Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezra 7

1 NOw after these things in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Serajah , the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

The same of whom he speaks ch. 6. 14.

i. e. His Grandson. Here are divers persons omitted for brevity sake, which may be supplied out of 1 Chr. 6. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.

Marginal references: Neh. 2. 1. [illegible: 1+ letters]; 1 Chr. 6. 14.

6 This Ezra went up from Babylon , and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given, and the King granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him .

With the Kings consent and Commission.

i. e. A learned and expert Doctor: for in that sense the word Scribe is oft used as Ier. 8. 8. Mat. 7. 29. & 17. 10. & 23. 2, 13. Mark 12. 28. compare with Mat. 22. 35, 36.

i. e. By the Grace and Favour of God so disposing the heart of the King.

7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims unto Jerusalem , in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

This is here related in the general, but how he procured this is particularly related hereafter.

Marginal references: Ch. 2. 43.

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

Or, directed, &c. i. e. He had set his mind and affections upon it, and made it his chief design and business.

i. e. To search and find out the true sense and meaning of it, and thence to learn what sins or errours were to be reformed, and what duties were to be performed.

The order of things in this verse is very observable: first he endeavours to understand Gods Law and Word, and that not for curiosity o[illegible: 1+ letters] ostentation, but in order to practice: next he conscientiously practiseth what he did understand, which made his Doctrine much more effectual: and then he earnestly desires and labours to instruct and edifie others, that they also might know and do it.

11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.

The Phrase seems emphatical, noting that he explained both the words and the things: For the Jews in the Land of their Captivity had in a great measure lost both their Language, and the Knowledge of Gods Commands, and therefore Ezra and his Companions instruct them in both: of which see more on Nehem. 8. 8.

14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his▪ seven counsellors to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand :

His chief Nobles and Officers of State: of whom see also Esth. 1. 10, 14.

i. e. To make enquiry into all abuses and deviations from your Law, and to redress them.

Which is now and always in thy hand, being the matter of thy daily study and exercise; which thou now carriest along with thee, the Interpretation whereof belongeth unto thee.

Marginal references: Chal. from before the king.; Esth. 1. 14.

16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the free-willoffering of the people , and of the priests offering willingly for the house of their God, which is in Jerusalem.

i. e. Procure, as that word is used, Gen. 6. 8. & 26. 12. Psal. 84. 3. & 119. 162. Prov. 1. 13. & 2. 5. & 3. 13. Whatsoever thou canst get of my Subjects by way of free gift.

To wit, of Israel.

Marginal references: Ch. 8. 25.

20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God , which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the kings treasure house.

Towards the Reparation, or adorning, or compleating of it. See the notes on ch. 6. 14.

22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much :

Because it was but of mean price, and of very common and necessary use in all their Sacrifices, Lev. 2. 13. Mark 9. 49.

Marginal references: † Chal. cors.

23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons ?

For the omission of any part of his Worship occasioned by my neglect. This danger and duty he discerned, partly by natural light, and principally by the Information of Ezra, ch. 8. 22. who had the Kings Ear and Heart.

Marginal references: Heb. whatsoever is of the decree.

25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God that is in thine hand , set magistrates and judges which may judg all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God, and teach ye them that know them not.

i. e. Which God hath put into thy Heart, and which appears in the works of thy hand. Wisdom is sometimes ascribed to the Hands, as Psal. 78. 72. See my Latin Synopsis on Gen. 48. 14. Or, by the Wisdom of God, he means the Law of God, which was said to be in his hand, v. 14.

26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king , let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

To wit, concerning these matters. Or, which Law of God is by this my sanction now become my Law also, to which I expect their punctual and ready obedience. For as for the Civil Laws of the Empire Ezra neither was skilful in them, nor was intrusted with the Execution of them, which was committed to other hands.

Marginal references: Chal. [illegible: 1+ letters] ing out.