Ezra 8:36

Ezr 8:36 And they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

Ver. 36. And they furthered the people] Heb. They gave them a lift, lent them a helping hand; not out of love to the work, but for fear of the king, and in pursuance of his commands and commissions. Thus the devil and his imps sometimes do God’s will, though with an ill will, Psa 109:31. They continue this day according to thine ordinances; for all are thy servants. How much better were it to work from a right principle, not by constraint, but willingly; not for fear of wrath, but of a ready mind, 1Pe 5:2; to love to be God’s servants, taking hold of his covenant, Isa 56:6, and saying to him, as the people did to Joshua, Jos 1:16, or as the rulers and elders to Jehu, 2Ki 10:5, "We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us."

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.

Ezr 8:36. They delivered the king’s commissions to the lieutenants, and they furthered the people — Even the enemies of the Jews became their friends, yielded to Ezra’s commission, and, instead of hindering the people of God, furthered them, purely out of complaisance to the king. When he appeared moderate, they all coveted to appear so too. And the house of God — The completion of which they furthered, adorning and furnishing it with these vessels and other conveniences, and promoting God’s worship and service therein.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 36. The king's lieutenants] אחשדרפני achashdarpeney: this is generally understood to mean lieutenant or deputy, and is probably of Persian origin, though here greatly corrupted. The Vulgate renders it regis satrapis, to the satraps of the king, which is the Persian [Persian] satrab. A viceroy in Persian is [Persian] soubah-dar; viceroys, [Persian] soubahdaran. [Persian] darafreen signifies a person in whom one has confidence; and [Persian] achi is an epithet of a vizir. These two words conjoined will make nearly that of the text. But I do not give any of these etymologies with confidence. Other words might be proposed as candidates, but where there is so little certainty, conjecture is useless. Were it necessary a dissertation might be written on the Persian words, and Persian forms of speech, in this and the two following books; but probably after my toil few of my readers would thank me for my pains.

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

(36) And they delivered the king’s commissions.—First came sacrifices of burnt offering to God (Ezr_8:35); then, having rendered to God the things which were God’s, they render to Cæsar the things of Cæsar. They delivered the king’s commission, or firman, to the lieutenants or satraps in military authority, and to the governors, or pechahs, or pashas, in civil authority under them. The firman was of course accepted and acted upon: “they furthered the people.”

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

36. the king’s commissions] i.e. especially those mentioned in Ezr_7:21-22; Ezr_7:24 which would concern the provincial administration, by requisitioning for supplies and by exemption from taxation.

The word rendered “commissions” occurs elsewhere in the O.T. only in the Aramaic sections, e.g. = ‘law’ Ezr_7:12; Ezr_7:14; Ezr_7:21; Ezr_7:25-26; Dan_2:9; Dan_6:5; Dan_6:8; Dan_6:12; “decree” Dan_2:13; Dan_2:15.

the king’s lieutenants] R.V. the king’s satraps. A Persian word found in Est_3:12; Est_8:9; Est_9:3, and in Dan_3:2-3; Dan_3:27; Dan_6:2-4; Dan_6:7-8. In Hebrew it is transliterated as “akhashdarpan”.

In the Persian inscriptions ‘khshatrapava’ occurs frequently as “governor of a district”. It is probably the same as our satrap, which is derived from the Greek (σατράπης).

The LXX. rendering (διοικηταῖς) reminds us of the original extensive area implied by the word ‘diocese’.

and to the governors] The ‘governor’ or ‘pekhah’, cf. Tatnai Ezr_5:3-4 and Zerubbabel Ezr_6:7; Hag_1:1 &c. (LXX. ἐπάρχοις).

The ‘satrap’ was governor of a province; the ‘pekhah’ administered the affairs of a petty kingdom or a small district.

on this side the river] R.V. beyond the river. See note on Ezr_4:10.

and they furthered the people &c.] The word “furthered” is the same in Hebr. as that rendered “help” in Ezr_1:4; it conveniently reproduces the ‘zeugma’ of the Hebrew construction, by which the same verb is used of assistance to the people and of decoration for the Temple.

The LXX. ἐδόξασαν, Vulg. elevaverunt, give common but here in appropriate renderings.

The royal decree turned the scale in favour of the Jews. Officials now aided them. Foreign countries ceased to be neutral.

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.

The kings commissions - i. e., the orders issued to all governors of provinces near Judaea by Artaxerxes, given in Ezr 7:21-24.

The kings lieutenants - literally, “the king’s satraps.” The word is used in its strict sense, referring to the chief rulers of Persian provinces, from which the “governors” or rulers of smaller districts are distinguished.

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

Lords, (satrapis.) 3 Esdras, "to the royal officers and governors of Cœlosyria and Phenicia; and they glorified," &c. --- Furthered, by their assistance (Haydock) and praise. They formed their sentiments, as is usual, by those of the king. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

In the adorning and furnishing of it with these vessels and other conveniences; and in promoting God’s worship and service therein.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

36. Lieutenants — Hebrew, achash-darpenim; satraps. “The genuine form of this name, which has lately been found in the inscriptions of ancient India, is ksatrapa, that is, warrior of the host.” — Gesenius. In the Behistun inscription it is written khshatrapava. These were among the highest officers of the Persian government, and in their several provinces were representatives of the king. Governors, like Tatnai, (see note on Ezr_5:3,) were rulers and superintendents of smaller districts under the satraps.

They furthered the people — Literally, lifted them, or as we say, gave them a lift. They not only gave them no opposition, but even showed them favour, and helped them in their work.

And the house of God — This had been finished and dedicated, (Ezr_8:15-17,) but doubtless needed still much in the way of beautifying and adorning.

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

And they delivered the king"s commissions. Parts of Ezra"s firman concerned vitally the other provincial governors, and had of necessity to be communicated to them. Such were the provisoes concerning Ezra"s power of drawing upon the provincial treasuries for corn, wine, oil, salt, and money, (Ezr_7:22, Ezr_7:23) and concerning the exemption of all ranks of the Jewish sacred order from taxation of any kind whatsoever (ibid. ver. 24). Unto the king"s lieutenants, and to the governors. The word translated "lieutenants" is that which corresponds to the Persian term "satrap," and designates the highest class of the Persian provincial governors. That translated "governor" is the term which has been already applied by Ezra to Tatnai (Ezr_5:3, Ezr_5:4) and Zerubbabel. (Ezr_6:7) It denotes a lower grade of official. They furthered the people. The satraps and lower officials, on being made acquainted with the king"s wishes, readily complied with them, and became supporters and favourers of the Jewish people.

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

And they gave the king’s decrees These returnees from exile related King Darius’s mandate to the officers of the king, those who see his face.

and the governors Heb. וּפַחֲווֹת, like וְפַחוֹת.

the land beyond the river those on the side of the land of Israel, who are considered as being beyond the river of the inhabitants of Babylon.

and they exalted They were exalting and assisting.

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.