Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 7:13
I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and [of] his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
13. Permission to Jews to return with Ezra to Jerusalem.
I make a decree ] The same phrase as in Ezr 4:19, Ezr 6:8; Ezr 6:11.
all they of the people of Israel ] Cf. Cyrus’s decree Ezr 1:3 ‘Whosoever there is among all his people’. Here, by the side of ‘the priests and Levites’, the expression, as in Ezr 7:27, should be compared with Ezr 2:2.
of his priests ] R.V. their priests, i.e. the priests of the people.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 13. Their own free-will] None shall be forced either to go or to stay. He who loves his God will avail himself of this favourable opportunity.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I make a decree,…. Which, according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, when signed, might not be changed, Da 6:8,
that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm; who remained there, and took not the benefit of the edict of Cyrus, which gave them leave to go; but neglecting the opportunity, it seems as if they could not now go out of the realm without a fresh grant, which is hereby given:
which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee; this decree did not oblige them to go whether they would or not; for they might, notwithstanding this, continue if they pleased; it only gave them leave to make use of the present opportunity of going along with Ezra, if they chose it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ezr 7:13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and [of] his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
Ver. 13. And of his priests ] sc. The God of heaven’s priests, Ezr 7:12 , and therefore honoured and respected by this great monarch; so was Samuel by Saul, Jaddus by Alexander the Great; the Bards (anciently) here in Albion by the greatest commanders.
Which are minded of their own freewill
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
decree. This decree (verses: Ezr 7:12-26) is in Clialdee. not in Hebrew. An inscription found at Susa commences with the same words.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Ezr 7:13-17
Ezr 7:13-17
EZRA WAS COMMANDED TO GO TO JERUSALEM
“I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee. Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand, and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, and all the silver and gold that thou shalt find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; therefore thou shalt with all diligence buy with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meal-offerings and their drink-offerings, and shalt offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.”
“Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and his seven counsellors” (Ezr 7:14). The first clause here may also be translated, “Forasmuch as thou art sent from before the king,” indicating the possibility that Ezra was the holder of some high official position in the government of Artaxerxes. This is supported by the vast authority conveyed to Ezra by this commission, which was supported also by the seven counsellors of the king.
“The law of thy God which is in thy hand” (Ezr 7:14). This was a copy of the Torah, the law of Moses.
“Whose habitation is in Jerusalem” (Ezr 7:15). Rawlinson construed this remark as merely a reference to the temple in Jerusalem, stating that, “Artaxerxes did not believe that the God of Israel was merely a local deity.” His reference to the God of Israel as the God of heaven in Ezr 7:21 indicates that this is true.
“And all the silver and gold that thou shalt find … in all the province of Babylon” (Ezr 7:16). This refers to all of the freewill-offerings which Ezra might be able to receive in a widespread fund-raising campaign.
E.M. Zerr:
Ezr 7:13. A decree is about the same as a judicial sentence, in that it has the authority of the power in force at the time all back of it. This document was put into the hand of Ezra, but its benefits were to be extended to the people of his race. That no misunderstanding might be had as to who could benefit by it, the various classes were named; people of Israel, priests and Levites. The decree does not dictate that any should act against his will. Only those who were minded of their own freewill were to be affected. Hence it would have been unlawful for Ezra to try to compel any of the Jews to go with him, if he were to base his order on the authority of the king.
Ezr 7:14. Seven counselors was an advisory board in the service of the Persian king. They joined with him in authorizing Ezra to make this journey to Jerusalem. It was understood that he was to make an investigation into conditions in the former capital of Israel. Said investigation was to be made in the light of the law supposed to govern the practice of that city. A copy of that law was then given to Ezra.
Ezr 7:15. A heathen like Artaxerxes would not understand the full omnipresence of God as we do. His conception of him was that he was a God with a certain dwelling place. Hence we have him describing God as having his habitation in Jerusalem.
Ezr 7:16. The silver and gold that Ezra could “find” would be that which he, as an authorized collector of revenue, would be able to lay hold of. In addition to such treasury, the people could bring forth out of their private stores of wealth, very much silver and gold. Ezra was hereby empowered to take all this wealth with him to Jerusalem, to be used in the temple service.
Ezr 7:17. The money collected could not be used directly in the service of the house of God. But it could be used to buy animals and other articles for such use.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
I make: Ezr 5:13, Ezr 6:1, 2Ch 30:5, Est 3:15, Est 9:14, Psa 148:6
minded: Ezr 1:3, Psa 110:3, Phi 2:13, Rev 22:17
Reciprocal: 2Ch 36:23 – Who is there Ezr 7:21 – Artaxerxes Ezr 7:23 – Whatsoever is commanded Ezr 8:1 – them that went up Psa 68:29 – shall Dan 6:26 – make Jon 1:9 – the God
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7:13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and [of] his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill {g} to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
(g) Who still remained in Babylon and had not returned with Zerubbabel.