1 These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.
2 Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.
3 Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.
4 Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.
5 Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.
6 Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.
7 And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.
8 And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.
9 Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.
10 And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males.
11 And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.
12 And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.
13 And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.
14 Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.
15 And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
18 And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
20 Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
25 And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
26 I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;
27 Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
28 And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.
29 Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.
30 So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.
31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
32 And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
33 Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;
34 By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.
35 Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.
36 And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.
The book of Ezra is a historical account of the Israelites' return from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem, as well as the rebuilding of the temple. Chapter 8 of the book focuses on the return of a second group of exiles, led by Ezra himself. This chapter highlights the importance of obedience to God's law, the role of leaders in spiritual renewal, and the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises.
The chapter begins with Ezra gathering a group of Israelites who were willing to return to Jerusalem with him. He was specifically looking for "men of understanding" who could help him teach and lead the people (Ezra 8:16). After gathering the group, Ezra realizes that there are no Levites among them, who were responsible for the spiritual guidance of the people. So, he sends messengers to find Levites in Casiphia, and they bring back 38 Levites and 220 temple servants (Ezra 8:17-20).
Ezra then declares a fast for the group, seeking God's guidance and protection for their journey. He acknowledges that they were carrying a large amount of gold and silver, which could make them vulnerable to attacks from enemies along the way (Ezra 8:21-23). In response to their prayers, God answers and protects them on their journey to Jerusalem.
Upon their arrival in Jerusalem, Ezra takes an inventory of the precious items they were carrying, which included gold and silver articles for the temple (Ezra 8:24-30). He then entrusts these items to the priests and Levites, who were responsible for their safekeeping. This act demonstrates Ezra's obedience to God's law, which required that these items be handled by the Levites and priests (Numbers 4:15).
Ezra also takes a census of the people and finds that there were no Levites among them. He then sends for Levites from the surrounding towns and appoints them to serve in the temple (Ezra 8:31-34). This action shows Ezra's commitment to restoring the proper worship of God in Jerusalem.
After settling in Jerusalem, Ezra gathers the people together to read the Book of the Law, which was the first five books of the Bible (Ezra 8:35). This reading was a reminder of God's covenant with the Israelites and His commandments for them to follow. The people responded with weeping and confession of their sins, acknowledging their disobedience to God's law (Ezra 9:1-4).
Ezra then leads the people in a prayer of repentance, confessing the sins of the people and asking for God's forgiveness (Ezra 9:5-15). This prayer highlights the importance of obedience to God's law and the consequences of disobedience. The people recognize that their exile was a result of their disobedience, and they are now seeking God's mercy and restoration.
The final part of chapter 8 focuses on the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises. Ezra reflects on the history of the Israelites and how God had been faithful to them, even when they were unfaithful (Ezra 9:7-9). He acknowledges that their exile was a result of their disobedience, but God had not completely abandoned them. He had allowed them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, just as He had promised through the prophets (Ezra 9:9-10).
Ezra also recognizes that God's mercy and grace had been evident in their journey to Jerusalem. He had protected them and provided for them, even though they were carrying a large amount of gold and silver (Ezra 8:22-23). This demonstrates God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises and His provision for His people.
Chapter 8 of the book of Ezra highlights several important themes that are still relevant for us today.
Obedience to God's Law
The importance of obedience to God's law is emphasized throughout the chapter. Ezra's commitment to following God's law is evident in his actions, such as appointing Levites to serve in the temple and entrusting them with the precious items. The people's response to the reading of the Book of the Law also shows their recognition of the importance of obedience and their desire to repent and follow God's law. This theme serves as a reminder for us to also be obedient to God's law and seek forgiveness when we fall short.
The Role of Leaders in Spiritual Renewal
Ezra's leadership in bringing the people back to Jerusalem and restoring the proper worship of God is another important theme in this chapter. He recognized the need for "men of understanding" to help lead and teach the people (Ezra 8:16). His actions in appointing Levites to serve in the temple and leading the people in prayer and repentance serve as a model for leaders in bringing spiritual renewal to their communities. This theme reminds us of the importance of godly leadership in guiding people towards obedience to God's law.
The Faithfulness of God
Another significant theme in this chapter is the faithfulness of God. Despite the Israelites' disobedience and exile, God remained faithful to His promises and provided for them. This serves as a reminder for us that even when we are unfaithful, God remains faithful. It also shows us that God's plans and promises will always come to fruition, even if it may not happen in our timing or in the way we expect.
Chapter 8 of the book of Ezra is a powerful reminder of the importance of obedience to God's law, the role of leaders in spiritual renewal, and the faithfulness of God. It also serves as a model for us to follow in our own lives and communities. As we reflect on this chapter, may we strive to be obedient to God's law, seek godly leaders to guide us, and trust in God's faithfulness and provision for us.
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