of kings. This however is too high a title for any mortal man to assume; he was indeed king of some kings, but to speak as if he were king of all kings was to usurp his prerogative who hath all power both in heaven and in earth. He... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:10

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord ,.... To attain to the knowledge of it, that he might be master of it, and expert in it, and know what was not to be done, and what to be done; he had set his heart upon this, bent his studies this way, and taken a great deal of pains in searching into it, in reading of it, and meditating on it: and to do it ; he was not only concerned to get the theory of it, but to put it in practice, to exercise himself in it, that it might... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:11

Now this is the copy of the letter that the King Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest ,.... This title relating to his office is justly given him, since he was the son of an high priest, and lineally descended from Aaron, as the above account of his pedigree shows: the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel ; the doubling of the word "scribe" shows that he was very wise and learned in the law, in the commandments and statutes of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 7:10

Ezra had prepared his heart - Here is a fine character of a minister of God: He prepares, הכין hechin , he fixes, purposes, and determines, לבבו lebabo , with his heart - with all his powers and affections, to seek the law of God, and to do it himself, that he may be properly qualified to teach its statutes and judgments to Israel. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:1-10

PART II . SECOND RETURN OF THE ISRAELITES FROM CAPTIVITY UNDER EZRA . 1. DECREE OF ARTAXERXES , AND RETURN UNDER EZRA , WITH THE NUMBERS OF THOSE WHO RETURNED , AND THE NAMES OF THE CHIEF MEN . 1. The genealogy of Ezra ( Ezra 7:1-5 ); 2. The fact of his journey, with its dates ( Ezra 7:6-10 ); 3. The decree of Artaxerxes with respect to Ezra ( Ezra 7:11-26 ); 4. The thanksgiving of Ezra ( Ezra 7:27... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:1-10

The reformer. "After these things"—nearly sixty years "after," as usually understood—certain other things came to pass. Things so far similar that they may be recorded in the same connection; things so far different as to open out to us quite a new part of this book. There is this similarity, for example—that we have the story here of another and supplementary pilgrimage of captive Israelites from Babylon to Jerusalem. On the other hand, there are these points of difference—that the new... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:1-10

The exodus under Ezra. "After these things," viz; the events which culminated in the dedication of the temple, and consequent ordering of the service of God. "In the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia," after an interval of nearly sixty years, during which the house of the Lord had so fallen into disrepair as to need "beautifying," and the civil state of the children of the restoration had become disordered, and needed readjustment. With these purposes, and with a view to leading back to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:1-10

Ezra: his character and work. The study of human character and of human life is not only an essential part of human knowledge, but of spiritual culture. Biography is a means of grace. We do well to follow in thought the lines along which the noblest of our race have moved: we are thereby attracted toward them, and grow up toward their spiritual stature. We may learn from the life and character of Ezra by considering— I. WHAT WE KNOW HE WAS AND DID . He was— 1. A... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:1-10

Ezra the type of as ideal minister. I. THAT HE IS GENERALLY A MAN OF GOOD MORAL ANCESTRY . "The son of Aaron the chief priest" (verse 5). Ezra was in the line of a renowned and religious ancestry; the past history of Israel would be full of meaning to him; sacred traditions would inspire him in the present national crisis, It is well for a minister to have in his ancestry men whose lives and activities have been intimately associated with the Church; their holy example... read more

Group of Brands