Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · Ezra · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
WHen Artaxerxes was King, then is the first mention made of Ezra, the Writer of this Book, how expert hee was in the Law of God, and in what great favour with the King, and this was in the seventh yeer of his Reigne, the fifth monethmonth, Verse 8. And this was after the Temple rebuilt 58, whereof 30 in the Reigne of Darius, 21 of Xerxes, and seven currant of Artaxerxes, and 78 after the returne of the first Captives in the days of Cyrus, And at this time, as Funccius noteth, the seventy Weeks spoken of, Dan. 9. did bgein, Funccii Chronol.seeing now and not before perfect liberty was restored to the Jews to rebuild, and inhabit the City of Jerusalem, whereas before they had liberty only to build the Temple, but not the City: for Verse 25. it is sayd from the going out of the word Dan. 9. 25.to build the City, &c. are seven weeks, and 62 weeks, wherefore those weeks of yeers are to begin, when Ezra was first licensed by the King, and obteined so great favour at his hands, and this was the first monethmonth of the yeare, according to the sacred account of the Jews, the 12 day of the monethmonth, and so determined when Christ his Passion began, as he reckoneth two days before the Passeover, for them he prepared, there being not a day odde, but just 70 Weeks of years then expired. Some others begin them not till the 20 year of Artaxerxes, when Nehemiah was sent with authority to build the Wall of the City.
Touching Ezra, his Genealogy is first set down unto Aaron, in which are put Vers. 1, 2.in names, 1 Chron. 6. there be many more unto Seraiah, here said to be the father not of Ezra, for there are 20, and next unto him Jehozadak is put, and yet he was his only Progenitour more, but some others must come between, who are not named, seeing he is sayd to have been carryed captive into Babylon under Nebuchadnezar, Verse 15. and the same is affirmed of Seraiah, the chief Priest, his father, 2 Kings 25. 18. and from that time, till this were passed 70 years of the Captivity, and since the first of Cyrus, where the Captivity ended, 93 being together, 162. This Ezra, thus descended of the chief Priests, is sayd to have been skilfull in the Law of God, which he gave by Moses: and to be prompt herein: Some set him Vers. 6.further forth, as the restorer of all sacred Books which were lost and a Prophet, yea the same, who is otherwise called Malachiah, the last of the small Prophets. That he restored the holy Scriptures being all lost, hath been amongst some a common received opinion, but not true, as I have already shewed upon 2 Kings 25. 9. and Chrysostome sayth, that out of the remaynders of the Scriptures he composed Chrys. Hom. 8. in Heb. Theod. Praefat. in Psal.them again, and Theodoret, that the Scriptures being depraved in the time of the Captivity were by Ezra again restored. For when the Temple was burnt, the Scriptures doubtlesse were but negligently kept, and there was need of some learned and industrious man to collect them together, and to purge them from corruptions, that might be crept into many copies, or rather into those few that were of divers parts of the Bible, wherefore God stirred up Ezra to doe this worthy Work, who diligently collecting all together, made perfect this necessary treasure of the Church. The Chronicles of the Hebrews sayth, That 120 of the great Synagogue were assembled together after the Captivity, for amending of the sacred Books after the Captivity, and that Jeshuah, Zorobabel, Mordecia, Ezra, Daniel, Nehemiah, and the three last of the small Prophets were over them. But how Zorobabel, that was Prince of the Jews 160 years before Ezra his time, and the rest of that time should be together with Ezra and Nehemiah, &c. I cannot see. For Ezra his being a Prophet, and otherwise called the Prophet Malachy, there are that affirme and confirme it, as Jerom, saying, That the Hebrews have held him to be the same, and that the words of the Prophet Malachy intimates Hieron. Praefat. in 12 Prophet.the same, where he sayth, The Priests lips shall preserve knowledge, and hee is a Messenger of the Lord of heasts, wehre the word setting forth a Priest Messenger is Malak, and what Priests lips did so preserve knowledge, as his? Moreover, the time, sayth he, doth agree, being next unto Haggai and Zachary, after whom there were no more Prophets till Christs comming, and the matter of Malachy inveighing against such, as sinned against the wife of their youth, whereas Ezra complaineth much of the like, and reformeth it, so likewise Remigius and Rupertus, and Ribera argueth for it, because in Ecclesiasticus 49. some being praised as excellent after the captivity, and Jeshuah, and Zorobabel, and Nehemiah, no mention is made of Ezra, but of the 12 small Prophets, so that if Ezra were not one of them, he being a man so famous, and of the same time, had injury done unto him, for that he was passed over in silence. But Cyrill denyeth, that he Cyrill.was Malachy, and so doth Lyra, Vatablus, &c. because no certain argument can hence be drawn for it, and the Rabins, traditions are often found to be but their inventions, Saint Augustine also, and Chrysostome, distinguish him from Malachy, and R. Abraham speaketh of him as another man, in his Cabbala Historica, R. Abraham.where he sayth, then dyed Ezra, Haggai, Zachariah and Malachiah, and so the gift of prophesying was taken away from Israel. Let the judicious reader follow whether of these he pleaseth, The King gave unto him, as the hand of his God, was upon him, all his petition, that is, God guiding him, as it were, with his hand to goe and aske of him, and the King to grant it. Some pretend another mediate cause, that is, his prophesying of victory to the King, in his expedition against the Egyptians, which fell out accordingly, for hereby Ezra came into such estimation with him, that hee favoured him so greatly, as here is shewed, and spake so magnifically of him. Yet others think, that it was only the estimation, in which he was had for his great learning and piety amongst his own Countreymen, that Ioseph. lib. 11. cap. 5.made him famous, and so he came to be taken notice of by the King, so Josephus. However the Kings Letters do shew, that he was greatly affected towards him, for Verse 12. he therein entituleth him, The expert Priest of the Law of the God of Heaven and giveth leave to all the people of Israel within, his Dominions, that would go with him to Jerusalem, that he might there teach the Law of God, and to carry thither Silver and Gold, both which the King and his seven Counsellours offered, and any of the people of Israel inhabiting there, to buy Sacrifices there with &c. whereas, Verse 16. it is sayd, With all the Silver and Gold which thou findest in the Province of Babylen. This is to be understood, which any of his subjects would willingly contribute, namely, the Caldees, besides that, which the Jews in all parts should give. For, as Lyra hath it, there were probably many, who by conversing with the Jews, came to the knowledge of the true God, Lyra.and therefore would contribute to this work of his worship, and many Jews, who being now setled with their Families in those parts could not return, yet sent their gifts for the promoting of this service. Moreover the King put into this his Decree that his Receivers in those parts should furnish him with all other necessaries even unto 100 talents of silver, 100 Cores or measures of Corne, 100 baths of Wine, and 100 baths of Oyle, &c. And he ordained, that all Priests, Levits, Singers, and Nethinims serving about the Temple should be free from all tribute, and yet of these there were many thousands. Here it is to be noted, that Heathen Kings Note. being guided only by the light of Nature thought it fit to free the servants of God, who attended continually upon his worship, from taxes, which were imposed upon others, and somewhat like unto this did Pharaoh to his Priests in the time of famine. Therefore Christian Kings should much more make the Church free, as did Edward the third by his Charter, and many other Kings of this Land, and to take away any priviledges of the Clergy cannot but be counted a sin against the light of nature. Wherefore a care ought to be had by the higher powers, when the necessity of the Kingdom requires taxes to be imposed upon all, to shew them some favour. The Nethinims according to Josephus. were such as in Joshuah his Iosephus.time were given unto the Levits to serve under them in hewing of wood and drawing of water for all the Congregation. Lastly, the King also gave power to Ezra to constitute Judges and Priests to teach in all parts of the land, adding severe penalties to such, as should refuse to obey his Constitutions. Ezra having this great incouragement, published, as Josephus sayth, and is most probable, the Kings Letters through out all Media, whereupon many gathered together unto him both Priests and people with no small joy, bringing their goods with them to ascend to Ierusalem. Yet none returned with him, but of the two Tribes of See upon chap. 1. 7, 8.Iudah and Benjamin, innumerable multitudes of the other ten Tribes still tarrying behind, which were and still are beyond Euphrates. Then they began to take their journey the first monethmonth of the yeare, and came to Ierusalem the fifth monethmonth, Vers. 5.which was in the seventh yeare of King Artaxerxes, the first day of the monethmonth: or rather it being propounded by Ezra, the first of the first monethmonth to return, when in ten days they had prepared for it, they set forward the 12 day of the monethmonth, as is precisely noted, Chap. 8. 31.