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Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 7:6

Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 7:6

This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he [was] a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

6 10. Arrival at Jerusalem

6. went up from Babylon ] i.e. to Jerusalem, cf. Ezr 1:11, Ezr 2:1. It will be observed that this description of Ezra is given in the 3rd person. At Ezr 7:27 there is a change to the 1st person.

and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses ] Cf. Ezr 7:10; Ezr 7:12.

‘the scribe’ (Hebr. Sophr) in the days of the Monarchy was the king’s State Secretary or Chancellor. Cf. Seraiah, the scribe (2Sa 8:17), Sheva, the scribe (2Sa 20:25) = Shavsha (1Ch 18:16): Elihoreph and Ahijah, scribes (1Ki 4:3): Shebna, the scribe (2Ki 18:18, &c.): Shaphan, the scribe (2Ki 22:3). Cf. Gemariah (Jer 36:10), Elishama (Jer 36:12), Jonathan (Jer 37:15).

During the latter days of the Monarchy, the name began to receive a special meaning as applied to those who were occupied in studying and copying the documents containing the sacred laws of the nation, e.g. Jer 8:8 ‘How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes hath wrought falsely’.

After the Captivity, the increased importance of the written law and the necessity of explaining its obligation upon the people brought ‘the scribes’ into great prominence. ‘The scribe’ took the place of the prophet and, in his influence upon his countrymen, eclipsed the priest. The name of Ezra is associated with the development of ‘the scribe’ and he is designated ‘the scribe’ as by an honourable title in Ezr 7:11, and Neh 8:1. He was the typical representative and in a measure the founder of the later type of scribes. Devoted to the minute study of the written law, he sought to expound it to his people and to impress upon them the duty of its rigid observance. (See Introduction.) To the same class perhaps belonged ‘the teachers’ mentioned in Ezr 8:16, and ‘Zadok the scribe’ (Neh 13:13).

The word ‘ready’ is the same as appears elsewhere in the O.T. only in Psa 45:1 ‘a ready writer’. Pro 22:29 ‘ diligent in his business’. Isa 16:5 ‘ swift to do righteousness’. A ‘ready scribe’ would be one prompt and skilful in interpreting the difficulties of the law. His quickness is the dexterity of his erudition, not of his pen.

the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given ] R.V. the Lord the God of Israel, cf. Ezr 1:3. ‘The law of Moses’, see Ezr 3:2, Ezr 6:18, and cf. 1Ki 2:3, 2Ki 14:6; 2Ki 21:8.

The Divine origin of the law is here asserted with reverent emphasis. The expression is well illustrated by Mal 4:4 ‘the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and judgements’ and Neh 8:14 ‘The law which the Lord had commanded by Moses’.

all his request ] What the request was, which Ezra preferred to Artaxerxes, we are not told, but are left to gather it from the letter of Artaxerxes (12 26). The word ‘request’ in the Hebrew denotes an eager quest, and occurs elsewhere in the O.T. only in the book of Esther (Ezr 5:3; Ezr 5:7-8, Ezr 7:3, Ezr 9:12).

according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him ] This expression is characteristic of the writer. It occurs again Ezr 7:28, with the adjective ‘good’, Ezr 7:9, Ezr 8:18; Neh 2:8; Neh 2:18, and in a slightly different form Ezr 8:22; Ezr 8:31. ‘The hand of the Lord’ denotes the merciful favour, as may be seen from the context here and in Ezr 7:28, even without the addition of the adjective good: cf. ‘the eye of the Lord’, chap. Ezr 5:5. Similar is the phrase in 2Ch 30:12. From that ‘hand’ comes discipline as well as bounty, Job 2:10 ‘Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?’ Job 19:21 ‘the hand of God hath touched me’. In adversity ‘the hand of the Lord’ is described as ‘ against ’, not ‘upon’ a person. See Deu 2:15; Rth 1:13.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

A ready scribe – Or, a ready writer Psa 45:1. The professional scribe was well known in Egypt from an early date (see Gen 39:4 note); and under David and his successors scribes were attached to the court as the kings secretaries (2Sa 8:17; 2Sa 20:25; 2Ki 12:10, etc.). It was scarcely, however, until the time of the captivity that the class to which Ezra belonged arose. The scribes of this time, and of later Jewish history, were students, interpreters, and copiers of the Law (see the marginal references and Jer 8:8). They retained the knowledge of the old dialect, which was being rapidly superseded by a new one. The emphatic application of the title the scribe to Ezra marks the high honor in which the office was now held. Its glories eclipsed those of the priesthood.

The hand of the Lord … upon him – The use of this phrase in a good sense is rare elsewhere (compare 1Ki 18:46), but is a favorite one with both Ezra and Nehemiah (see the marginal references; Neh 2:8, Neh 2:18).

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 6. A ready scribe] sopher machir does not merely signify a speedy writer or an excellent penman, but one who was eminently skilful in expounding the law. In this sense the word , scribe, is repeatedly used in the New Testament, and we find that both in the Old and New Testament it had the same signification. The Syriac gives the sense of the word by translating [Persian] sophro chocimo, a wise scribe, or expounder.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Ezra went up from Babylon, with the kings consent and commission.

A ready scribe, i.e. a learned and expert doctor; for in that sense the word scribe is oft used, as Jer 8:8; Mat 7:29; Mat 17:10; 23:2,13; Mr 12:28, compared with Mat 22:35,36.

According to the hand of the Lord his God upon him, i.e. by the grace and favour of God so disposing the heart of the king.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

6. This Ezra . . . was a readyscribe in the law of MosesThe term “scribe” does notmean merely a penman, nor even an attorney well versed in forms oflaw and skilled in the method of preparing public or private deeds.He was a rabbi, or doctor, learned in the Mosaic law, and in all thatrelated to the civil and ecclesiastical polity and customs of theHebrew people. Scribes of this description possessed great authorityand influence (compare Mat 23:25;Mar 12:28).

the king granted him all hisrequestleft Babylon entrusted with an important commission tobe executed in Jerusalem. The manner in which he obtained this officeis minutely related in a subsequent passage. Here it is noticed, butwith a pious acknowledgment of the divine grace and goodness whichdisposed the royal mind in favor of Ezra’s patriotic objects. TheLevites, &c., did not go at that time, but are mentioned here byanticipation.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

This Ezra went up from Babylon,…. A second time; for that he went up with Zerubbabel is clear from Ne 12:1, and is plainly intimated, Ezr 5:4,

and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given; the meaning is, not that he had a quick hand in writing out copies of it, but was well versed in the knowledge of it; had studied it thoroughly, well instructed in it, and was abundantly qualified to teach it others; he was an eminent doctor of the law; so scribes, in the New Testament, who are the same with the lawyers, were such as were teachers of the law; the word here used in the Arabic language signifies to be expert, as Jarchi o learned from one of their doctors:

and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him; either upon Ezra, giving him favour with the king, and so success and prosperity; or it may denote the divine influence of the God of Ezra upon the heart of the king, moving him to grant what he asked of him, even everything he desired: he seems to have been sent upon an embassy to the king from the chief men at Jerusalem; perhaps the governors of Syria had not so fully made the disbursements the king in his decree had required them to make, since the following commission chiefly respects such things; and he was sent on that errand to acquaint the king with it, as well as to persuade those that remained to return, and to obtain leave for it.

o Comment. in Psal. xlv. 1. “acutus ingenio et solers fuit”, Golius, col. 2272. “in re exercitatus fuit et excultus”, Castel. col. 2008. Ethiop. “docuit, erudivit”, ib. col. 2007.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(6) A ready scribe.The ready writer of Psa. 45:1. Ezra was a priest, and this title is rightly placed before that of scribe in what follows; but here at the outset, when he first appears in history, the title is used which expressed his pre-eminent function, that of guarding and interpreting the law (Ezr. 7:10).

All his request.This anticipates the letter of Ezr. 7:11; a series of supplementary notes intervenes.

According to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.The full formula for that special providence over Gods servants which both Ezra and Nehemiah recognised.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

6. A ready scribe in the law of Moses Not merely skilled as a copyist, the lowest function of a scribe, but a man thoroughly versed in the history and meaning of the law. From the time of the exile the office of scribe obtained among the Jews a character and worth that it never had before. From being a sort of secretary to the king, (see note on 2Sa 8:17,) he now came to be a professional student and expounder of the sacred books. The age of Ezra was a time when the exiles would be especially anxious to gather up and preserve the ancient laws, and all the sacred literature of their nation. The masses of the people had lost the use of the ancient language, and spoke the Aramaic. The times demanded a class of men competent to collect and transcribe the sacred books, and to explain what was difficult and obscure in them. Ezra seemed providentially raised up for this position and work, and, according to Ezr 7:10, “had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” This ever after was the high office and work of the scribes in Israel, an order of men of which Ezra may be called the founder, and which superseded and took the place of the schools of the prophets (1Sa 10:5, note) of which Samuel was the founder.

All his request Ezra had probably asked the king for permission and authority to go up with a body of the exiles to Jerusalem. Perhaps he also made request for the silver and gold and other gifts which the king ordered to be given to him. Ezr 7:14-22.

According to the hand of the Lord upon him According as it was evident from his abilities and devotion to the law of his God, that he was a divinely-chosen instrument for some important mission.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ver. 6. A ready scribe The LXX, the Vulgate, and our translation, render the original words a ready scribe; as if to have a quick hand at writing out the law were any great perfection, or that an aged man, as Ezra was, should be renowned for it. It was not for writing, then, but for explaining the things of Scripture, that Ezra was so famous; for soper denotes one skilled and learned, from seper, a book; and, as no book was comparable to the book of the law, soper became a name of great dignity, and signified one who taught God’s law, and instructed the people out of it. In which sense we find the word , or scribes, used in the New Testament; for when our Saviour is said to have taught the people as one having authority, and not as the scribes, this plainly shews, that these scribes were not transcribers, but teachers and expounders of the law, though they did not do it with a proper authority. It can hardly be imagined but that some more than ordinary means were used to obtain so great a favour from Artaxerxes, as this commission was upon which Ezra went; and therefore we may suppose, that it was granted at the solicitation of Esther; for this Artaxerxes was the Ahasuerus of Esther. She was become the best-beloved of the king’s concubines, though not yet advanced to the dignity of queen; for it being usual for the kings of Persia, on some particular days and occasions, to allow their women to ask what boons they pleased, it is not unlikely that, by the direction of Mordecai, upon some such occasion as this, Esther, though she had not discovered her kingdom and nation, might make this the matter of her request.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

We ought to pause over this account, short as it is, of Ezra’s character. A scribe was one conversant with the Scriptures; and as Ezra was a ready scribe, and had dedicated himself particularly to this service, no doubt the thing was of the Lord. For as the Holy Ghost hath caused his writings to be so faithfully preserved and handed down to us, and as from their great importance in this part of the church’s history they form so interesting a portion of God’s sacred word, we cannot be at a loss to discover the work of the blessed Spirit accompanying all his labours with success. Reader! think if Ezra was so earnest in the study of the books of the scripture which were extant in his day, and in which Jesus was so little known, compared to our vast privileges in this gospel day in which we live; how ought we to be alive in searching those precious scriptures, where Jesus forms the sum and substance of every book and chapter! Dear Lord! grant me grace to be unceasingly enquiring after thee in the word of thy truth, that I may be made wise unto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus! It is somewhat remarkable that Ezra should have been left so long in Babylon after the return of the children of the captivity. But it should seem that the Lord had work for him there to do. The obtaining this commission from the king for the great purposes conceived in Ezra’s mind, seems to explain the cause of his detention there very fully. From all calculations, however, as the temple was now built, it must have been many years.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Ezr 7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he [was] a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

Ver. 6. This Ezra went up from Babylon ] Together with many others, who were moved thereunto by his example and authority. He was (as one saith of Tiberius) imperio magnus, exemplo maior. Great men are looking glasses, according to which most men dress themselves; let them look to it, therefore, and shine as lamps.

And he was a ready scribe ] Or a nimble textman: his office was to write out copies of the law, and to interpret it. He wrote (say some) the Hebrew Bible out in Chaldee letters (the same that we now call Hebrew, the ancient Hebrew characters remained with the Samaritans) for the use of his countrymen returned out of Chaldea. He first ordained (say others) the vowels, accents, and Masoreth. A great scholar he was, and excellently well seen in the learning of Scripture: to which all other skill is but straminea candela, a rush candle, a small light, that serveth but to light men into utter darkness. Be wise be learned, saith the Psalmist; but in addition serve the Lord with fear, kiss the Son, &c., Psa 2:12 otherwise ye may be as learned as Varro, that general scholar; as Albertus Magnus, quem nihil penitus fugit, omnia perfecte novit, who knew whatsoever was knowable, as one saith of him or as Tostatus (otherwise called Abulensis), qui omnium scientiarum doctrinarumque arca fuit et emporium, saith Bonosius, that writes his life who was a living library; and yet ye may perish everlastingly. The Jews called their learned men Scribes, as the Persians did theirs Magi the French, Druids; the Indians, Brahmans &c. But he that is not a scribe instructed, and instructing others, to the kingdom of heaven Mat 13:52 , shall hear, “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world?” 1Co 1:20 , Sapientes sapienter in infernum descendent The wise, wisely descend into hell. (Aug.).

Which the Lord God of Israel had given ] The moral law, with his own immediate mouth (so that he might say with Joseph, Gen 45:12 , “Behold, your eyes see, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you”), the other laws he ordained by angels in the hand of a Mediator, i.e. of Moses, Gal 3:19 . Hence Josephus calleth the Jewish polity a theocracy; and Prosper thinketh that they were called Judaei, because they received ius Dei, the Law from God. But we can give a better derivation from the Hebrew, viz. Jews, i.e. confessors, such as were those above, Ezr 5:11 .

And the king granted him all his request ] Giving him more and greater things than he dared desire. So great facility and flexibleness found he in this king, that he needed only to ask, and give thanks; as it is said of Tiberius, that he never denied his favourite Sejanus anything; but often prevented his request, and avowed that be deserved much more.

According to the hand of the Lord his God upon him ] i.e. His sweet and singular providence, ever watching over, and working for those that are good, 2Ch 19:11 . Such may well sit and sing as one did once,

Una est in trepida mihi re medicina, Iehovae

Cor patrium, Os verax, omnipotensque Manus.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

ready = skilful.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

a ready: Sopher mahir does not merely signify a speedy writer, or an excellent penman, but one eminently skilful in expounding the law, sophro chochmo, “a wise scribe,” as the Syriac renders. Ezr 7:11, Ezr 7:12, Ezr 7:21, Psa 45:1, Mat 13:52

scribe: Neh 8:4, Neh 8:9, Neh 8:13, Neh 12:26, Neh 12:36, Jer 8:8, 1Co 1:20

the law: Deu 4:5, Deu 28:1, Mat 28:20, 1Co 15:1, 1Th 4:1, 1Th 4:2

granted him: Ezr 7:11-26

according to: Ezr 7:9, Ezr 7:28, Ezr 6:22, Ezr 8:18, Ezr 8:22, Ezr 8:31, Gen 32:28, Neh 1:10, Neh 1:11, Neh 2:8, Neh 2:12, Neh 2:18, Neh 4:15, Pro 3:6, Isa 50:2, Isa 59:1

Reciprocal: 1Ki 8:50 – and give them 1Ch 2:55 – the scribes 1Ch 24:6 – the scribe 2Ch 34:13 – scribes Ezr 5:5 – But the eye Ezr 7:10 – the law Ezr 9:9 – in the sight Neh 1:7 – which thou Est 2:9 – she obtained Pro 22:11 – the king Jer 40:5 – or go Mat 2:4 – scribes Mat 8:19 – certain Act 18:24 – mighty

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

A WELL-INSTRUCTED SCRIBE

Ezra a ready scribe.

Ezr 7:6

Here begins the second section of the book, that which gathers around the doings of Ezra.

I. Between the close of the sixth chapter and the commencement of this, sixty years have passed away.They had been to a very great extent uneventful years in the history of the people settled in Jerusalem. That the people had largely failed in the realisation of the purposes of Zerubbabel is evident from the work done by Ezra, and subsequently by Nehemiah.

II. The present chapter tells the story of the coming of Ezra, and there are two verses which explain the movement for us.They are Ezr 7:10; Ezr 7:23, in which we discover the individual inspiration in the case of Ezra and Artaxerxes. As to Ezra (Ezr 7:10) he was moved while still in Babylon toward the helping of his people in Jerusalem. In order to do this, he yielded himself personally to obedience to the law of God, and so prepared himself for his work of teaching. The verse should not be passed without noticing its suggestiveness for all such as are called, or feel they are called to teach. The order is, to seek, to do, to teach. Then in Ezr 7:23 there is an explanation of the personal reason for the decree and beneficence of Artaxerxes. Why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? It is perfectly evident that he had some very clear consciousness of the power of God.

III. The hand of God rests upon those who love His Word, and where it lights, there the hearts of men are inclined to help.The king granted all Ezras requests. Beneath the covert of that hand we can journey safely.

It is good to set our heart to seek Gods law, but searching must always be combined with doing, and when we do we have a right to teach. O God! give us the steadfast heart, set on knowing and performing Thy will. May the rudder of our soul be held by Thy strong hand, that it may vacillate beneath the touch of no cross current.

IV. See how Ezras love for Gods law impressed Artaxerxes with the conviction that it was perfect.He commanded also that the will of God should be the supreme court of reference to Ezra and his brethren in the disposal of the freewill offerings. He further enjoined that they should do exactly the commands of the God of heaven. He ordained that all who refused to do the will of God should be punished. So great was his respect for the law, that he left Ezra to do very much as he thought best. This reverence for Gods law on the part of a heathen monarch shames us. Oh, to make more of it ourselves! To be people of the Book, and to exalt it as we are exalted by it, in the judgment even of those who do not revere it!

Illustration

We may learn something of Ezras mode of speech by the references in the royal charter, which he bore with him. Evidently he had spoken a good deal of the law of his God, which was in his hand, of the altar of Gods house, of his direct allegiance to the God of heaven, and of the necessity of careful obedience. It would be a blessed result of our own walk with God if we could impress on our associates and contemporaries the urgent importance of the service of God. Oh, that God were such a living reality with us that our life and conversation might make Him a living, moving force in the experience of others!

Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary

Ezr 7:6. This Ezra went up from Babylon With the kings consent and commission. And he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses He is called a scribe, as Buxtorf observes in his Tiberias, not from writing and describing, but from declaring and explicating those things that are contained in the Scripture. For, as , sepher, signifies a book, so , sopher, signifies one skilful and learned in that book, an interpreter and teacher out of it. And, there being no book comparable to the book of the law, therefore Sopher became a name of great dignity, and signified one that taught Gods law, and expounded it to his people. Thus, in the New Testament, the scribes were those who instructed the people in the law. It is said he was a ready scribe, because he was expert in the law, and understood it thoroughly, both in all things belonging to the priesthood, and to the civil power; in which he was so well versed, that he could give a ready account of any part of it. The Jews say, he collected and collated all the copies of the law, and published an accurate edition of it, with all the books that were given by divine inspiration, and so made up the canon of the Old Testament. Moses in Egypt, and Ezra in Babylon, were wonderfully fitted for eminent service in the church. This was the second time that Ezra came up from Babylon, for he came up at first with Zerubbabel, as we learn from Neh 12:1, and probably returned to Babylon to persuade those who had staid behind to come up to Jerusalem, and to obtain some further assistance from the king. According to the hand of the Lord his God upon him God not only stirred up Ezra to this undertaking, but was so favourable to him as to incline the king to give a gracious answer to his petition.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he [was] a ready {c} scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

(c) He shows here what a scribe is, who had charge to write the law and to expound it. Whom Mark calls a scribe, Mr 12:28 , Matthew and Luke called a lawyer or doctor of the law, Mat 22:35, Lu 10:25.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes