Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Ezra Chapter 8
Overview
Ezr 8:1, The companions of Ezra, who returned from Babylon; Ezr 8:15, He sends to Iddo for ministers for the temple; Ezr 8:21, He keeps a fast; Ezr 8:24, He commits the treasures to the custody of the priests; Ezr 8:31, From Ahava they come to Jerusalem; Ezr 8:33, The treasure is weighed in the temple; Ezr 8:36, The commission is delivered.
the chief: Ezr 1:5; Ch1 9:34, Ch1 24:31, Ch1 26:32; Ch2 26:12; Neh 7:70, Neh 7:71
genealogy: Ezr 2:62; Ch1 4:33, Ch1 9:1
them that went up: Ezr 7:7, Ezr 7:13
Phinehas: Ch1 6:3, Ch1 6:4-15, Ch1 24:1-6
Pharosh: This variation is attributable to the translators; the original being uniformly Parosh. Ezr 2:3; Neh 7:8, Neh 10:14, Parosh
Pahathmoab: Ezr 2:6; Neh 7:11, Neh 10:14
Adin: Ezr 2:15; Neh 7:20, Neh 10:16
Elam: Ezr 2:7, Ezr 2:31; Neh 7:12, Neh 7:34
Shephatiah: Ezr 2:4; Neh 7:9, Neh 11:4
Bebai: Ezr 2:11, Ezr 10:28; Neh 7:16
the son of Hakkatan: or, the youngest son
Zabbud: or, Zaccur, as some read, Neh 10:12
the river that runneth: Ahava is supposed to be the river Adiava, which, with the Diava, is said by Ammianus to have given name to Adiabene, a province of Assyria, through which they flowed into the Tigris. These rivers were also called respectively, Anzabas and Zabas, the Caprus and Lycus of Ptolemy; the former of which he places, at its source, in long. 79 degrees, lat. 39+ degrees, and at its junction with the Tigris, in long. 79+ degrees, lat. 36 degrees 6 minutes; and the latter, at its source, in long 78 degrees, lat. 39 degrees; and where it falls into the Tigris, in long. 79 degrees, lat. 36+ degrees. They are now called the Great and Little Zab, or the Zabein, i.e., the two Zabs, which, says Ibn Haukal, "are considerable streams, each about half as large as the Dejleh (or Tigris). They rise among the mountains of Azerbaijan. of these, the larger is that which runs towards Haditheh. These streams form part of the Tigris, and water the district of Semerah." Psa 137:1; Eze 1:1, Eze 3:15; Act 16:13
abode: Heb. pitched
and found: Ezr 8:2, Ezr 7:7, Ezr 7:24
Nathan: Ezr 10:39
Zechariah: Ezr 8:11
chief men: Ezr 8:1
men of understanding: Ezr 8:18; Kg1 3:11; Ch1 12:32, Ch1 26:14; Ch2 2:12; Pro 2:6, Pro 20:5, Pro 28:2; Dan 2:21; Ti2 2:7; Jo1 5:20
Casiphia: Casiphia is supposed to denote the Caspian mountains, between Media and Hyrcania, near the Caspian Sea. It is evident, from a comparison of Ezr 7:9 with Ezr 8:31, that Casiphia could not be far from Ahava.
I told them: Heb. I put words in their mouth, Exo 4:15; Deu 18:18; Sa2 14:3, Sa2 14:19; Jer 1:9, Jer 15:19
the Nethinims: Ezr 2:43, Ezr 2:58, Ezr 7:7
ministers: Num 8:22-26, Num 18:6; Ch1 23:3-6, Ch1 23:26-32; Tit 1:5
by the good hand: Ezr 8:22, Ezr 7:28; Neh 2:8; Pro 3:6
a man of understanding: Ezr 8:16; Pro 24:3; Jer 3:15; Dan 1:20; Co1 14:20
Sherebiah: Ezr 8:24; Neh 8:7, Neh 9:4, Neh 9:5, Neh 10:12, Neh 12:24
Hashabiah: Neh 3:17, Neh 10:11
Merari: Ch1 6:1, Ch1 6:16, Ch1 6:19
Nethinims: Ezr 8:17, Ezr 2:43, Ezr 7:7; Ch1 9:2
all of them: Phi 4:3
I proclaimed: Jdg 20:26; Sa1 7:6; Ch2 20:3; Joe 1:14, Joe 2:12-18; Jon 3:5
afflict ourselves: Lev 16:29, Lev 16:31, Lev 23:29; Isa 58:3, Isa 58:5; Jer 31:8, Jer 31:9, Jer 50:4, Jer 50:5
to seek: Psa 5:8, Psa 107:2-8, Psa 143:8-10; Pro 3:6; Isa 30:21, Isa 35:8, Isa 42:16, Isa 49:10; Jer 10:23
for our little ones: Num 14:3, Num 14:31; Psa 8:2; Mar 10:13-16; Act 2:39
I was ashamed: Co1 9:15; Co2 7:14
The hand: Ezr 7:6, Ezr 7:9, Ezr 7:28; Ch1 28:9; Ch2 16:9; Psa 33:18, Psa 33:19, Psa 34:15, Psa 34:22; Isa 3:10, Isa 3:11; Lam 3:25; Rom 8:28; Pe1 3:12
his power and his wrath: Jos 23:16; Ch2 15:2; Psa 21:8, Psa 21:9, Psa 34:16, Psa 90:11; Zep 1:2-6; Heb 10:38; Pe1 3:12
we fasted: Neh 9:1; Est 4:16; Dan 9:3; Luk 2:37; Act 10:30
besought: Jer 29:12, Jer 29:13, Jer 33:3, Jer 50:4, Jer 50:5
and he was entreated: Ezr 8:31; Deu 4:29; Ch1 5:20; Ch2 33:12, Ch2 33:13; Psa 66:18-20; Isa 19:22; Jer 29:12, Jer 29:13; Mat 7:7, Mat 7:8
weighed: Ezr 8:33, Ezr 1:8; Co2 8:20, Co2 8:21; Phi 4:8
the silver: Ezr 7:15, Ezr 7:16
fine copper: Heb. yellow, or shining brass, The Syriac renders, nechosho korinthyo tovo, "good Corinthian brass;" so called from the brass found after the burning of Corinth by Lucius Mummius, which was, as is generally supposed, brass, copper, silver, and gold, melted together. Sir J. Chardin, however, in a manuscript note, cited by Harmer, mentioned a factitious metal used in the East, and highly esteemed there, which might probably be of an origin as ancient as Ezra. He says, "I have heard some Dutch gentlemen speak of a metal in the island of Sumatra, and among the Macassars, much more esteemed than gold, which royal personages alone are privileged to wear. It is a mixture, if I remember right, of gold and steel, or copper and steel." He afterwards added, "calmbac is the name of this metal, which is composed of gold and copper."
precious: Heb. desirable, Lam 4:2
Ye are holy: Lev 21:6-8; Deu 33:8; Isa 52:11
the vessels: Ezr 1:7-11; Lev 22:2, Lev 22:3; Num 4:4-15, Num 4:19, Num 4:20, Num 7:13, Num 7:84-88; Kg1 7:48-51; Ch1 23:28; Ch2 24:14
Watch ye: Ch1 26:20-26; Mar 13:34, Mar 13:35; Act 20:31; Ti2 4:5
until ye weigh them before: Ezr 8:33, Ezr 8:34
the house of our God: Ezr 8:22; Ch1 29:2, Ch1 29:3; Psa 122:9; Isa 60:13
the river of Ahava: Ezr 8:15, Ezr 8:21
the hand: Ezr 8:22, Ezr 7:9, Ezr 7:28; Job 5:19-24; Psa 91:9-14; Isa 41:10-14; Act 25:3, Act 26:22
and he delivered: Ezra and his company had now entered upon a journey of several hundred miles through the desert, which they were nearly four months in completing, encumbered with families and possessions, and carrying large treasures with them, which would invite the attempts of the Arabian hordes, and others, that infested that neighbourhood; yet, having declared to the king, "that the hand of God was upon all them for good that seek him, and that his power and wrath were against all them that forsook him," (Ezr 8:22), he determined to travel without a guard, except that of the Almighty, being ashamed to ask any other, after his former avowed confidence in Him! Having, therefore, humbled themselves before the Lord, and besought his guidance and protection, he was intreated by them, their enemies were restrained or disabled, and they arrived unmolested at Jerusalem.
weighed: Ezr 8:26, Ezr 8:30; Ch1 28:14-18; Co2 8:20, Co2 8:21
Meremoth: Neh 10:5
Uriah: Neh 3:4, Urijah
Jozabad: Neh 8:7
Binnui: Neh 10:9
offered burnt: Lev. 1:1-7:38; Ch2 29:31, Ch2 29:32; Psa 66:10-15, Psa 116:12-19; Luk 1:74, Luk 1:75
twelve bullocks: Ezr 6:17; Num 7:27
the king's commissions: Ezr 7:21-24
lieutenants: Ezra 4:7-23, Ezr 5:6-17
they furthered: Ezr 6:13; Isa 56:6, Isa 56:7; Act 18:27; Rev 12:16