Ezra 8:1–14

After these things, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus, Ezra the priest went up from Babylon. With him went other Israelites of every rank, by the king's favour, with freewill offerings, and with authority for everything Ezra wanted for the house of his God... Ezra 8 then gives the family record of Ezra's companions, their fears, yet faith, and safe arrival.

This genealogy reaches to the end of verse 14, and it shows how precious to God were the very names of those who answered His call at such a moment. The response itself is the fruit of His grace. Yet in that same grace He gladly credits to His people what He Himself had produced in their hearts. It was a fine company of more than fifteen hundred people.

God has made sure of this. The names of those who stirred themselves to answer His call to return to the land stand on record in a lasting way. The names of those who did not stir themselves are almost entirely lost.

Set against the splendid decree and generosity of Artaxerxes, the company was very small. Most preferred Babylon and stayed there. The faithful ones are known to God, and their names are written here forever in His Word. The Gentile king had given the decree, and the people had plenty of all they needed. Still, the undertaking was one of faith. They came out of Babylon trusting the LORD; they marched on in faith. Notice especially that only males are mentioned. The mixed marriages we read of in the next chapter were most likely the result of no women joining Ezra's expedition.

The earlier return included several priests with their many households (Ezra 2:36-39); now only two volunteered, and no households are mentioned. At first no Levites offered themselves to Ezra, but this drew out his zeal, and not without fruit. Among the people, some families returned now for the first time; from other families, a further group came. From one family, the sons of Adonikam (also called Adonijah), the last of the sons appear to have gone up.

It was the day of the people's humiliation. So what marked Ezra was not power, but compassion and devoted obedience. God wants reality in those He honours; He hates false pretence... In Babylon, Ezra did not have the living prophets who had cheered the early workers in Jerusalem. But his heart was set on the written word, and the hand of the LORD did not fail in gracious care, either for God and His worship, or on his journey to Jerusalem.

This genealogy reaches to the end of verse 14. It shows how precious to God were the very names of those who answered His call at such a moment. The response itself is the fruit of His grace. Yet in that same grace He is pleased to credit to His people what He Himself had produced in their hearts. It was a fine company of over fifteen hundred people, gathered to return to the land of their fathers. That was the land of all their traditions, and the land of all their hopes.

Some stirred themselves to answer His call to return to the land. God has seen to it that their names are on record in a very permanent way. The names of those who did not stir themselves are almost entirely lost.

There were two priests, but only two: Gershom, son of Phinehas, and Daniel, son of Ithamar. From the Levitical family, outside the priesthood, there was not a single one. Ezra might well be concerned, for it was a sad sign of the state into which the people had fallen. The priests alone had access to the holy place of the house of their God. The Levites alone were the appointed ministers in everything belonging to its service. Yet when the call came that they might return and take up their privileges again, they stayed unmoved and indifferent.

While a small number of Levites had gone up with Zerubbabel, none had joined Ezra. Only two priests were present, Gershon, son of Phinehas, and Daniel, son of Ithamar. What indifference this reveals! They had settled down in the enemy's land and were satisfied to remain there. They were minding earthly things, and the things of God were forgotten by them. Still they were Levites in their holy calling. It is the same today with many who are no doubt saved, but who are worldly-minded and have little desire to live in the separation He requires from His people.

Why is Judah in captivity preserved as a people? Why not scattered and lost among the nations, as the ten tribes are? Because God had a purpose of grace to carry out, and full judgment was delayed. God had set David upon the throne, and it was a pledge that Christ must sit there also. For Christ on the throne of David is God's centre of blessing for this earth. So the tribe the King was to come from is kept safe until the appointed time, when Jesus is born in Bethlehem. During the captivity, when the Gentile held the throne, the line of true heirs was kept as something sacred. After the return from Babylon, Matthew carries that line on to the birth of Christ, and in Him it ends.

There was no merit whatsoever in them. God delivered the remnant from captivity because His word must be fulfilled, above all His promise about the Lord Jesus Christ. That the promised Branch might shoot forth, the house of David must be restored.

The men listed in the first 14 verses, together with their families, went with Ezra. It would have been so much easier for them to settle in Mesopotamia, where they had grown up. But they return to the place of God's choice, and God is with them.

The first fourteen verses give the names of those who went with Ezra. They are listed by family line, with the number of the men in each family. God has seen to it that the names of those who stirred themselves to answer His call to return to the land stand on record in a very lasting way. The names of those who did not stir themselves are almost entirely lost.

This genealogy reaches to the end of verse 14. It shows how precious to God were the very names of those who responded to His call at such a moment. The response itself is the fruit of His grace. Yet in that same grace He is pleased to credit to His people what He Himself had produced in their hearts. It was a fine company of over fifteen hundred people, gathered to return to the land of their fathers. That was the land of all their traditions, and the land of all their hopes.

The names of those who gathered around Ezra and went up with him are recorded here. In view of the magnificent decree and generosity of Artaxerxes, the company was very small. The majority preferred Babylon and stayed there. The faithful ones are known to God, and their names are written here forever in His Word. The foreign king had given the decree. The people had a full supply of everything they needed. Even so, the undertaking was one of faith. They came out of Babylon trusting the LORD; they marched on in faith.

The earlier return included several priests with their many houses (Ezra 2:36-39); now only two volunteered, with no mention of their houses. Of the people, some fresh families now returned; of other families a fresh part.

The men listed in the first 14 verses, together with their families, went with Ezra. It would have been much easier for them to settle in Mesopotamia, where they had grown up. Instead they return to the place of God's choice (Deut 12), and God is with them.

This list records those who came of their own will to go with Ezra to Jerusalem. The men numbered almost 1500. Women must also have been present, but are not mentioned. This does not mean God thinks less of the faith of women. He often commends them for their devotion. But the emphasis here is on a public record, and women do not hold a public place, so there was no reason to mention them. Children too are not mentioned. In fact, the emphasis in verse 1 is on "the heads of their fathers' houses," showing God's vital interest in households.

Notice especially that only males are mentioned. The mixed marriages we read of in the next chapter were most likely the result of the fact that no women had joined Ezra's expedition.

Notice this principle. It was a day of weakness and humiliation. Even so, it was not to be a day of neglect, but of the greatest care. God's people were to be as watchful for His name as in the days when everything stood in the full power and beauty of divine order.

This genealogy reaches to the end of verse 14. It shows how precious to God were the very names of those who answered His call at such a moment. The response itself is the fruit of His grace. Yet by that same grace He is pleased to credit to His people what He Himself had produced in their hearts.

He looks with joy on the smallest fruits of His Spirit's work. The very names of His people are known and announced. This encourages everyone to walk in His ways, to stand with His interests, and to stay faithful in times of corruption and falling away.

At first no Levites offered themselves to Ezra; but this drew out his zeal, and not without fruit. Of the people, some fresh families now returned; of other families, a fresh part.

In this new exodus, part of the people who had stayed in the province of Babylon go with Ezra. Like their leader, these people have an exact genealogical record. Scripture lists every one of them by family, not by city as it did for part of the group in Ezra 2. In the first great movement of restoration, there had been little doubt about the right of individuals to belong to the people of God. Here it seems necessary to be even stricter than at the beginning.

The men listed in the first 14 verses, together with their families, went with Ezra. It would have been much easier for them to settle in Mesopotamia, where they had grown up. But they return to the place of God's choice (Deut 12) and God is with them.

Artaxerxes gave a magnificent decree and was very generous, yet the company was very small. The majority preferred Babylon and stayed there. God knows the faithful ones, and their names are written here forever in His Word. The Gentile king had given the decree, and the people had all the supplies they needed. Even so, the undertaking was one of faith.

Women must also have been there, though the list does not mention them. This is not because God thinks less of the faith of women. He often commends them for their devotion. But the emphasis here is on publication, and women do not hold a public place, so there was no reason to refer to them.

This list records those who came of their own free will to travel with Ezra to Jerusalem. The men numbered almost 1500. Women also must have been present, but are not mentioned. This does not mean God thinks less of the faith of women. He often praises them for their devotion. But the point here is a public record, and women did not hold a public place, so there was no reason to name them. Children too are not mentioned. In fact, verse 1 puts the emphasis on "the heads of their fathers' houses." This shows God's deep interest in households.

This genealogy reaches to the end of verse 14, and it shows how precious to God were the very names of those who responded to His call at such a moment. The response itself is the fruit of His grace. Yet by that same grace He is pleased to credit to His people what He Himself had produced in their hearts. It was a fine company of over fifteen hundred people, gathered to return to the land of their fathers — the land of all their traditions and the land of all their hopes.

At first no Levites offered themselves to Ezra; but this drew out his zeal, and not without fruit. Of the people, some fresh families now returned; of other families a fresh part.

In this new exodus, Ezra is accompanied by part of the people who had remained in the province of Babylon. These people, like their leader, have an exact record of their family line. Scripture mentions all of them according to their families and not, as with part of those in Ezra 2, according to their cities. In the first great movement of restoration there had been fairly little doubt about the right of people to belong to the people of God, and that doubt was mostly about the priesthood. But here it seems necessary to be even stricter than at the beginning.

The men listed in the first 14 verses, together with their families, went with Ezra. It would have been so much easier for them to settle in Mesopotamia where they had grown up, but they return to the place of God's choice (Deut. 12) and God is with them.

As it was the day of the people's humiliation, not power but pity and devotedness in obedience marked Ezra. God will have reality in those He honours; false pretensions He hates... Ezra in Babylon did not have the living prophets who had cheered the early workers in Jerusalem. But his heart was set on the written word. And the hand of the LORD did not fail in gracious providence, either for God and His worship, or on his journey to Jerusalem.

This genealogy reaches to the end of verse 14, and it shows how precious to God were the very names of those who responded to His call at such a moment. The response itself is the fruit of His grace. But by that same grace He is glad to credit to His people what He Himself had produced in their hearts. It was a fine company of over fifteen hundred people, gathered to return to the land of their fathers. It was the land of all their traditions, and the land of all their hopes.

The men listed in the first 14 verses, together with their families, went with Ezra. It would have been so much easier for them to settle in Mesopotamia, where they had grown up. But they return to the place of God's choice (Deut. 12), and God is with them.

The names of those who gathered around Ezra and went up with him are here recorded. Artaxerxes had given a magnificent decree and been very generous, yet the company was very small. The majority preferred Babylon, and remained there. The faithful ones are known to God, and their names are here written in His Word for ever. The foreign king had given the decree, and the people had everything they needed. Even so, the venture was one of faith. They came out of Babylon trusting the LORD; they marched on in faith.

Of the people some fresh families now returned; of other families a fresh part.

Women also must have been present, but are not mentioned. This is not because God thinks less of the faith of women. He often praises them for their devotion. But the emphasis here is on the public record, and the women do not hold a public place, so there was no reason to mention them. Children too are not mentioned. In fact, the emphasis in verse 1 is on "the heads of their fathers' houses," showing God's vital interest in households.

Notice especially that only males are mentioned. The mixed marriages we read about in the next chapter were most likely the result of no women joining Ezra's expedition.

As it was the day of the people's humiliation, not power but pity and devotedness in obedience marked Ezra. God will have reality in those He honours; false pretensions He hates.