Ezra 7:1-28 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:1-5

Now after these things ,.... The finishing of the temple, and the dedication of it, and keeping the passover: in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia ; in the seventh year of his reign, Ezra 7:7 , who is the same with Darius in the preceding chapter; so Jarchi and Aben Ezra; See Gill on Ezra 6:14 . Ezra the son of Seraiah ; the high priest slain by Nebuchadnezzar Jeremiah 52:24 , this Ezra was a younger son of his, brother to Josedech, and uncle to Joshua, who were high... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:6

This Ezra went up from Babylon ,.... A second time; for that he went up with Zerubbabel is clear from Nehemiah 12:1 , and is plainly intimated, Ezra 5:4 , and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given ; the meaning is, not that he had a quick hand in writing out copies of it, but was well versed in the knowledge of it; had studied it thoroughly, well instructed in it, and was abundantly qualified to teach it others; he was an eminent doctor of... read more

John Gill

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

And there went up some of the children of Israel ,.... Perhaps some of the ten tribes, as well as others of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin; who, notwithstanding the edict of Cyrus, chose to remain in Babylon, and in the countries of it, until they saw how things would go in Judea; and hearing that the temple was finished, and that those that had returned had built them houses in their several cities, and prospered, thought fit to return also: and of the priests, and the Levites, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:8

And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month ,.... With the above company; this was the month Abib, answering to part of July and part of August: which was in the seventh year of the king; as in the preceding verse. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:9

For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon ,.... The month Nisan, answering to part of March and part of April; this was New Year's day: and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem ; the first of the month Ab, as in the preceding verse; so that he was just four months on his journey: according to the good hand of his God upon him ; his power and providence, which gave him and his company health and strength, supplied them with everything... 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

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

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 7:27-28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:1-5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:6

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:9

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

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

Group of Brands