The Pulpit Commentary — Ezra — Section 10

EXPOSITION. TEE RESPONSE TO THE DECREE (vers. 5- persons took e.dvantage of the opportunity, 11 ). The response me.de to the decree fell and proceeded from Babylonia to Jerusalem short of what might have been expected. (eh. ii 64). The response to the latter part The "pa.triarchal chiefs" who responded of the decree, e.ddressed by Cyrus to his belonged solely, or ma.inly, to the two tribes heathen subjects, was more satisfactory. The of J uda.h and Benja.min ; the " ten tribes " Jews were helped by their neighbours freely, were for the most pa.rt dea.f to the invita.tion with gold, and with silver, and with goods, addressed to them. Some, however, of and with bea.sts, a.nd with precious things Ephraim and Ma.nasseh (1 Chron. ix. 3), and (ver. 6); and besides all this, a certain num- perhaps some of other tribes, were more ber of freewill offerings were contributed. zealous, and took part in the migration. As in Egypt at the time of the Exodus (Exod. Many, on the other hand, even of Juda.band xi 3), so now, the Jews found favour in tho Benjamin, preferred rema.ining in Ba.bylonia. eyes of the hea.then on their departure from to undertaking the long and perilous (Ezra among them, a.nd were me.de pa.rtakers of vii 22) journey to Pa.lestine, a.nd ta.king the their worldly substance. We may well sup- cha.nee of wha.t might ha.ppen to them there. pose that once more God ga.ve hie people They were, as Josephus says, "disinclined favour in the eight of those with whom they to relinquish their property." In the course he.d been living, a.nd disposed their hearts to of nearly seventy years great numbers of liberality. Jews he.d acquired wea.lth ; some he.d invested Ver. 5.-Then ro1e up the ohief of the their money in la.ode and houses ; others ha.d fathers. The " chief of the fathers " are the extensive business connections; others, again, hereditary hea.ds of the families recognized though poor, may have been unenterprising ; as distinct and eepa.rate (see eh. ii. 3-19). and the result was that only some 42,000 Ver. 6.-All they that were about them. en. 1. 5-11.J THE BOOK OF EZRA. 9