Ezra 8:21

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 8:21

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava ,.... After the messengers to Iddo were returned with those they brought with them: that we might afflict ourselves before our God ; humble themselves before him for their sins, confess them, and declare their repentance of them, and ask forgiveness for them: to seek of him a right way for us ; to take from thence towards Jerusalem, to be directed by him in it: either by a prophet, or by a vision in a dream, as Eben Ezra; or rather... 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

Then I proclaimed a fast there. The fight of the civil ruler to "proclaim a fast" was unquestioned among the Jews and Israelites. Jezebel proclaimed one in Ahab's name when she wished to impress the Jezreelites with the notion that a great crime had been committed. Jehoshaphat did the same when he was invaded by the Ammonites, Moabites, and Mehunim ( 2 Chronicles 20:1-3 ). A fast was proclaimed in the fifth year of Jehoiakim when the kingdom of Judah was menaced by Nebuchadnezzar ( ... 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezra 8:21

Ezra 8:21. Then I proclaimed a fast there Ezra had procured Levites to go along with him, but what would that avail unless he had God with him? this is therefore his chief care. No doubt he had himself begged of God direction in this affair, from the first time he had it in his thoughts: but for public mercies, public prayers must be made, that all who are to share in the comfort of them, may join in requests for them. Thus, in all our ways we must acknowledge God, and in those particularly... 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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ezra 8:21

EZRA PROCLAIMS A FAST FOR THREE DAYS"Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken unto the king saying, The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him for good; but his power and his wrath is against all them that... read more

Group of Brands