Ezra 7:21

Ezr 7:21 And I, [even] I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which [are] beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

Ver. 21. Let it be done speedily] Without shucking and bucking, without delays and consults: I, even I will have it so, saith the great king; dispute not, therefore, but despatch: Quod ego volo, pro canone sit, because I wish, let him be for the writing, as Constantius the emperor said to Paulinus, Lucifer, and other dissenting bishops.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

7:21-22 The items listed were typically used as offerings in worship (cp. Exod 27:20; 29:2; Lev 2:4, 13; 14:10; Num 28:7).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Which was the river Euphrates, and they were beyond it in respect of Babylon.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

21. Credit to Ezra to be granted on local treasuries W. of the Euphrates. Limit of credit stated in Ezr_7:22.

treasurers] Officials to be found in each satrapy and province, (LXX. ταῖς γάζαις. Vulg. ‘custodibus arcæ publicæ’). On ‘gizbar’ a treasurer cf. Ezr_1:8.

beyond the river] i.e. this decree only applied to the financiers of the particular satrapy to which Jerusalem belonged.

Ezra the priest, the scribe, &c.] See on Ezr_7:12.

of you] The decree here addresses ‘the treasurers’.

speedily] R.V. with all diligence.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven,.... In the law given by Moses to the people of Israel:

let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven; for the service of it, particularly sacrifices:

for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? through the neglect of the service of God in the temple, and by reason of the default of the king's treasurers.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

All the treasurers - The Persian system of taxing the provinces through the satraps involved the establishment in each province of at least one local treasury.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

21. All the treasurers… beyond the river — The Persian system of finance provided for a royal treasury in every province.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vers. 21-24.

The decree of Artaxerxes to the treasurers.

Embodied in the letter of the Persian king to Ezra we have certain directions addressed through him to the treasurers beyond the river. These directions, though emanating from a heathen source, suggest the principles which should guide liberality in the cause of God, as to its measure, its spirit, and its reasons.

I THE MEASURE.

1. This should be generous. "Whatsoever Ezra the priest," etc.

(1) Provision for the immediate wants of the temple had already been made in the free gifts viz., from the king, from his counsellors, from his people in the province of Babylon, from the Jews abiding there (see vers. 15-20).

(2) This direction was intended to sustain the service in perpetuity. Fitful generosity is better than none; but principle, rather than emotion or passion, should guide. The cause of God should not languish for support until men make their wills and die.

(3) The ministers of the sanctuary were to be exempted from taxation (ver. 24). The reason is that they were dependent for support upon the gifts of the people; and it is respectful to their sacred office that they should be generously treated.

2. It should not be reckless.

(1) Here is a prescribed limit. "Unto," etc. (ver. 22). A talent of silver is estimated as equivalent to so here the limit is f40, 000. The measure (cor) is estimated at 86 gallons, so here the limit is 8600 gallons of wheat. The bath is seven gallons and five pints, so the limit of wine is 760 gallons.

(2) Two things should limit our liberality viz.,

(a) The necessity of the case.

(b) Our ability. If we give what is not ours we act fraudulently.

3. It should be religious. "Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven," etc. (ver. 23).

(1) The laws of God are reasonable, merciful, just.

(2) Therefore if "the scribe of the God of heaven," an inspired man, be he Ezra, Moses, or Paul, in the sacred writings, make demands, these should be respected.

(3) But this does not say that uninspired men, because in clerical orders, have any right dogmatically to prescribe to the laity. If there be no sphere for the right of private judgment, there is an end to individual responsibility.

II THE SPIRIT.

1. It should be diligent. "Let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven" (ver. 23).

(1) Sacred objects are fittingly called "charities," or objects of love. The cause of God in all its departments should be dear to us, and the claims of these will be diligently studied as a labour of love.

(2) Pains should be taken so to minister liberality that the maximum of good may be attained. Causes should be "sought out". (Job_29:16) Promiscuous relief may encourage deception, and what is given to the worthless is diverted from the worthy.

(3) Careless donors are responsible to God for the misery they might have alleviated by the use of diligence.

2. It should be prompt. "Let it be done speedily" (ver. 21).

(1) This note was rendered necessary by the tardy manner in which things are commonly done in the East. Through this slowness incalculable misery is endured. But "the king"s business requires haste.

(2) Much more the work of God. This is of the utmost importance. Eternal issues depend upon it. Time is running. Souls are perishing.

III THE REASONS.

1. It should be done unto God.

(1) Ezra was to receive from the treasurers what he needed viz., in his capacity as "the priest" and the "scribe of the law of the God of heaven." What he should need for the temple and the altar. What his learning in the law of God should instruct him was needful to the service of the God of heaven (ver. 23).

(2) No higher reason than this can be conceived.

2. The prosperity of the realm required it. "For why should wrath be against the realm?" The history of nations shows that as they became haughty against God they suffered adversity. Egypt. Old Canaan. Nineveh. Babylon.

(2) Why should not a blessing be upon the realm? Was not the hand of God conspicuous in the prosperity of Persia? (see Ezr_1:2) At this very time Longimanus began to be successful against a formidable rebellion in Egypt.

3. The happiness of the royal family is concerned.

(1) "Why should wrath be against the king?" The reverses of a nation are reverses to the king. But the king, like his subjects, has his individual responsibilities to God. His elevation no more exempts him than their obscurity conceals them from his claims upon the personal homage of intellect and heart.

(2) Why should wrath be against the king"s "sons"? God has set mankind in families, so "the seed of the righteous is blessed." History also shows how families are ruined by irreligion. The antediluvians. The posterity of Nebuchadnezzar. (see Dan_5:5) Money is a prodigious power for evil or for good. Those who have it should never cease to pray for grace to use it wisely. J.A.M.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Connecting Statement:

This continues the decree that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra.

the Province Beyond the River

This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. See how you translated it in Esra 4:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

that anything that Ezra asks from you should be given in full

This can be expressed in active form. "Give Ezra in full anything he asks of you" (See: Active or Passive)

should be given in full

The phrase "in full" here represents whatever quantity necessary to do the work. AT: "should be given as much as he needs" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

one hundred silver talents

"100 talents of silver." You may convert this to a modern measure. AT: "3,300 kilograms of silver" (See: Numbers and Biblical Weight)

one hundred cors of grain

You may convert this to a modern measure. AT: "22,000 liters of grain" or "twenty thousand liters of grain" (See: Biblical Volume and Numbers)

one hundred baths of oil

You may convert this to a modern measure. AT: 2,200 liters of oil" or "two thousand liters of oil" (See: Biblical Volume and Numbers)

his house

This refers to God's temple.

For why should his wrath come upon the kingdom of me and my sons?

The king uses this question to say that he does not want God's wrath to come upon them. The implied information is that if they do not do give Ezra what he needs, then God will punish the kingdom. AT: "For we do not want God's wrath to come upon the kingdom of me and my sons." or "For if you do not do these things, God's wrath will come upon the kingdom of me and my sons." (See: Rhetorical Question)

For why should his wrath come upon the kingdom of me and my sons

God's wrath represents God punishing them. AT: "For why should God punish the kingdom of me and my sons" or "For if you do not do these things, God will punish the kingdom of me and my sons" (See: Metonymy)

translationWords

king

Artaxerxes

decree

Ezra

wine

God

heaven

wrath

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

And from me—I And from me—I, King Darius—is issued a command and an authorization to all the treasurers who are on the other side of the river of the side of Israel, who receive my taxes from the nations, that anything that Ezra the priest, the scholar of the Law of the Holy One, blessed be He, requests of you, shall be performed quickly. They should not delay his request up to a hundred talents of silver, with which to purchase sacrifices, and a hundred kors of wheat for meal-offerings, and up to a hundred measures of wine for the libations, and a hundred measures of oil to mingle the meal- offerings, and salt for the sacrifices, according to the matter that is stated (Lev. 2:13): “And every meal-offering you shall salt with salt.”

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.