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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 1:11

All the vessels - were five thousand and four hundred - This place is without doubt corrupted; here it is said the sum of all the vessels, of every quality and kind, was five thousand four hundred; but the enumeration of the articles, as given in Ezra 1:9 , Ezra 1:10 , gives the sum of two thousand four hundred and ninety-nine only. But we can correct this account from 1 Esdras 2:13, 14. I shall set both accounts down, that they may be compared together. Ezra 1:9 ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:1-11

The wide reach of the rule of God. We are accustomed to pray that the kingdom of God may come; we desire, and therefore ask, that men may offer themselves in willing subjection to the service of their Divine Sovereign. For this we must labour and pray, and always shall do so the more earnestly as we ourselves are the more unreservedly subject to his benign and gracious rule. Meantime there is a sense in which God's rule is a present thing. The kingdom of God is among us; the arms of his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:1-11

The beginning of a great religious movement. Israel had experienced long bondage in a foreign land under a heathen king; this would have a beneficial influence. 1. It would tend to cultivate within them a right view of the sorrow consequent upon sin. Their captivity was a punishment for idolatry. Sin sends men into slavery. 2. It would tend to cultivate within them a right view of the external in religion. Solomon's temple was the pride of Israel. They prided themselves in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:5-6

God's action on the minds of his people. When Cyrus, moved of God, proclaimed liberty to the captives in Persia and invited the children of Israel to return to their own land, there was a very large proportion that preferred to stay, some from excusable and others from insufficient motives, but a large company of the people of God made an immediate and honourable response. These, to the number of 42,000 persons, forthwith made ready to leave their adopted country and to go up to Jerusalem,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:5-6

The return. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are the historical introduction to this third period of Jewish history. The first or formative period is that of the exodus and the conquest of Canaan. The second, that of the kings, is the period of national development, when all that was possible to them as a nation was accomplished. The third period was that of national dependence, and it lasted 600 years. From the return from captivity to the fall of Jerusalem, the history of the Jews is bound... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:5-6

The response. "Then rose up," etc. The edict of Cyrus had been issued (see Ezra 1:2 4). The voice of God was in the voice of the king (see Ezra 1:1 ). But who responded? I. THE CHIEFS OF THE FATHERS OF JUDAH AND BENJAMIN RESPONDED . 1. Happy the people whose magistrates lead them nobly. 2. Politics cannot be divorced from religion. 3. Evil rulers are scourges of God to wicked peoples. Representative governments—responsibility of the franchise.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:5-11

The muster. We have noted already that the great and primary feature in the restoration of Israel from captivity was the restoration of the house. With a view to this restoration, as we have seen, the whole edict of Cyrus was framed. In the passage now before us we shall see, in the next place, that the results of that edict were in accordance with this design. They secured, i.e; the two first requisites for carrying out this design, providing, as they did, on the one hand, the requisite... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:6

All they that were about them. i.e. all their neighbours. Strengthened their hands. This is the literal rendering. The margin gives the right meaning—"helped them." With precious things. Migdanoth , a rare word, only used here, in Genesis 24:53 , and in 2 Chronicles 21:3 ; always connected with silver and gold: derived from meged , which means " precious. " Besides all that was willingly offered . The gold, silver, precious things, etc. previously mentioned were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:7

The vessels . Probably all that he could find, yet scarcely all that had been taken away, since many of these were of bronze ( 2 Kings 25:14 ), and the restored vessels seem to have been, all of them, either of gold or silver (see Ezra 1:11 ). Which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth. The carrying off of sacred vessels, as well as images, from temples is often represented in the Assyrian sculptures. It was a practice even of the Romans, and is commemorated on the Pillar of Titus, where... read more

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