Ezra 7 Ezra’s genealogy, Ezra 7:1–5. The priests, Levites, and Ezra go up to Jerusalem, Ezra 7:6–10. The gracious commission of Artaxerxes to Ezra, Ezra 7:1–26. Ezra blesseth God for his favour to his people, Ezra 7:27–28.

Artaxerxes; the same of whom he speaks Ezra 6:14. The son of Seraiah, i.e. his grandson. Here are divers persons omitted for brevity sake, which may be supplied out of 1 Chron. 6:0; 1 Chronicles 7:0; 1 Chronicles 8:0; 1 Chronicles 9:0.

Ezra went up from Babylon, with the king’s 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, Matt. 7:29, Matt. 17:10, Matt. 23:2, Matt. 23:13, Mark 12:28, compared with Matt. 22:35–36.

This is here related in the general, but how he procured this is particularly related hereafter.

Ezra had prepared his heart, or, directed, &c., i.e. he had set his mind and affections upon it, and made it his chief design and business. To seek the law, i.e.

A scribe of the words of the commandments, the phrase seems emphatical, noting that he explained both the words and the things; for the Jews in the land of their captivity had in a great measure lost both their language, and the knowledge of God’s commands, and therefore Ezra and his companions…

His seven counsellors; his chief nobles and officers of state, of whom see also Est. 1:10, Est. 1:14. To inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, i.e. to make inquiry into all abuses and deviations from your law, and to redress them.

That thou canst find, i.e. procure, as that word is used, Gen. 6:8, Gen. 26:12, Ps. 84:3, Ps. 119:162, Prov. 1:13, Prov. 2:5, Prov. 3:13. Whatsoever thou canst get of my subjects by way of free gift. The free-will-offering of the people, to wit, of Israel.

For the house of thy God; towards the reparation, or adorning, or completing of it. See Poole “Ezra 6:14”.

Because it was but of mean price, and of very common and necessary use in all their sacrifices, Lev. 2:13, Mark 9:49.

For the omission of any part of his worship occasioned by my neglect. This danger and duty he discerned, partly by natural light, and principally by the information of Ezra, Ezra 8:22, who had the king’s ear and heart.

The wisdom of thy God that is in thine hand, i.e. which God hath put into thy heart, and which appears in the works of thy hand. Wisdom is sometimes ascribed to the hands, as Ps. 78:72. See my Latin Synopsis on Gen. 48:14.

The law of thy God, and the law of the king, to wit, concerning these matters. Or, which law of God is by this my sanction now become my law also, to which I expect their punctual and ready obedience.