Ezra 7:8

Ezr 7:8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which [was] in the seventh year of the king.

Ver. 8. And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month] So that they were four months in coming; and that which upheld them was, that they should shortly see the face of God in Zion, Psa 84:7. Popish pilgrims, though they have many a weary step, and meet with much hardship, besides loss of their estates, yet satisfy themselves in this, We have what we came for, viz. the sight of some dumb idol. What then should not we do or suffer to see God in his ordinances, in holy assemblies!

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.

That contained part of July, and part of August.

Of king Darius.

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

he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month--that is, corresponding to the end of our July or beginning of our August. As he left Babylon on the Jewish New Year's Day (Ezr 7:9), the journey must have occupied not less than four months (a long period), but it was necessary to move at a slow pace and by short, easy stages, as he had to conduct a large caravan of poor people, including women, children, and all their household gear (see on Ezr 8:24).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 8. He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month] From the following verse we learn that Ezra and his company set off from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and thus we find they were upwards of four months on their journey. They could not travel fast, as they were a great company, composed in part of the aged and infirm, besides multitudes of women and children. They appear also to have taken a circuitous route. See on Ezr 8:24-32,

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(8) In the seventh year.—The repeated notes of time must be marked. The journey itself comes afterwards: it is here indicated as having occupied four months. Ezra’s company also is summarised beforehand, according to the manner of this book.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

8. And he came] This verse resumes Ezr_7:6. ‘He came’ at the same time with those enumerated in Ezr_7:7. The importance of this journey to Jerusalem centres in Ezra.

the fifth month] This was the month Ab, the Assyrian Abu, corresponding roughly with our ‘August’.

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.

And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month,.... With the above company; this was the month Abib, answering to part of July and part of August: which was in the seventh year of the king; as in the preceding verse.

And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month,.... With the above company; this was the month Abib, answering to part of July and part of August: which was in the seventh year of the king; as in the preceding verse.

Ezra 7:9

ezr 7:9

ezr 7:9

ezr 7:9For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon,.... The month Nisan, answering to part of March and part of April; this was New Year's day:

and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem; the first of the month Ab, as in the preceding verse; so that he was just four months on his journey:

according to the good hand of his God upon him; his power and providence, which gave him and his company health and strength, supplied them with everything necessary, directed, protected, and defended them, and brought them in safety to their journey's end.

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

8. The fifth month — Ab, corresponding nearly with our August.

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

And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month. From the ninth verse it appears that the first day of the first month the opening day of the year was selected for the commencement of the journey. This was no doubt viewed as an auspicious day for beginning an important undertaking. The time occupied on the way was exactly four months, which is longer than might have been supposed to be necessary. Herodotus reckoned it a three months journey from Sardis to Susa (ver. 53), and the younger Cyrus conducted an army from Ephesus to Cunaxa, near Babylon, in ninety- three marching days (Xen, "Anab" 2 1, the distance in either case being considerably more than that from Babylon to Jerusalem, even supposing the route followed to have been by Balis and Aleppo. But a caravan, like an army, requires rests; and we hear of one such rest at Ahava. (Ezr_8:15) Cyrus gave his troops more days of rest than of movement, and took half the year to reach Cunaxa from Ephesus. We need not be surprised, therefore, that Ezra"s journey occupied four months. Some delay must almost certainly have been caused by the perils of the route. (see Ezr_8:31)

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

fifth month

i.e. August.

The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

the fifth month

This is the fifth month of the Hebrew calendar. It is during the last part of July and the first part of August on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

the first day of the first month

This is near the middle of March on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

the first day of the fifth month

This is near the middle of July on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

the good hand of God

"Hand" represents the power or control that God uses for good results. (See: Metonymy)

Ezra had established his heart to study

Establishing his heart represents firmly deciding or committing himself to do something. AT: "Ezra committed his life to study" (See: Metaphor)

carry out

"obey"

the statutes and decrees of the law of Yahweh

These were the laws that God passed down to Israel through Moses.

translationWords

Jerusalem

year

Babylon

day

decree

law

Yahweh

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

in the fifth month i.e., the month of Av, for the first of the month of Nissan was the beginning of their ascent from Babylon, and on the first of the month of Av they arrived in Jerusalem.

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.