And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants.
This verse is the roll-call of the second return from Babylon. Ordinary Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants all travelled with Ezra to Jerusalem. Two questions follow: why did so few come, and why does God name such humble ranks?
A gap of eighty years
This verse does not follow straight on from chapter 6. A long silence separates the two.
Michael HardtTo see why Ezra's journey to Jerusalem matters, keep two things in mind. 80 years had passed since the first return from Babylon (ch.1-2). About 60 years had passed since the people finished rebuilding the temple. We are now in the days of the reign of King Artaxerxes I (465-424). How were things going in Jerusalem for those who had rebuilt the temple, and for their families and children? Sad to say, not everything had developed in a positive way.
"Some of the people of Israel"
The word "some" is the point. The king's backing was generous and public, yet the response was thin.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinArtaxerxes had made a magnificent decree and given generously, yet the company was very small. Most preferred Babylon, and stayed there. God knows the faithful ones, and their names stand here in His Word forever. The Gentile king had given the decree, and the people had everything they needed. Even so, 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 about in the next chapter most likely happened because no women had joined Ezra's expedition.
The decree behind this verse left the choice open.
Edward DennettThe king decrees that "any of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you" (v. 13). Cyrus had given the same privilege, as we see in Ezra 1. Now, after many years, the Spirit of God works once more through the king to deliver His people. But no human force was allowed: if a man went up, he must go of his own free will, for God would have willing servants. If under constraint, it must be only that of the Holy Spirit.
Down to the temple servants
The list runs from priests at the top down to the temple servants, called the Nethinim in older translations. Their name tells you their place.
Morrish Bible DictionaryThe name means 'given, devoted ones.' It was used for those who helped the Levites in the service of the tabernacle and the temple… God does not appear to have appointed them, as He did the Levites. Instead 'David and the princes' appointed them 'for the service of the Levites.' Ezra 8:20… After the return from exile the Nethinim are called the 'ministers of this house of God.' Like the priests and Levites, they paid no 'toll, tribute, or custom.' Ezra 7:24.
Writing on the earlier list of these same classes, one commentator draws out why God names such people:
H. L. RossierThese humble jobs are very valuable in the eyes of the Lord… It is the same today. Whether it is serving tables, passing the bread and the cup, or taking care of the "upper room", the Lord forgets none of it. He records the names of those who have kept this service, and they deserve it as much as anyone else.
Singers on the road
Singers travelled out of Babylon with both companies. One writer turns that detail into a picture of our own journey.
J. G. BellettThe returning captives probably sang these songs, for 200 singers are counted with Zerubbabel, and others with Ezra, when each company came out of Babylon. (See Ezra 2:64-65, Ezra 7:7) We should follow that happy pattern and sing in spirit too. Our journey runs from Babylon to Jerusalem — from man's city to God's city — from this present evil world to the world to come.
Under a foreign king, yet under God's hand
A Persian court authorised this return to Jerusalem — not a normal state of affairs for Israel.
The Bible TreasuryThey were not only few and feeble, but unfaithful… But their turning away from God had now laid them at the feet of the Gentile world-power. In His compassion God worked anyway: first by prophets and His own word, and now by help that came at the king's word from Babylon. And the faithful priest who had the king's confidence comes up to Jerusalem. He calls the remnant back to the law of the LORD, which they had neglected and broken.
"The seventh year of Artaxerxes"
This date matters to students of prophecy. Artaxerxes gave two separate commands, and commentators differ over which one Daniel points to.
William KellyThe king gave the first command to Ezra the scribe, "in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king." In the twentieth year of the same king's reign, he gave another command to Nehemiah. Now it is important for us to decide which of these two Daniel means… But Scripture alone can decide the questions that arise out of Scripture.
Summary
- Willing — God forced no one out of Babylon. He wanted volunteers, and the only pressure allowed was the Spirit's.
- Few — the decree was generous and the funds ample, yet most stayed in Babylon; only men went, and the journey stayed an act of faith.
- Named — God records those who did go, class by class, from priests down to the temple servants whose name means "given ones."
- Valued — the Lord forgets no lowly service; those who do it deserve their place in the record as much as anyone.
- Singing — a small, weak company still travelled with singers, the pattern for anyone journeying from man's city to God's.