Ezra 8:20 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 8:1-20

Ezra, having received his commission from the king, beats up for volunteers, as it were, sets up an ensign to assemble the outcasts of Israel and the dispersed of Judah, Isa. 11:12. ?Whoever of the sons of Sion, that swell with the daughters of Babylon, is disposed to go to Jerusalem, now that the temple there is finished and the temple-service set a-going, now is their time.? Now one would think that under such a leader, with such encouragements, all the Jews should at length have shaken... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 8:20

Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites ,.... To wait upon them, and minister to them, as they did to the priests; some think those were the same with the Gibeonites, whom Joshua gave to the service of the sanctuary, and David confirmed; but others are of opinion these were different from them, and an addition to them: two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name ; in the history that Iddo sent of them to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:1-20

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:1-20

The rendezvous, or the second muster. We have been told twice before in this story that Ezra went up from Babylon to Jerusalem ( Ezra 7:6-8 , Ezra 7:9 ), and that he did not go by himself. But we only now enter upon the actual details of this second and supplementary expedition. Who were those that went up with him? And what was the nature of the first step which he and they took in common? We may answer these questions in the opposite order. The first step was to meet Ezra at the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:1-20

The Church preparing itself for duty. I. THAT IT IS PREPARED BY COMING OUT FROM A HUMILIATING CAPTIVITY . "This is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon" ( Ezra 8:1 ). Ezra and his comrades must quit the scene of their captivity before they can carry the sacred vessels to Jerusalem; the Church must arise and leave its moral Babylon before it can serve God in successful enterprise. II. THAT IT IS PREPARED BY PRAYERFUL SOLITUDE . "To... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:15-20

The halt at the Ahava. The journey of the children of Israel from Babylon to Jerusalem may be viewed, like that of their fathers from Egypt to Canaan, as a type of the pilgrimage of Christians from the abominations and miseries of the sinful world to the purity and happiness of heaven. In this view the halt at the "river that runneth to Ahava" may suggest— I. THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SEASONS FOR REELECTION . 1. The halt furnished Ezra with such a season. 2. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:15-31

DETAILS OF EZRA 'S JOURNEY FROM BABYLON TO JERUSALEM ( Ezra 8:15-31 ). We gather from scattered statements in this passage— 1. That Ezra, with his companions, after a journey of nine days' duration, reached Ahava from Babylon on the ninth day of the first month; 2. That he rested three days at Ahava, and proclaimed a fast; 3. That he was there joined by a small number of Levites and a considerable body of Nethinims from the immediate neighbourhood; 4. That,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:20

The Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed. We learn this fact from the present passage only; since neither in Kings nor Chronicles is there any mention made of David's adding to the hieroduli , or temple servants. It is, however, quite in accordance with his other arrangements that he should have done so. The original Nethinims were the Gibeonites ( Joshua 9:23 ). All … were expressed by name. Iddo sent to Ezra a list of the Nethinims, which, however, he does not... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezra 8:20

Ezra 8:20. Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed The Gibeonites, who were devoted to the service of the Levites by Joshua and the princes of his time, (Joshua 9:21,) and are said to have been appointed by David and his princes, because they were confirmed by them in their former office, and more particularly applied to the several services of the temple. Of them two hundred and twenty, upon this hasty summons, listed themselves, and had the honour to be expressed... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezra 8:1-36

Details of the journey (8:1-36)Leaders of the family groups who returned under Ezra are listed, along with the numbers of people in the various groups (8:1-14). Surprisingly, no Levites were among them, so Ezra sent specially for some. Levites were essential, as religious service was the main purpose of Ezra’s return (15-20).The journey to Jerusalem would take Ezra and his party about four months (see 7:9). During this time they would constantly be open to attacks from robbers. Yet even though... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 8:1-20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 8:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:1-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:1-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:1-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:15-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:15-31

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:20

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezra 8:20

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezra 8:1-36

Group of Brands