Ezra 1

Verse 1. In. Hebrew “And ( Calmet.) or But in,” as 2 Chronicles 36:22. Bible.—Thus the historical works are connected. Spinosa infers, from this book being inserted after Daniel in the Hebrew Bible, that the same author wrote both. But the order of the books in the Septuagint and Vulg. is far more natural, ( Calmet.) and this has often varied in Hebrew, and so forth Kennicott. See 2 Chronicles 36:23. Bible.—First. The design was only put in execution the following year. A. 3468.—Cyrus (Hebrew coresh, ( Bible.) or Koresch) means “the sun,” according to Ctesias and Plutarch. Josephus (xi. 1.) informs us that this prince became a friend of the Jews, in consequence of having seen the prediction of Isaias (44:28 and 45:1) fulfilled in his own person. He took Babylon, A. 3466, and established the Persian empire, which was subverted by Alexander. Calmet.—he had before ruled over Persia 27 years, and only reigned three as sole monarch at Babylon. Tirinus.—The Lord; every good notion, even in infidels, proceeds from him. D.—Cyrus was one of the best and greatest conquerors of antiquity. He was the son of Cambyses, by Mandane, princess of Media. Xenophon informs us that he died in his bed; ( Bible.) and had been lately conquered. Tirinus.

When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).

Verse 2. Earth, which had belonged to the king of Babylon. Bible.—This may be an hyperbole, or allusion to Isaiah 45:1. Menochius.—The dominions of Cyrus were very extensive, (Xenophon, Cyrop. i. and viii.) reaching from Ethiopia to the Euxine sea, and so forth He acknowledges that he received all from the hand of God. Nabuchodonosor makes a similar confession of his supreme dominion; (Daniel 2:47) and the potentates of Egypt and of Rome, procured sacrifices to be offered to him. But what advantage did they derive from this sterile knowledge of his divinity? since they did not honour him accordingly, but wished to join his worship with that of idols; though the force of miracles and of reason must have convinced them that there is but one God. Calmet.—House, or temple. Isaiah 44:28.—Judea. So the Septuagint read, but the Hebrew has “Juda,” all along. The whole country now began to be know by the former name. Bible.

The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).

Verse 3. He is the God, is placed within a parenthesis, by the Prot. But the pagans might suppose that God was attached to this city, like their idols; and the temple was not yet begun. Bible.

Verse 4. Rest, who do not please to return. The Jews went at different times, and under the different leaders, Zorobabel, Esdras, and Nehemias. Many did not return at all. Cyrus allowed them full liberty. He permits money to be exported, particularly the half sicle, required Exodus 30:13, and all voluntary contributions for the temple. Grotius. Calmet.—He also enjoins the prefects of the provinces, (verse 6, and Calmet. 3:7) whom Josephus styles “the king’s friends,” to forward this work; and he even designed to perfect it at his own expence. Calmet. 6:4.

Verse 8. Gazabar means, “the treasurer.” Hebrew Syr. Calmet. Prot. 3 Ezra 2:19. Bible.—Son is not in Hebrew and so forth ( Menochius.) and must be omitted. Tirinus.—Sassabasar. This was another name for Zorobabel, ( Challoner.) given by the Chaldees, as they changed the name of Daniel into Baltassar. Euseb. Præp. Evan. xi. 3. Tirinus.—But others think that this was the Persian “governor (Junius) of Judea,” (3 Esd.) as one reside at Jerusalem, till the days of Nehemias. 2 Ezra 5:14. It does not appear that Zorobabel was invested with this dignity, before the reign of Darius Hystaspes. Agg. 2:24. Calmet.

Verse 9. Knives. Septuagint and so forth “changes” of garments. Calmet.

Verse 10. Sort. Septuagint and Syr. “double;” yet of less value. Calmet.—As no first sort had been mentioned, and some Latin MSS. read 2410, agreeably to 3 Ezra 2:12, and the truth, (Hallet) it may be inferred that “thousands were expressed anciently by single letters, with a dot … over them.” Afterwards, when numbers were expressed by words at length, the b being thus reduced to signify “two,” was, of course, written shnim; but this word making nonsense with the following, has been changed into mishnim, a word not very agreeable to the sense here, and which leaves the sum total, now specified in the Hebrew text, very deficient for want of the 2000, thus omitted. Kennicott, Dis. ii.—Josephus has, “30 golden cups, 2400 of silver.” Bible.

Verse 11. Hundred. Only 2499 are specified. 3 Esd. reads, 5469. Josephus (xi. 1.) differs from all, reading 5210; which shews that the copies have varied, and that the Hebrew is incorrect. Calmet.—The use of number letters might cause this confusion. Bible. Capel. iii. 20. 13.