Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers ,.... This is Ezra's thanksgiving to God for the above decree: which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart ; which he rightly took to be of God, who wrought in him to will and to do: to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem ; to provide for the ornamenting of it, for vessels in it, as well as for sacrifices; for as for the building of it, that was finished. read more
1. the permission accorded to all Persian subjects of Israelite descent to accompany Ezra to Jerusalem (verse 13); 2. the commission to Ezra to convey to Jerusalem certain offerings made by the king and his chief courtiers to the God of Israel (verses 15, 19); 3. the permission given him to convey to Jerusalem the free-will offerings of Jews and others resident in Babylonia (verse 16); 4. permission to Ezra to draw on the royal treasury to the amount of a hundred talents of... read more
Having concluded the important document, which he has transcribed, and not translated, and which is consequently in the Chaldee dialect, Ezra now resumes the use of the more sacred Hebrew, and henceforth employs it uninterruptedly to the close of his narrative. The form of his thanksgiving a little resembles that of David in 1 Chronicles 29:10 . The Lord God of our fathers is an unusual phrase, only elsewhere employed by David ( 1 Chronicles 29:18 ) and Jehoshaphat ( 2 Chronicles 20:6... read more
EZRA 'S THANKSGIVING ON RECEIPT OF ARTAXERXES ' LETTER ( Ezra 7:27 , Ezra 7:28 ). With an abruptness that may appear strange, but which has many parallels in the works of Oriental writers, Ezra passes without a word of explanation from Artaxerxes' letter to his own thanksgiving upon the receipt of it. Compare the interjectional prayers of Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 4:4 ; Nehemiah 5:19 ; Nehemiah 6:9 , Nehemiah 6:14 , etc.). read more
The reformer's psalm. Very abruptly, even in our translation, does this short psalm of praise come in. Still more so in the original, where the writer here passes suddenly from Chaldee to Hebrew; that being, in his case, the natural language of such praise ( Psalms 137:3 ). This makes the psalm all the more valuable to us as an index of inward feeling. Carefully studied forms of expression may or may not be the language of the heart. Sudden and unpremeditated expressions, words that... read more
The extension of the mercy of the covenant. After recounting the wonderful success of his enterprise, Ezra breaks out into a rapture of gratitude to God. "Blessed be the Lord God," etc. Here— I. HE ACKNOWLEDGES GOD IN HIS COVENANT CAPACITY . 1. This is expressed in the terms " God of. " 2. Covenant relationship subsists in Christ. 3. The promise of the Christ was the establishment of the covenant with the " fathers. " II. HE ASCRIBES HIS ... read more
Aspects of the Divine and human. I. Aspects of GOD . "Blessed be the Lord God" ( Ezra 7:27 ). 1. He is blessed by devout men. 2. He is the God of our fathers. 3. He puts good things into the hearts of men. II. Aspects of MANHOOD ( Ezra 7:28 ). 1. Mercy extended. "And hath extended mercy unto me." 2. Influence augmented. "Before the king and his counsellors." 3. Encouragement imparted. "I was strengthened." 4. Enterprise undertaken. "And I... read more
An abrupt transition from the words of Artaxerxes to those of Ezra. Compare a similar abrupt change in Ezra 6:6. The language alters at the same time from Chaldee to Hebrew, continuing henceforth to be Hebrew until the close of the book. read more
Ezra 7:27. Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, &c. Ezra cannot proceed in his story without inserting this thankful acknowledgment to God’s goodness to him and the people. Which hath put such a thing as this into the king’s heart God can and frequently does put things into men’s hearts which would not rise there of themselves, and that both by his providence and by his grace. If any good appear to be in our own hearts, or in the hearts of others, we must acknowledge it was God... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 7:27-28
Ezra cannot proceed in his story without inserting his thankful acknowledgement of the goodness of God to him and his people in this matter. As soon as he has concluded the king's commission, instead of subjoining, God save the king (though that would have been proper enough), he adds, Blessed be the Lord; for we must in every thing give thanks, and, whatever occurrences please us, we must own God's hand in them, and praise his name. Two things Ezra blessed God for:?1. For his commission. We... read more