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2 Esdras x.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Athersatha.
Hebrew hatirshatha. Protestants, "the tirshatha," cup-bearer, or governor, highly (Haydock) "privileged" and honoured
by Artaxerxes. (Worthington) --- Hebrew, "And over those who were sealed, (Calmet; Septuagint; or who sealed the
deed. Haydock) Nehemias, the cup-bearer." Esdras, Eliasib, &c., were also princes. (Calmet) --- It is not easy to
account for the omission of their names. (Menochius) --- They may be designated by different titles. An aristocracy, mixed
with oligarchy, was the present form of government. The advice of the ancients, and of the people, was taken. (Calmet) ---
Hachelai, is less properly styled Helchias; (chap. i. 1.) where the Septuagint read Chelchias, or Achalia, (Hebrew
chacala) as well as here.
Ver. 8. Priests.
All, at least after Nehemias. (Haydock)
Ver. 14. Pharos.
Many of these are mentioned as returning from Babylon, chap. vii. 8, 11, &c.
Ver. 28. Lands.
Idolaters, (Haydock) namely, the proselytes. (Menochius) --- Daughters. These did not all subscribe in person, but
by the hands of the intelligent, and chief men, (ver. 29.) or, (Calmet) as the Septuagint seem to understand, these went through
the different ranks of the people, and received their oaths. (Estius) (Menochius)
Ver. 29. Understand.
Hebrew mebin, "the teachers," or Levites, 1 Esdras viii. 16. (Menochius) --- Promising. Hebrew, "clave to their
brethren;" and they promised with a curse to transgressors, and with an oath to walk, &c. (Haydock)
Ver. 30. And.
In all covenants, the articles which have been chiefly broken, are specified. (Worthington)
Ver. 31. Holy
day. The contrary practice is therefore sinful. (Haydock) --- Year. Not cultivating the land, Leviticus xxv. 4.
--- Hand. No debts were to be demanded, Deuteronomy xv. 1. (Menochius)
Ver. 32. Third
part. About 9d., (Haydock) on account of the poverty of the people. (Calmet) --- They afterwards paid half a sicle,
or 1s. 2d., conformably to the law, Exodus xxx. 13., and Matthew xvii. 23. (Haydock) --- Before the captivity,
the kings of Juda provided sacrifices, (2 Paralipomenon xxxi. 3.) and after, the Persian monarchs supplied what was requisite,
in favour of Zorababel and Esdras, chap. vi. 8., and vii. 21. But these grants had been recalled, or were not well executed.
Ver. 34. Wood.
The Nathinites had performed this office till the captivity. But not their numbers were too small. (Calmet) --- The people
therefore brought the wood. The Levites, with the Nathinites, carried it into the temple, and the priests laid it upon the
altars; all being regulated by lots. (Lyranus) --- Hence the feast called Xylophoria, was instituted about the month
of August, as we may gather from Josephus. The Rabbins say that the priests cut the wood, from March till the 15th of July.
Ver. 35. Every
tree, of seven species; the pear, apple, fig, apricot, olive, palm, and vine trees; besides wheat, legumes, &c. (Calmet)
--- For three years the fruit was deemed unclean, Leviticus xix. 23. (Menochius)
Ver. 37. Meats.
Hebrew, "paste," Numbers xv. 20., (Calmet) and xxiii. 17. --- Ground, or the produce. (Menochius)
Ver. 38. With.
To observe that all is done according to the law, Numbers xviii. 26. (Calmet)
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Bible Text & Cross-references:
The names of the subscribers to the covenant, and the
contents of it.
1 And *the subscribers were Nehemias, Athersatha, the son of Hachelai,
and Sedecias.
2 Saraias, Azarias, Jeremias,
3 Pheshur, Amarias, Melchias,
4 Hattus, Sebenia, Melluch,
5 Harem, Merimuth, Obdias,
6 Daniel, Genthon, Baruch,
7 Mosollam, Abia, Miamin,
8 Maazia, Belgia, Semeia: these were priests.
9 And the Levites, Josue, the son of Azanias, Bennui, of the sons of
Henadad, Cedmihel.
10 And their brethren, Sebenia, Odaia, Celita, Phalaia, Hanan,
11 Micha, Rohob, Hasebia,
12 Zachur, Serebia, Sabania,
13 Odaia, Bani, Baninu.
14 The heads of the people, Pharos, Phahath Moab, Elam, Zethu, Bani,
15 Bonni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adonia, Begoai, Adin,
17 Ater, Hezecia, Azur,
18 Odaia, Hasum, Besai,
19 Hareph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Megphias, Mosollam, Hazir,
21 Mesizabel, Sadoc, Jeddua,
22 Pheltia, Hanan, Anaia,
23 Osee, Hanania, Hasub,
24 Alohes, Phalea, Sobec,
25 Rehum, Hasebna, Maasia,
26 Echaia, Hanan, Anan,
27 Melluch, Haran, Baana:
28 And the rest of the people, priests, Levites, porters, and singing
men, Nathinites, and all that had separated themselves from the people of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their
sons, and their daughters.
29 All that could understand, promising for their brethren, with their
chief men; and they came to promise, and swear that they would walk in the law of God, which he gave in the hand of Moses,
the servant of God, that they would do and keep all the commandments of the Lord, our God, and his judgments, and his ceremonies.
30 And that we would not give our daughters to the people of the land,
nor take their daughters for our sons.
31 And if the people of the land bring in things to sell, or any things
for use, to sell them on the sabbath-day, that we would not buy them of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day. And that
we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every hand.
32 And we made ordinances for ourselves, to give the third part of a
sicle every year for the work of the house of our God,
33 For the loaves of proposition, and for the continual sacrifice, and
for a continual holocaust on the sabbaths, on the new moons, on the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin-offering:
that atonement might be made for Israel, and for every use of the house of our God.
34 And we cast lots among the priests, and the Levites, and the people,
for the offering of wood, that it might be brought into the house of our God, by the houses of our fathers, at set times,
from year to year: to burn upon the altar of the Lord, our God, as it is written in the law of Moses:
35 And that we would bring the first-fruits of our land, and the first-fruits
of all fruit of every tree, from year to year, in the house of our Lord.
36 And the first-born of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written
in the law, and the firstlings of our oxen, and of our sheep, to be offered in the house of our God, to the priests who minister
in the house of our God.
37 And that we would bring the first-fruits of our meats, and of our
libations, and the fruit of every tree, of the vintage also, and of oil to the priests, to the store-house of our God, and
the tithes of our ground to the Levites. The Levites, also, shall receive the tithes of our works out of all the cities.
38 And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites in the
tithes of the Levites, and the Levites shall offer the tithe of their tithes, in the house of our God, to the store-room,
into the treasure-house.
39 For the children of Israel, and the children of Levi, shall carry
to the treasury the first-fruits of corn, of wine, and of oil: and the sanctified vessels shall be there, and the priests,
and the singing men, and the porters, and ministers, and we will not forsake the house of our God.
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1: Year of the World 3551.
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