Ezra 8:31 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 8:31-36

We are now to attend Ezra to Jerusalem, a journey of about four months in all; but his multitude made his marches slow and his stages short. Now here we are told, I. That his God was good, and he acknowledged his goodness: The hand of our God was upon us, to animate us for our undertaking. To him they owed it, 1. That they were preserved in their journey, and not all cut off; for there were enemies that laid wait for them by the way to do them a mischief, or at least, like Amalek, to smite the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 8:31

Then we departed from the river of Ahava, on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem ,.... The month Nisan, answering to part of March and part of April; this was two days before the passover began: and the hand of our God was upon us ; guiding, directing, and protecting them by his providence: and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way ; either by intimidating them, that they dared not attack them, or by directing them to... 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 8:24-36

Zionwards. Ezra and the company he had gathered were now fairly on their way homewards, and we may look at them, looking also at ourselves, as— I. TRAVELLERS TO JERUSALEM . "Then we departed to go unto Jerusalem" (verse 31). They had come forth from a land of captivity and comparative privation, and were on their way to the land where they would no longer be bondsmen, and where every possible privilege would be theirs to enjoy: they were "going home;" to the land consecrated to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:31

The river of Ahava. Rather, "the river Ahava," as in the Vulgate ("a fiumine Ahava"). The place had probably taken its name from the stream. The twelfth day of the first month. Compare Ezra 7:9 , and Ezra 8:15 , from which it appears that Ahava was reached by Ezra and his company on the ninth day after they left Babylon, which helps to identify Ahava with Is, since Is (according to Herodotus) was eight days' journey from Babylon (see comment on verse 15). God delivered us from …... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:31-36

After arriving. "We departed." "We came." Thus it is that Ezra here relates the rest of his journey, the only thing worthy of note between Ahava and Jerusalem being this, that, through "the good band of God" upon the travellers, they were kept in safety the whole way. This being acknowledged with a suitable note of thanksgiving, as something remarkable in such a journey (see end of verse 31), the story goes onto tell us of the first doings of the pilgrims after reaching the place which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:31-36

Progress. When the treasure was disposed in custody of priests sanctified to watch over it, and the caravan was otherwise ordered, the pilgrims started from the camp of the Ahava en route for Jerusalem. As we might expect from the piety which influenced them in their preparations— I. THEY WERE PROSPERED IN THEIR JOURNEY . 1. They enjoyed the blessing of their God. "The hand of our God was upon us." 2. The Divine protection was respected by the enemy. II. ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezra 8:31

The Jews with Ezra left Babylon on the first day of the first month Ezra 7:9. They reached Ahava in nine days, and, having remained there three Ezra 8:15, quitted it, and resumed their journey on the twelfth. They reached Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month Ezra 7:9, four months after the departure from Babylon. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezra 8:31-32

Ezra 8:31-32. The hand of our God was upon us To protect and strengthen us in so dangerous and long a journey. And he delivered us from the hand of the enemy There were not only many enemies who hated them, and were desirous to cut them off; but many robbers, who watched for a booty, whom God either diverted some other way, or disheartened from attempting any thing against them. And of such as lay in wait by the way To wit, in the direct way. From this it may be conjectured, that God... 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 8:31-36

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 8:31

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:15-31

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:24-36

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:31

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:31-36

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 8:31-36

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezra 8:31

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezra 8:31-32

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezra 8:1-36

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