Bible Commentaries

Ezra 2:1. The children of the province. Judea under Zedekiah was reduced to a province of the Babylonian empire; or the phrase may import, the children of Israel who resided in the province of Babylonia.

Ezra 2:2. Came with Zerubbabel. These, eleven in number, were nobles and governors. Among them was Jeshua, the highpriest, called Joshua, who ranked next to the governor. Zechariah 3:1. Nehemiah was then young, and returned to Babylon again to encourage more of the Jews to leave that country.

Ezra 2:21. The children of Bethlehem, is supposed to mean the people who were carried away from that town.

Ezra 2:43. The Nethinims. These were the ancient Gibeonites, devoted to the inferior service of the temple. 1 Chronicles 9:2.

Ezra 2:55. The children of Solomon’s servants. These were either descendants of the artists who came to build the temple, or of captives in war employed as the Nethinims.

Ezra 2:63. Tirshatha, that is, Nehemiah the governor, as the Chaldaic reads. The Hebrew and the Gothic being sister tongues, ter designates the superlative degree, as tircadig, most blessed. Saxon Gram. So in our compound names, Tyrconnel, the most knowing or enlightened; tyrant, ruling above law. This title is given also to Zerubbabel.—Till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim. The question he accounted too sacred for civil courts to determine. The present high-priest seemed not eligible to consult the oracle, for the two stones, which import light and perfection, were lost when Seraiah was put to death. 2 Kings 25:18-21.

REFLECTIONS.

From the small number which returned to Jerusalem, we cannot but be deeply affected with the consequences of forsaking the Lord. Disease, famine, and the sword, followed by a languishing captivity, made an awful waste of human flesh. While in a state of exile, marriages had been discouraged by the sufferings of captivity, and the severity of their treatment. Thus while pursuing the Hebrew history, fresh arguments continually occur to warn the christian world to abide in covenant with God.

We see the faithfulness of God in bringing his people back at the appointed time; and then they sought him, as Daniel, by unfeigned repentance. Thus the characters of divine justice and mercy are everywhere discovered for the instruction and comfort of the church.