Ezra 8:22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 8:21-23

Ezra has procured Levites to go along with him; but what will that avail, unless he have God with him? That is therefore his chief care. In all our ways we must acknowledge God, and in those particularly wherein we are endeavouring to serve the interest of his kingdom among men. Ezra does so here. Observe, I. The stedfast confidence he had in God and in his gracious protection. He told the king (Ezra 8:22) what principles he went upon, that those who seek God are safe under the shadow of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 8:22

For I was ashamed to require of the kings band of soldiers and horsemen ,.... Which he might have had, only asking for them; so great was the interest he had in the king's favour: to help us against the enemy in the way ; the Arabs, Samaritans, and others, that might lie in wait for them, to rob them of their substance: because we had spoken unto the king : of the special favour of God to them, his singular providence in the protection of them: saying, the hand of our God is upon... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 8:22

I was ashamed to require - a band - He had represented God, the object of his worship, as supremely powerful, and as having the strongest affection for his true followers: he could not, therefore, consistently with his declarations, ask a band of soldiers from the king to protect them on the way, when they were going expressly to rebuild the temple of Jehovah, and restore his worship. He therefore found it necessary to seek the Lord by fasting and prayer, that they might have... 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 8:21-23

The fast at the Ahava. The halt on the banks of the Ahava lasted three days. Ezra lost no time. He viewed his company, and finding no Levites, organised a mission to induce some of them to join him. To the credit of the sons of Levi, strong as was their attachment to the silver of Casiphia, they promptly forsook it in favour of Zion. On the third day the caravan was made up; but before the journey was undertaken Ezra proclaimed a fast. Consider— I. THE OBJECT . It was to obtain the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:21-23

The spiritual and secular aids of life. I. THE SPIRITUAL NEEDING THE AID OF THE SECULAR . "To require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way" ( Ezra 8:22 ). Ezra was about to conduct his comrades on a perilous journey to Jerusalem; hence he felt the need of a military guard as well as of the good hand of God upon him. The spiritual, as a rule, requires the aid of the secular. 1. Divine truth needs secular aid. As the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:21-30

Before starting. Ezra's body of travellers now duly assembled and organised, what else was required? On the one hand, they were in a condition of much danger. Without being very numerous, they were numerous enough to be worth attacking while prosecuting their journey. On the other hand, they were in a position of much responsibility, being intrusted with the care of many treasures for God's house. These were the two things Ezra had to see to before they actually moved. The plans he adopted... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:22

I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers . Before he apprehended danger Ezra had boasted to Artaxerxes of the power and goodness of God, and had spoken of himself and his brethren as assured of the Divine protection. Now that peril threatened he found himself afraid, and would have been glad of such an escort as Nehemiah obtained at a later date ( Nehemiah 2:9 ). But after his boasts he was ashamed to confess his fear. Who the enemy in the way was it is impossible to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezra 8:22

What “enemy” menaced Ezra, and on what account, is wholly uncertain (compare Ezra 8:31). Perhaps robber-tribes, Arab or Syrian, were his opponents. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezra 8:22

Ezra 8:22. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers, &c. He might have obtained from the king any thing that he desired; but he had so openly declared that he depended solely upon God for safe conduct, that he was ashamed to ask a guard of the king to secure them on their journey from their enemies. For the king, not being much instructed in divine matters, might possibly have thought that what they had said of God’s favour toward them, and the prophecies concerning... read more

Group of Brands