Ezra 7:24 - Matthew Henry

Ezra 7:24

22 up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred kors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribed limit.

23 Whatever¹ is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the² house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

24 Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God.

25 And you, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, ^aset magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and ^bteach those who do not know them.

26 Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be death, or¹ banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.

27 ^aBlessed¹ be the Lord God of our fathers, ^bwho has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem,

28 and ^ahas extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. So I was encouraged, as ^bthe hand of the Lord my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.

Commentaries:

Matthew Henry

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Ezra 7:25 >>

Ezra 7:1-28

Ezra goes up to Jerusalem. (1-10) The commission to Ezra. (11-26) Ezra blesses God for his favour. (27,28)

Verses 1-10 Ezra went from Babylon to Jerusalem, for the good of his country. The king was kind to him; he granted all his requests, whatever Ezra desired to enable him to serve his country. When he went, many went with him; he obtained favour from his king, by the Divine favour. Every creature is that to us, which God makes it to be. We must see the hand of God in the events that befal us, and acknowledge him with thankfulness.

Verses 11-26 The liberality of heathen kings to support the worship of God, reproached the conduct of many kings of Judah, and will rise up in judgment against the covetousness of wealthy professed Christians, who will not promote the cause of God. But the weapons of Christian ministers are not carnal. Faithful preaching, holy lives, fervent prayers, and patient suffering when called to it, are the means to bring men into obedience to Christ.

Verses 27-28 Two things Ezra blessed God for: 1. For his commission. If any good appear in our hearts, or in the hearts of others, we must own that God put it there, and bless him; it is he that worketh in us, both to will and to do that which is good. 2. For his encouragement: God has extended mercy to me. Ezra was a man of courage, yet he ascribed this not to his own heart, but to God's hand. If God give us his hand, we are bold and cheerful; if he withdraw it, we are weak as water. Whatever we are enabled to do for God and those around us, God must have all the glory.

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