You will notice that only the heads of the families are listed here, Ezra 8:1, that is, the fathers. The actual number of people returning with Ezra, including the Levites and the temple servants, Ezra 8:2-14, varies from one commentator to the next. Some suggest a total of one-thousand, seven-hundred and seventy-three males, others suggest a total of nine-thousand which is an average of five people per family and others suggest a total of five-thousand.
We must remember that most of the names listed here were very common Jewish names, names such as Daniel, Ezra 8:2, David, Ezra 8:2, Jonathan, Ezra 8:6, Joab, Ezra 8:9, and Zechariah, Ezra 8:11. Although these names may be listed in different lists, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are the same person.
The names listed here are referring to those who arrived with Ezra during this period. One name worth noting from this list is, ‘Hattush of the descendants of Shekaniah’, Ezra 8:2. He was a descendant of David, 1 Chronicles 3:22, through Shemaiah, he was Zerubbabel’s great-great-grandson.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Shekaniah, Ezra 8:3.
‘There were three of this name, the second is mentioned Ezra 8:6, and the third Ezra 10:2. They were all different persons, as may be seen from their fathers’ houses.’
After camping for three days at a canal, you will notice that Ezra found no Levites among the people, Ezra 8:15 / Ezra 3:8. A similar problem came up at the time of the first return. While more than four-thousand priests returned with Zerubbabel, only three hundred and forty-one Levites did, including singers and gatekeepers, Ezra 2:36-42.
Perhaps they reckoned the Levitical role as lacking in prestige as compared with the priestly office, Malachi 2:1-2. And maybe with settled lives in Babylon, they did not want to go embark on a life of service and hard work in a faraway, undeveloped land. Yet, as noted above, about forty Levites did answer the recruiting efforts initiated by Ezra, Ezra 8:16-20.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The difficulty in recruiting Levites was probably due to the reduction of their status by the encroaching activities of the post-exilic priesthood, whose criminal activity was so dramatically exposed in the Book of Malachi, so terrible, in fact, that God even cursed them, Malachi 2:1-2. The disaffection of the Levites is demonstrated by the fact that, ‘only 341 returned with Zerubbabel, compared with 4,289 priests.’
Ezra summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who are described as leaders, Ezra 8:16. Joiarib and Elnathan are described as men of learning, Ezra 8:16. Ezra ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia and he told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God, Ezra 8:17.
Notice it was because the gracious hand of our God was on them that they brought us Sherebiah, who is described as a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, Ezra 8:18, and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, Ezra 8:19. After making this appeal, many Levites did join Ezra, along with the ‘temple servants’, Ezra 8:20 / Ezra 8:17, who were originally Gibeonites, Joshua 9:23.
Ezra now proclaims a fast, Ezra 8:21, which was a common way of seeking God’s favour, Matthew 6:15 / Matthew 8:14, especially when the leaders wanted the people to focus their minds on the spiritual, Ezra 8:21 / 1 Kings 21:12 / Acts 13:1-3. Notice that Ezra was ‘ashamed to ask the king’ for an escort of soldiers to protect them, Ezra 8:22. The reason he didn’t ask the king for protection was probably to prove to the king that God’s people didn’t need any protection because God was with them, Ezra 8:22.
After the fast, Ezra says that God answered their prayers, Ezra 8:23, which possibly means they received some kind of confirmation of His protection. It’s possible they came across Scriptural promises of protection during the fast. It’s also possible that God helped them to pick out a safer route. We don’t know exactly how God protected them but Ezra tells us that God did, Ezra 8:23 / Ezra 8:31.
Ezra now set apart twelve of the leading priests, namely, Sherebiah, Hashabiah and ten of their brothers, Ezra 8:24. Notice that Ezra weighed out the silver and gold and the articles that the king and his men donated, Ezra 8:25.
Notice how much money they were carrying with them. The six hundred and fifty talents of silver weighed nearly twenty-five tons and the one hundred talents of gold weighed over three tons, Ezra 8:26. This would have been a staggering amount of money and weight, not to mention the value of all those other articles, Ezra 8:27.
The New Bible Commentary, says the following.
‘The value of these gifts was well over a million pounds; but this is by no means inconceivable in view of the immense wealth of the Persian kings.’
The proof that God was with them is seen in the fact that they made it safely to Judea without being ambushed by robbers and thieves. Also notice that Ezra says, ‘You as well as these articles are consecrated to the LORD,’ Ezra 8:28. This is a fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy, Isaiah 52:11. This again was proof that God indeed was with them and protecting them. Ezra tells them to guard the treasures carefully until they weigh them out, Ezra 8:29, the priests and Levites do so and they are ready to be taken to house of our God in Jerusalem, Ezra 8:30.
The journey which Ezra and his company made was around nine-hundred miles and would have taken four months, Ezra 8:31 / Ezra 7:9.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The Jews with Ezra left Babylon on the first day of the first month, Ezra 7:9. They reached Ahava in nine days, and, having remained there three, Ezra 8:15, quitted it and resumed their journey on the twelfth. They reached Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, Ezra 7:9, four months after the departure from Babylon.’
Notice that God was protecting them throughout the journey, Ezra 8:31, which was an answer to Ezra’s prayer, Ezra 8:23. It’s not surprising that when they arrived in Jerusalem they rested for three days, Ezra 8:33, because the journey was long and filled with many dangers. It’s worth noting that Nehemiah did the same thing, Nehemiah 2:11.
After resting for three days, they got with the task ahead of them, they weighed out everything they brought with them from Babylon, Ezra 8:33. They were very careful what they did with all the contributions they brought with them and weighed it all out in front of witnesses, Ezra 8:33, as well as recording everything in writing, Ezra 8:34. After placing all the items in the temple, they then offered sacrifices, Ezra 8:35.
The New Layman’s Bible Commentary, says the following.
‘After four months of traveling, Ezra 7:9, they came to Jerusalem, the fact of their having been unmolested on the way, Ezra 7:31, vindicated their faith in God’s protection and the treasures were weighed in with the proper temple authorities, indicating that none had been misappropriated.’
Henry, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Ezra 8:35.
‘These offerings ‘for all Israel’ indicated that, ‘the union of the two Israels’ was then accomplished, as prophesied by Ezekiel 37:22.’
Ezra also delivered the royal orders to the regional governors, Ezra 8:36, which would have taken some time. But Ezra didn’t just deliver Artaxerxes’ decree, he secured the support of Artaxerxes’ satraps and governors, Ezra 8:36 / Ezra 7:11-24 / Ezra 9:1.