Ezra 8:1-36
Q.1. Who were the people who went with Ezra on the return journey? Who was missing from the mission? What did Ezra do about it? Why was he successful? – (Ezra 8:1-20)
Ezra recorded the genealogical enrolments of the heads of returning families – some 1,500 men. With wives and children, there could have been 8,000 travelling from Babylon (Ezra 8:1-14). They gathered near the river, where such a group could be sustained. These people included priests, but no Levites (Ezra 8:15). Therefore, Ezra commissioned a group of teachers to encourage the Levites and temple servants to sign up to the mission (Ezra 8:16-17). Their recruitment drive was successful – According to the good hand of our God upon us … (Ezra 8:18). A good number of priests’ assistants were added to the team.
Q.2. What did the people do before they embarked on their journey? Why did they start out this way? How were they kept safe? – (Ezra 8:21-23, 31-32)
The returnees were a large group. Ezra proclaimed a fast. He asked God for journeying mercies for the families, and for the substantial goods and treasures (Ezra 8:21). The reason for the call to fast and pray was explained by Ezra – for I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “The hand of our God is favourably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him.” (Ezra 8:22). God – listened to our entreaty … Then we journeyed from the river Ahava on the twelfth of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was over us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the ambushes by the way (Ezra 8:23 & 31). How good it is for us to know that the Lord is in control of our journey.
Q.3. How did Ezra ensure the safety of the temple treasures? What did they do when they arrived in Jerusalem? What difference did they make? – (Ezra 8:24-30, 33-36)
Ezra assigned the responsibility of the safe-keeping of the Temple treasures, to leading priests. This was not without holding them accountable – Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leading priests, the Levites and the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord.” (Ezra 8:29). Upon arrival, the mission party stayed for three days in Jerusalem. Then the treasures were weighed and recorded … and all was correct. They then offered sacrifices at the Temple, for the returned exiles (Ezra 8:35). They also delivered the edicts to the governors beyond the Euphrates river, who had first challenged their right to rebuild the Temple (Ezra 8:36 c.f. 7:21). Then they supported the people and the house of God (Ezra 8:36).’