Ezra 1:5

PREPARATIONS TO RETURN FROM EXILE, Ezra 1:5-11.

5. Chief of the fathers The most aged and venerable men, who were heads of families, and some of whom had seen the former temple. Ezra 3:12.

Judah and Benjamin These tribes, last exiled, were the first to return. Doubtless with them some descendants of other tribes also returned, and when the temple was finished twelve he goats were offered at the dedication, according to the number of the twelve tribes. Ezra 6:17; compare also Ezra 8:35; and 1 Chronicles 9:3.

Priests… Levites Without these the temple service could not be properly administered, nor the sacrifices legally offered.

With all Bertheau makes all in apposition with fathers, priests, and Levites, thus: The chief of the fathers, and the priests and the Levites, in short, all whose spirit, etc. But we prefer to take the preposition with ( ל ) in the sense of together with, showing that others besides the chief fathers and the Levites rose up to return to Jerusalem. None, however, either among fathers or Levites, or others, went up except those whose spirit God had raised. The word rendered had raised is the same as that rendered stirred up, in Ezra 1:1, and here means roused up and thrilled with strong desire to go and rebuild the temple.