Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 8:16
Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
16. Then sent I for Eliezer, &c.] “ For ”. ( a) The preposition in the original is sometimes found as the sign of the object: thus 2Ch 17:7, A.V., “he sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail”, R.V. “he sent his princes, even Benhail”, &c. This is the alternative rendering (“then sent I Eliezer”) of the Vulgate (misi Eliezer et Ariel et Semejam, &c.) and the Syriac, and gives the most natural sense. Ezr 8:16 then gives the general fact, Ezr 8:17 the details of the mission. ( b) The rendering of the A.V., R.V. and LXX. ( ) is quite literal: Ezr 8:16 then contains Ezra’s summons to these leading men: Ezr 8:17 the mission, with which he empowers them, upon their coming into his presence. Of these two renderings the first seems to give the better sense. It hardly seems suited to the context to mention that Ezra, who commanded the whole assembly, summoned to his presence certain leading men before sending them upon an important mission. On the other hand it was quite in keeping with Ezra’s position to despatch such men upon his errand at once; and while the first verse (Ezr 8:16) records the fact of the message and the names of the leading men, whom he sends, the second verse (Ezr 8:17) describes the object and purpose of the mission. The peculiar usage of the preposition is quite in character with the style of the Hebrew in the books. The probability that this is the correct rendering is increased by the variation in the reading of Ezr 8:17 (see note).
chief men] Literally ‘heads’: not ‘the heads’ referred to in Ezr 8:1, but certain leaders.
men of understanding ] R.V. which were teachers. Marg. which had understanding. The word in the original occurs in Neh 8:7 (R.V. ‘caused to understand’); 1Ch 15:22; 1Ch 25:7 (R.V. ‘skilful’); 2Ch 34:12 (R.V. ‘that could skill of’).
Joiarib and Elnathan receive a distinguishing epithet corresponding to the ‘chief men’ applied to the other names. It is not probable that a merely general epithet describing mental capacity should be given to two out of the party of ten. The word therefore is better rendered “teachers”, describing their position, than ‘men of understanding’, describing their abilities (LXX. , Vulg. sapientes).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Then sent I for Eliezer to come to me, and go along with me to Jerusalem. Men of understanding; who seem to have had more knowledge than pious zeal for God and his house and solemn worship, which was confined to Jerusalem.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16-20. then sent I for Eliezer . . .with commandment unto Iddo the chiefEzra sent this deputation,either by virtue of authority which by his priestly character he hadover the Levites, or of the royal commission with which he wasinvested. The deputation was despatched to Iddo, who was a prince orchief of the Nethinimsfor the Persian government allowed theHebrews during their exile to retain their ecclesiastical governmentby their own chiefs, as well as to enjoy the privilege of freeworship. Iddo’s influence procured and brought to the camp at Ahavathirty-eight Levites, and two hundred twenty Nethinims, thedescendants of the Gibeonites, who performed the servile duties ofthe temple.
Ezr8:21-36. A FASTPROCLAIMED.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding. These were all in the camp, in some part of it, to whom Ezra sent messengers to come unto him; three of them are of the same name; the first nine were men of chief note, rank, and dignity in their family, and the other two were noted for men of good sense, and that could speak to a case well, and so fit to be sent on such an affair as they were.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(16) Men of understanding.Teachers, and perhaps priests. These were joined with nine chief men as a deputation to Iddo.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. Eliezer Ariel chief men These were principal men among Ezra’s companions who had already assembled at Ahava, and whom he used as chief assistants. The nine first named are called chief men, probably from being the most distinguished and influential elders among them; the last two are distinguished as men of understanding, being skilled, probably, in the law, as Ezra was, and competent to instruct the people.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
I admire the promptness of the Levites in coming forward at the call. And I equally admire the piety of Ezra in ascribing this readiness of the sons of Levi to the good hand of God.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Ezr 8:16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
Ver. 16. Men of understanding ] Of special note for their wisdom and eloquence; such as could present to the people good matter well habited, and could well express their expositions of the law, being themselves wise, and willing to wise others, as the Hebrew word signifieth, Dan 12:3 . Men of understanding, and ready to instruct many, Dan 11:33 . Such a man as this is worth his weight in gold,
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
for. The Syriac and Vulgate omit the word “for” throughout this verse, and read “then sent I Eliezer”, &c, as in Ezr 8:17.
chief men = heads.
men of understanding. Figure of speech Antimereia (of Noun), App-6= wise and prudent men, especially for teaching.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Shemaiah: Ezr 8:13, Ezr 10:21
Nathan: Ezr 10:39
Zechariah: Ezr 8:11
chief men: Ezr 8:1
men of understanding: Ezr 8:18, 1Ki 3:11, 1Ch 12:32, 1Ch 26:14, 2Ch 2:12, Pro 2:6, Pro 20:5, Pro 28:2, Dan 2:21, 2Ti 2:7, 1Jo 5:20
Reciprocal: Neh 6:10 – Shemaiah Neh 11:10 – Jedaiah
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ezr 8:16. Then sent I for Eliezer, &c. To come to me, and go along with me to Jerusalem. He sent for these eleven persons, that he might employ them in a message to a place where he knew there were a great many Levites, as it follows in the next verse. Also for Joiarib and Elnathan, men of understanding Who seem to have had more knowledge than pious zeal for God and his house, and solemn worship, which was confined to Jerusalem.