21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava , that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones , and all our possessions . 22 For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way , because we had said to the king , " The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him." 23 So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty .
24 Then I set apart twelve e of the leading priests , Sherebiah , Hashabiah , and with them ten of their brothers ; 25 and I weighed out to them the silver , the gold and the utensils , the offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and his princes and all Israel present there had offered . 26 Thus I weighed into their hands 650 e e talents of silver , and silver utensils worth 100 talents , and 100 gold talents , 27 and 20 gold bowls worth 1,000 darics , and two utensils of fine shiny bronze , precious as gold . 28 Then I said to them, " You are holy to the Lord , and the utensils are holy ; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord God of your fathers . 29 "Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leading priests , the Levites and the heads of the fathers' households of Israel at Jerusalem , in the chambers of the house of the Lord ." 30 So the priests and the Levites accepted the weighed out silver and gold and the utensils , to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God .
31 Then we journeyed from the river Ahava on the twelfth e of the first month to go to Jerusalem ; and the hand of our God was over us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the ambushes by the way . 32 Thus we came to Jerusalem and remained there three days . 33 On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the utensils were weighed out in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest , and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas ; and with them were the Levites , Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui . 34 Everything was numbered and weighed , and all the weight was recorded at that time . 35 The exiles e who had come from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel : 12 e bulls for all Israel , 96 rams , 77 e lambs , 12 e male goats for a sin offering , all as a burnt offering to the Lord . 36 Then they delivered the king's edicts to the king's satraps and to the governors in the provinces beyond the River , and they supported the people and the house of God .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezra 8:21-36
Commentary on Ezra 8:21-23
(Read Ezra 8:21-23)
Ezra procured Levites to go with him; but what will that avail, unless he have God with him? Those who seek God, are safe under the shadow of his wings, even in their greatest dangers; but those who forsake him, are always exposed. When entering upon any new state of life, our care should be, to bring none of the guilt of the sins of our former condition into it. When we are in any peril, let us be at peace with God, and then nothing can do us any real hurt. All our concerns about ourselves, our families, and our estates, it is our wisdom and duty, by prayer to commit to God, and to leave the care of them with him. And, on some occasions, we should decline advantages which are within our reach, lest we should cause others to stumble, and so our God be dishonoured. Let us ask wisdom of God, that we may know how to use or to refuse lawful things. We shall be no losers by venturing, suffering, or giving up for the Lord's sake. Their prayers were answered, and the event declared it. Never have any that sought God in earnest, found that they sought him in vain. In times of difficulty and danger, to set a season apart for secret or for social prayer, is the best method for relief we can take.
Commentary on Ezra 8:24-30
(Read Ezra 8:24-30)
Do we expect that God should, by his providence, keep that which belongs to us, let us, by his grace, keep that which belongs to him. Let God's honour and interest be our care; and then we may expect that our lives and comforts will be his.
Commentary on Ezra 8:31-36
(Read Ezra 8:31-36)
Enemies laid wait for the Jews, but God protected them. Even the common perils of journeys, call us to go out with prayer, and to return with praise and thanksgiving. But what shall we render when the Lord has led us safely through the pilgrimage of life, through the gloomy vale of death, out of the reach of all our enemies, into everlasting happiness! Among their sacrifices they had a sin-offering. The atonement sweetens and secures every mercy to us, which will not be truly comfortable, unless sin be taken away, and our peace made with God. Then had the church rest. The expressions here used, direct us to the deliverance of sinners from spiritual bondage, and their pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem, under the care and protection of their God and Saviour.