Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 1 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Verſe 1. Now after theſe things.
AFter that Zerubbabel had done his devoir in building the Altar and Temple, Ezra, (according to the notation of his name) began his, and became a ſingular helper of the afflicted Church of God, as appeareth in this Chapter, and thoſe that follow.
In the reigne of Artaxerxes] ſc. Longimanus, Eſters ſonne, and the ſame that thirteene years after ſent Nehemiah to Jeruſalem, Nehem. 2. whileſt Ezra was yet alive, Nehem. 8.1.
Ezra the ſonne of Seraiah] That is, the grand-ſonne: for Seraiah was ſlaine, when Jeruſalem was laſt taken, 2 Kings 25.18, 21.
Verſe 2. The ſonne of Shallum] See 1 Chron. 6.7, 8, 9, 10. Of thoſe two books of Chronicles this ſame Ezra is held to be the Pen-man: and it is not improbable.
Verſe 3. The ſonne of Meraioth] Here's a great heap: ſix of Ezra's anceſtours (likely for brevity ſake) being overskipped.
Verſe 4. The ſonne of Zeraiah, &c.] Theſe might be (as one ſaith of Jeſſe the father of David) Viri boni & honeſti; minùs tamen clari; good men, but obſcure.
Verſe 5. The ſonne of Aaron the chief Prieſt] Ezra then was ex genere pontificio (as thoſe, Acts 4.5.) non tamen pontifex. The title of chief Prieſt is never given unto him.
Verſe 6. This Ezra went up from Babylon] Together with many others, who were moved thereunto by his example, and authority. He was (as one ſaith of Tiberius) imperio magnus, exemplo major. Paterc.Great men are Looking-glaſſes, according to which moſt men dreſſe themſelves: let them look to it therefore, and ſhine as Lamps.
And he was a ready Scribe] Or a nimble Text-man: his office was to write out copies of the Law, and to interpret it. He wrote (ſay ſome) the Hebrew Bible out in Chaldee letters (the ſame that we now call Hebrew, the ancient Hebrew characters remained with the Samaritans) for the uſe of his Countrey-men returned out of Chaldea. He firſt ordained (ſay others) the Vowels, Accents and Maſoreth. A great Scholar he was, and excellently well ſeene in Scripture-learning: to which all other skill is but ſtraminea candela, a ruſh-candle, a ſmall light that ſerveth but to light men into utter darkneſſe. Be wiſe, be learned, ſaith the Pſalmiſt: but withall Serve the Lord with feare, Kiſſe the Sonne, &c. Pſal. 2. Balt. Exner.Otherwiſe ye may be as learned as Varro that general Scholar; as Albertus magnus, quem nihil penitùs fugit, omnia perfectè novit, who knew whatſoever was knowable,Bonoſius. as one ſaith of him: or as Toſtatus (otherwiſe called Abulenſis) qui omnium ſcientiarum doctrinarumque arca fuit & emporium, ſaith he that writeth his life; who was a living library: and yet ye may periſh everlaſtingly. The Jewes called their learned men Scribes, as the Perſians did theirs Magi; the French, Druides; the Indians, Brachmanni, &c. But he that is not a Scribe inſtructed, and inſtructing others to the Kingdome of heaven, Matth. 13.52. ſhall hear, Where is the wiſe? Where is the Scribe? Where is the diſputer of this world? Sapientes ſapientèr in infernum deſcendent.1 Cor. 1.20, Aug.
Which the Lord God of Iſrael had given] The Moral Law, with his owne immediate mouth (ſo that he might ſay with Joſeph, Gen. 45.12. Behold, your eyes ſee that it is my mouth that ſpeaketh unto you) the other Lawes he ordained by Angels in the hand of a Mediatour, i. e. of Moſes, Gal. 3.19. Hence Joſephus calleth the Jewiſh politie a Theocratie: and Proſper thinketh, that they were called Judaei, becauſe they received jus Dei, the Law from God. But we can give a better derivation from the Hebrew, viz. Jewes, i. e. Confeſſours, ſuch as were thoſe above, chap. 5.11.
And the King granted him all his requeſt] Giving him more and greater things then he durſt deſire. So great facility and flexibleneſſe found He in this King, that he needed onelyonly to aske, and give thanks: as it is ſaid of Tiberius, that he never denied his favourite Sejanus any thing; but oft-times prevented his requeſt, and avowed that he deſerved much more.
According to the hand of the Lord his God upon him] i. e. his ſweet and ſingular providence, ever watching over, and working for thoſe that are good, 2 Chron. 19. ult. Such may well ſit and ſing as one did once
Ʋna eſt in trepida mihi re medicina, Jehovae
Cor patrium, Os verax, omnipotenſque Manus.
Verſe 7. And there went up ſome of the children of Iſrael] And but ſome; for many choſe rather to continue in the Land of their captivity, though God by his Prophets, and the King by his Proclamation had cried out, Ho, Ho, come forth, &c.
Deliver thy ſelfe O Zion, that dwelleſt with the daughter of Babylon, Zech. 2.6, 7. See the Note there.
And the Nethinims] See the Note on chap. 2.43.
Verſe 8. And he came to Jeruſalem in the fifth monethmonth] So that they were four moneths in coming: and that which upheld them was, that they ſhould ſhortly ſee the face of God in Zion, Pſal. 84.7. Popiſh Pilgrims, though they have many a weary ſtep, and meet with much hardſhip, beſides loſſe of their eſtates, yet ſatisfie themſelves in this, We have that we came for, viz. the ſight of ſome dumb Idoll. What then ſhould not we do or ſuffer to ſee God in his Ordinances, in holy Aſſemblies?
Verſe 9. According to the good hand of his God upon him] See the Note on verſe 6. In all thy wayes acknowledge God, and he ſhall direct thy paths, Prov. 3.6. Commit thy way unto the Lord, truſt alſo upon Him, and he ſhall bring it to paſſe, Pſ. 37.5. Holy Ezra had experimented all this (as alſo had Eliezer, Gen. 24.) and therefore aſcribeth his good ſucceſſe to Gods good providence.
Verſe 10. For Ezra had prepared his heart] Which, without due preparation, would not have beene drawne to any good. See 1 Sam. 7.3. Job 11.13. Amos 4.12. An inſtrument muſt be tuned, ere it can be plaid upon: ſowre wines need good ſweetening.
To ſeek the Law of the Lord] To dive into the very boſome and bottome of it. Qui nucleum vult, nucem frangat. The Rabbines have a ſaying, that there is a mountaine of ſenſe hanging upon every tittle of Gods Law.
And to do it] His knowledge and practiſe ran parallel, and mutually transfuſed warmth into one another. He was not of thoſe Oratours blamed by Diogenes, for that they ſtudied benè dicere, non benè facere, to ſpeak commendably, but not to live accordingly. He knew well that his forefathers (the High Prieſts) had Pomegranates for ſavour, as well as bells for ſound.
And to teach in Iſrael] He knew the truth of that Hebrew Proverb, Lilmod Lelammed. Men muſt therefore learne, that they may teach others; and not bury their talents, leſt the canker of their great skill prove a ſwift witneſſe one day againſt them.
Verſe 11. Even a Scribe of the words of the Commandments] This ſheweth Ezra was not an ordinary Scribe (called a Scribe of the people) nor a publike Notary, or Kings Secretary, ſuch as were called for, Eſth. 3. but Scriba ſacer, legis peritus, & interpres, a Teacher of the words of the Commandments of the Lord and his Statutes to Iſrael. This is an high and honourable employment.
Ver. 12. Artaxerxes King of Kings] This is a very high ſtile for any mortal wight: yet ambitiouſly aſſumed by Monarchs and Emperours. It is indeed the proper title of Jeſus Chriſt, who hath upon his veſture, and upon his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords: Kings and caytives,Socrates. Lords and loſſels are all his underlings and vaſſals, as thoſe good Emperours Conſtantine, Theodoſius, and Valentinian uſually called themſelves. This Name of the Lord Chriſt is ſaid to be written, 1. On his Veſture, that all may ſee it and ſubmit to it. 2. On his thigh, where hangs his ſword, to ſhew his abſolute and illimited Empire, got out of the hands of his enemies with his ſword and with his bow, Pſal. 45.5. By me Kings reigne, ſaith He, Prov. 8.15. And Nebuchadnezzar is made to know as much, Dan. 4.35. who once vain-gloriouſly vaunted, that his Princes were altogether Kings, Eſay 10.8. Maximilian Emperour of Germany alſo ſaid of himſelf, that he was a King of Kings, but in another ſenſe: for every of my ſubjects (quoth He) will be a King: and ſay I what I can,Joban. Manl. loc. com. p. 586. they will do what they liſt.
Of the God of heaven] See the Note on chap. 5.11.
Verſe 13. And of his Prieſts] ſc. The God of heavens Prieſts, verſe 12. and therefore honoured and reſpected by this great Monarch; ſo was Samuel by Saul, Jaddus by great Alexander; the Bardes (anciently) here in Albion by the greateſt Commanders.
Which are minded of their owne free-will] He would compel none: neither doth Almighty God. His people are all Voluntieres, Pſal. 110.3. Eſay 56.6. he findes them not ſo, but makes them ſo;Ambroſ. in Pſ. 1 and accounts that Virtus nolentium nulla eſt. Lex voluntarios quaerit. God accepts a free-will offering, and commands us to come off roundly and readily in his ſervice.
Verſe 14. And of his ſeven Counſellours] Without whom the King did nothing of moment. This King was better affected to his Councel then his father Xerxes had beene; of whom it is ſtoried,Val. Max. l. 9 c. 5 that in his expedition againſt Greece, he called his Princes together, as if he would have beene adviſed by them, but ſpake to them to this purpoſe: Leſt, ſaith he, I ſhould ſeeme to follow mine owne counſel, I have aſſembled you. And now do you remember, that it becomes you rather to obey, then adviſe.
To enquire concerning Judah] So Saint Paul ſent to enquire what was yet lacking in the faith of the Churches.
According to the Law of thy God] Which is not onelyonly recta, but regula, the rule and rudder. Thoſe that walked by this rule, Ezra was to cheriſh, and to puniſh ſuch as did otherwiſe, being cuſtos utrinſque tabulae.
Which is in thine hand] Which thou art ſingularly skilled in, and much exerciſed about it: that thou mayeſt both obſerve it thy ſelf, and alſo preſerve it from other mens violations.
Verſe 15. Which the King and his Councellours have freely offered] This King as he had beene well bred by his Mother Queene Eſther, ſo he had (likely) beene well inſtructed by Ezra in the knowledge of the God of heaven (as he calleth him) whoſe ſervice he thus promoteth. So Origen wrought much upon Alexander Severus the Emperour by his ſound doctrine and holy converſation: but eſpecially his mother Mammaea who became a great friend to the perſecuted Chriſtians.
Verſe 16. And all the ſilver and gold that thou canſt finde] And gold-thirſty Babylon was not without great ſtore of both; could the owners but finde in their hearts to part with it to ſo pious an uſe: Some did, and the rather becauſe the King and his Councel began to them.
With the free-will offering of the people] Gods ſelect people, of whom Moſes ſingeth, Happy art thou, O Iſrael! Who is like unto thee O people! Deut. 33.29.
Verſe 17. That thou mayeſt buy ſpeedily] Illicò. God is himſelf a pure act, and hateth dulneſſe in duty. What thou doeſt, do quickly, ſaid Chriſt, even to the very Traytour that did ſeek and ſuck his blood.
Verſe 18. And whatſoever ſhall ſeeme good to thee, &c.] The King knew them to be faithful and wiſe ſtewards (ſuch as Hanani was, Nehem. 7.2.) and therefore leaveth much of the money to be beſtowed as they pleaſed.
Verſe 19. The veſſels alſo, &c.] How naturally ſeemeth this King to care for the ſervice of God! and what pity is it that he ſhould ſo oft call Him Your God, and Thy God, and not owne him for his! So hard a thing it is to relinquiſh that vaine converſation that people have received by tradition from their fathers. I will never forſake the Religion that I have received from my fore-fathers, ſaid Tully; And the Monarch of Morocco told the Engliſh Embaſſadour; that he had lately read Saint Pauls Epiſtles, and liked them ſo well, that were he now to chuſe his Religion, he would, before any other, embrace Chriſtianity. But every one ought, ſaid he, to die in his owne Religion: and the leaving of the faith wherein he was borne, was the onelyonly thing that he diſliked in that Apoſtle.
Verſe 20. And whatſoever more, &c.] What could this King ſay more to ſeale up his good affection to the work in hand? Shall not this liberal Heathen riſe up in judgement and condemne ſuch hold-faſts amongſt us, ſuch miſerly money-hoarders, as have no quick-ſilver, no currant money for God or any good uſes; but are, the richer the harder, as Dives?
Verſe 21. Let it be done ſpeedily] Without ſhucking and hucking, without delayes and conſults: I, even I will have it ſo, ſaith the great King: diſpute not therefore, but diſpatch: Quod ego volo, pro canone ſit, as Conſtantius the Emperour ſaid to Paulinus, Lucifer, and other diſſenting Biſhops.
Verſe 22. Ʋnto an hundred talents of ſilver] This was no ſmall ſumme. How chargeable was the ſervice of God heretofore, to what it is now? and yet how heavily do men come off, when to expend, though but a very ſmall ſumme that way. Ad quid perditio haec? To what end is this waſte? is the common cry in this caſe. Surely Pagans and Papagans who laviſh money out of the bag without meaſure, dotantque Deos alienos (as ſome read that text, Pſal. 16.3.) ſhall have an eaſier judgement then ſuch pinch-penny profeſſours.
Verſe 23. For why ſhould there be wrath] Heb. Boyling or foaming anger, great indignation, as it is rendered, and made the utmoſt degree of the divine diſpleaſure, Deut. 29.28. Of all things God cannot endure to be ſlighted, and to have his ſervice neglected: this, blinde nature ſaw, and was therefore ſedulous herein to prevent wrath. Ariſtotle hath this divine precept, foreign. Make Religion thy firſt and chief care,Ariſt. polit. l. 7. c. 8. that thou mayeſt proſper, &c. Let our worſhip-ſcorners look to it: do they provoke the Lord to wrath? are they ſtronger then He? will they bring Gods vengeance upon us all?
Againſt the Realme, the King and his ſonnes] For God is higher then the higheſt, and will raine downe indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguiſh upon every ſoul of man that doth evil, or that neglecteth to do good: for not-ſerving of God,Rom. 2.8, 9. not-ſacrificing is a ſin, Mal. 3.18. Eccleſ. 9.2. And ſin doth as naturally draw and ſuck judgements to it, both perſonal and publike, as the loadſtone doth iron, or Turpentine fire.
Verſe 24. And alſo we certifie you, that touching any of the Prieſts;] Theſe he taketh ſpecial order for, that they be freed from publike payments: and the like care was taken by our Anceſtours for the Miniſters of the Church of England, as appeareth by Magna Charta, chap. 14. Their maintenance is of the Law of Nature, Gen. 47.22, Jezabel provided for her Prieſts; Idolatrous Micah for his Levite; the Papiſts for their ſhavelings, granting them many and great immunities, and being ſo free to them, that there was need of a Statute of Mortmain providing that men ſhould give no more to the Church. But tempora mutantur, &c.
Verſe 25. And thou Ezra] Qui monet ut facias, &c.
After the wiſdome of God that is in thine hand] That is in thine heart and life. Sapientia eſt vel
codicibus
cordibus
Ezra had both theſe, being a thorough wiſe man.
All ſuch as know the Lawes of thy God] Elſe how ſhall they ſee them duly executed? How ſhall they be as ſo many living Lawes, walking Statutes? How ſhall they teach in the Cities of Judah, as Jehoſaphats Judges did, 2 Chron. 17.7, 9. and as it followeth here, And teach ye them that know them not; How can the people performe their duty, which they are ignorant of?
Verſe 26. And whoſoever will not do the Law of thy God.] In the firſt place, and then the Kings Law, as it is ſubordinate and ſubſervient to Gods Obediemus Atridis honeſta mandan…ibus, non alitèr, In Iphigenia.ſaith He in Euripides: If the King command honeſt things, we will obey him; otherwiſe not.
Let judgement be ſpeedily executed upon him] Let this be noted againſt thoſe that hold, that Magiſtrates have nothing to do with men in matters of Religion. Artaxerxes here interpoſeth, and Ezra bleſſeth God for it. See Dan. 3.29. Deut. 13.6. Rom. 13.4. 1 Pet. 2.13, 14.
Verſe 27. Bleſſed be the Lord God] Deo gratias is ever in a good mans mouth. The Jewes at this day are bound to ſay an hundred Benedictions every day; and more as occaſion requires.Leo Modena
Verſe 28. And hath exerciſed mercy unto me] ſc. By making uſe of my ſervice, for the promoting of his. Any employment about God, is an high preferment, and ſo to be eſteemed; yea, it is a mercy, and ſealeth up farther merciemercy.