mh_parser/vol_split/15 - Ezra/Chapter 2.xml

<div2 id="Ez.iii" n="iii" next="Ez.iv" prev="Ez.ii" progress="89.52%" title="Chapter II">
<h2 id="Ez.iii-p0.1">E Z R A</h2>
<h3 id="Ez.iii-p0.2">CHAP. II.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ez.iii-p1">That many returned out of Babylon upon Cyrus's
proclamation we were told in the foregoing chapter; we have here a
catalogue of the several families that returned, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.1" parsed="|Ezra|2|1|0|0" passage="Ezr 2:1">ver. 1</scripRef>. I. The leaders, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.2" parsed="|Ezra|2|2|0|0" passage="Ezr 2:2">ver. 2</scripRef>. II. The people, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.3-Ezra.2.35" parsed="|Ezra|2|3|2|35" passage="Ezr 2:3-35">ver. 3-35</scripRef>. III. The priests, Levites, and
retainers to the temple, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.35-Ezra.2.63" parsed="|Ezra|2|35|2|63" passage="Ezr 2:35-63">ver.
35-63</scripRef>. IV. The sum total, with an account of their
retinue, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.64-Ezra.2.67" parsed="|Ezra|2|64|2|67" passage="Ezr 2:64-67">ver. 64-67</scripRef>. V.
Their offerings to the service of the temple, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.68-Ezra.2.70" parsed="|Ezra|2|68|2|70" passage="Ezr 2:68-70">ver. 68-70</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Ez.iii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2" parsed="|Ezra|2|0|0|0" passage="Ezr 2" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ez.iii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.1-Ezra.2.35" parsed="|Ezra|2|1|2|35" passage="Ezr 2:1-35" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ezra.2.1-Ezra.2.35">
<h4 id="Ez.iii-p1.9">The Return of the Captives. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iii-p1.10">b. c.</span> 536.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.iii-p2">1 Now these <i>are</i> the children of the
province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been
carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried
away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every
one unto his city;   2 Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua,
Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai,
Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
  3 The children of Parosh, two thousand a hundred seventy and
two.   4 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and
two.   5 The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.
  6 The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua
<i>and</i> Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.   7
The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.  
8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.   9 The
children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.   10 The
children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.   11 The children
of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.   12 The children of
Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.   13 The
children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.   14 The
children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.   15 The
children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.   16 The
children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.   17 The
children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.   18 The
children of Jorah, a hundred and twelve.   19 The children of
Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.   20 The children of
Gibbar, ninety and five.   21 The children of Beth-lehem, a
hundred twenty and three.   22 The men of Netophah, fifty and
six.   23 The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty and eight.
  24 The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.   25 The
children of Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and
forty and three.   26 The children of Ramah and Gaba, six
hundred twenty and one.   27 The men of Michmas, a hundred
twenty and two.   28 The men of Beth-el and Ai, two hundred
twenty and three.   29 The children of Nebo, fifty and two.
  30 The children of Magbish, a hundred fifty and six.  
31 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and
four.   32 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
  33 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty
and five.   34 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty
and five.   35 The children of Senaah, three thousand and six
hundred and thirty.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iii-p3">We may observe here, 1. That an account was
kept in writing of the families that came up out of captivity, and
the numbers of each family. This was done for their honour, as part
of their recompence for their faith and courage, their confidence
in God and their affection to their own land, and to stir up others
to follow their good example. Those that honour God he will thus
honour. The names of all those Israelites indeed that accept the
offer of deliverance by Christ shall be found, to their honour, in
a more sacred record than this, even in <i>the Lamb's book of
life.</i> The account that was kept of the families that came up
from the captivity was intended also for the benefit of posterity,
that they might know from whom they descended and to whom they were
allied. 2. That they are called <i>children of the province.</i>
Judah, which had been an illustrious kingdom, to which other
kingdoms had been made provinces, subject to it and dependent on
it, was now itself made a province, to receive laws and commissions
from the king of Persia and to be accountable to him. See how sin
diminishes and debases a nation, which righteousness would exalt.
But by thus being made servants (as the patriarchs by being
sojourners in a country which was theirs by promise) they were
reminded of the <i>better country, that is, the heavenly</i>
(<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.11.16" parsed="|Heb|11|16|0|0" passage="Heb 11:16">Heb. xi. 16</scripRef>), a
<i>kingdom which cannot be moved,</i> or changed into a province.
3. That they are said to come <i>every one to his city,</i> that
is, the city appointed them, in which appointment an eye, no doubt,
was had to their former settlement by Joshua; and to that, as near
as might be, they returned: for it does not appear that any others,
at least any that were able to oppose them, had possessed them in
their absence. 4. That the leaders are first mentioned, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.2" parsed="|Ezra|2|2|0|0" passage="Ezr 2:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Zerubbabel and Jeshua
were their Moses and Aaron, the former their chief prince, the
latter their chief priest. Nehemiah and Mordecai are mentioned
here; some think not the same with the famous men we afterwards
meet with of those names: probably they were the same, but
afterwards returned to court for the service of their country. 5.
Some of these several families are named from the persons that were
their ancestors, others from the places in which they had formerly
resided; as with us many surnames are the proper names of persons,
others of places. 6. Some little difference there is between the
numbers of some of the families here and in <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.7.5-Neh.7.73" parsed="|Neh|7|5|7|73" passage="Ne 7:5-73">Neh. vii.</scripRef>, where this catalogue is repeated,
which might arise from this, that some who had given in their names
at first to come afterwards drew back—said, <i>I go, Sir, but went
not,</i> which would lessen the number of the families they
belonged to; others that declined, at first, <i>afterwards repented
and went,</i> and so increased the number. 7. Here are two families
that are called <i>the children of Elam</i> (one <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.7" parsed="|Ezra|2|7|0|0" passage="Ezr 2:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>, another <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.31" parsed="|Ezra|2|31|0|0" passage="Ezr 2:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>), and, which is strange, the
number of both is the same, 1254. 8. The children of Adonikam,
which signifies <i>a high lord,</i> were 666, just the <i>number of
the beast</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Rev.13.18" parsed="|Rev|13|18|0|0" passage="Re 13:18">Rev. xiii.
18</scripRef>), which is there said to be <i>the number of a
man,</i> which, Mr. Hugh Broughton thinks, has reference to this
man. 9. The children of Bethlehem (<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p3.7" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.21" parsed="|Ezra|2|21|0|0" passage="Ezr 2:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>) were but 123, though it was
David's city; for Bethlehem was <i>little among the thousands of
Judah,</i> yet there must the Messiah arise, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p3.8" osisRef="Bible:Mic.5.2" parsed="|Mic|5|2|0|0" passage="Mic 5:2">Mic. v. 2</scripRef>. 10. Anathoth had been a famous
place in the tribe of Benjamin and yet here it numbered but 128
(<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p3.9" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.23" parsed="|Ezra|2|23|0|0" passage="Ezr 2:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>), which is to
be imputed to the divine curse which the men of Anathoth brought
upon themselves by persecuting Jeremiah, who was of their city.
<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p3.10" osisRef="Bible:Jer.11.21 Bible:Jer.11.23" parsed="|Jer|11|21|0|0;|Jer|11|23|0|0" passage="Jer 11:21,23">Jer. xi. 21, 23</scripRef>,
<i>There shall be no remnant of them, for I will bring evil upon
the men of Anathoth.</i> And see <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p3.11" osisRef="Bible:Isa.10.30" parsed="|Isa|10|30|0|0" passage="Isa 10:30">Isa.
x. 30</scripRef>, <i>O poor Anathoth!</i> Nothing brings ruin on a
people sooner than persecution.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ez.iii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.36-Ezra.2.63" parsed="|Ezra|2|36|2|63" passage="Ezr 2:36-63" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ezra.2.36-Ezra.2.63">
<p class="passage" id="Ez.iii-p4">36 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the
house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.   37 The
children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.   38 The children
of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.   39 The
children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.   40 The Levites:
the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah,
seventy and four.   41 The singers: the children of Asaph, a
hundred twenty and eight.   42 The children of the porters:
the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of
Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children
of Shobai, <i>in</i> all an hundred thirty and nine.   43 The
Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the
children of Tabbaoth,   44 The children of Keros, the children
of Siaha, the children of Padon,   45 The children of Lebanah,
the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,   46 The
children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,
  47 The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the
children of Reaiah,   48 The children of Rezin, the children
of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,   49 The children of Uzza,
the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,   50 The
children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of
Nephusim,   51 The children of Bakbuk, the children of
Hakupha, the children of Harhur,   52 The children of Bazluth,
the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,   53 The
children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,
  54 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.  
55 The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the
children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,   56 The
children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
  57 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the
children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.   58 All
the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, <i>were</i>
three hundred ninety and two.   59 And these <i>were</i> they
which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, <i>and</i>
Immer: but they could not show their father's house, and their
seed, whether they <i>were</i> of Israel:   60 The children of
Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six
hundred fifty and two.   61 And of the children of the
priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children
of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the
Gileadite, and was called after their name:   62 These sought
their register <i>among</i> those that were reckoned by genealogy,
but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from
the priesthood.   63 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that
they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a
priest with Urim and with Thummim.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iii-p5">Here is an account, I. Of the priests that
returned, and they were a considerable number, about a tenth part
of the whole company: for the whole were above 42,000 (<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.64" parsed="|Ezra|2|64|0|0" passage="Ezr 2:64"><i>v.</i> 64</scripRef>), and four families of
priests made up above 4200 (<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.36-Ezra.2.39" parsed="|Ezra|2|36|2|39" passage="Ezr 2:36-39"><i>v.</i> 36-39</scripRef>); thus was the tenth God's
part—a blessed decimation. Three of the fathers of the priests
here named were heads of courses, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.24.7-1Chr.24.8 Bible:1Chr.24.14" parsed="|1Chr|24|7|24|8;|1Chr|24|14|0|0" passage="1Ch 24:7,8,14">1 Chron. xxiv. 7, 8, 14</scripRef>. The fourth was
Pashur, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.38" parsed="|Ezra|2|38|0|0" passage="Ezr 2:38"><i>v.</i> 38</scripRef>. If
these were of the posterity of that Pashur that abused Jeremiah
(<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.20.1" parsed="|Jer|20|1|0|0" passage="Jer 20:1">Jer. xx. 1</scripRef>), it is strange
that so bad a man should have so good a seed, and so numerous.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iii-p6">II. Of the Levites. I cannot but wonder at
the small number of them, for, taking in both the singers and the
porters (<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.40-Ezra.2.42" parsed="|Ezra|2|40|2|42" passage="Ezr 2:40-42"><i>v.</i>
40-42</scripRef>), they did not make 350. Time was when the Levites
were more forward to their duty than the priests (<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.29.34" parsed="|2Chr|29|34|0|0" passage="2Ch 29:34">2 Chron. xxix. 34</scripRef>), but they were
not so now. If one place, one family, has the reputation for pious
zeal now, another may have it another time. <i>The wind blows where
it listeth,</i> and shifts its points.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iii-p7">III. Of the Nethinim, who, it is supposed,
were the Gibeonites, <i>given</i> (so their name signifies) by
Joshua first (<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.9.27" parsed="|Josh|9|27|0|0" passage="Jos 9:27">Josh. ix.
27</scripRef>), and again by David (<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.8.20" parsed="|Ezra|8|20|0|0" passage="Ezr 8:20">Ezra viii. 20</scripRef>), when Saul had expelled them,
to be employed by the Levites in the work of God's house as hewers
of wood and drawers of water; and, with them, of the children of
Solomon's servants, whom he gave for the like use (whether they
were Jews or Gentiles does not appear) and who were here taken
notice of among the retainers of the temple and numbered with the
Nethinim, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.55 Bible:Ezra.2.58" parsed="|Ezra|2|55|0|0;|Ezra|2|58|0|0" passage="Ezr 2:55,58"><i>v.</i> 55,
58</scripRef>. Note, It is an honour to belong to God's house,
though in the meanest office there.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iii-p8">IV. Of some that were looked upon as
Israelites by birth, and others as priests, and yet could not make
out a clear title to the honour. 1. There were some that could not
prove themselves Israelites (<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.59-Ezra.2.60" parsed="|Ezra|2|59|2|60" passage="Ezr 2:59,60"><i>v.</i> 59, 60</scripRef>), a considerable number,
who presumed they were of the seed of Jacob, but could not produce
their pedigrees, and yet would go up to Jerusalem, having an
affection to the house and people of God. These shamed those who
were true-born Israelites, and yet were not called Israelites
indeed, <i>who came out of the waters of Judah</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.48.1" parsed="|Isa|48|1|0|0" passage="Isa 48:1">Isa. xlviii. 1</scripRef>), but had lost the
relish of those waters. 2. There were others that could not prove
themselves priests, and yet were supposed to be of the seed of
Aaron. What is not preserved in black and white will, in all
likelihood, be forgotten in a little time. Now we are here told,
(1.) How they lost their evidence. One of their ancestors married a
daughter of Barzillai, that great man whom we read of in David's
time; he gloried in an alliance to that honourable family, and,
preferring that before the dignity of his priesthood, would have
his children called after Barzillai's family, and their pedigree
preserved in the registers of that house, not of the house of
Aaron, and so they lost it. In Babylon there was nothing to be got
by the priesthood, and therefore they cared not for being akin to
it. Those who think their ministry, or their relation to ministers,
a diminution or disparagement to them, forget who it was that said,
<i>I magnify my office.</i> (2.) What they lost with it. It could
not be taken for granted that they were priests when they could not
produce their proofs, but they were, <i>as polluted, put from the
priesthood.</i> Now that the priests had recovered their rights,
and had the altar to live upon again, they would gladly be looked
upon as priests. But they had sold their birthright for the honour
of being gentlemen, and therefore were justly degraded, and
forbidden to <i>eat of the most holy things.</i> Note, Christ will
be ashamed of those that are ashamed of him and his service. It was
the tirshatha, or governor, that put them under this sequestration,
which some understand of Zerubbabel the present governor, others of
Nehemiah (who is so called, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:Neh.8.9" parsed="|Neh|8|9|0|0" passage="Neh. viii. 9">Neh.
viii. 9</scripRef>, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p0.5" osisRef="Bible:Neh.10.1" parsed="|Neh|10|1|0|0" passage="x. 1">x. 1</scripRef>, and who gave this order when he came some
years after); but the prohibition was not absolute, it was only a
suspension, till there should be a high priest <i>with Urim and
Thummin,</i> by whom they might know God's mind in this matter.
This, it seems, was expected and desired, but it does not appear
that ever they were blessed with it under the second temple. They
had the canon of the Old Testament complete, which was better than
Urim; and, by the want of that oracle, they were taught to expect
the Messiah the great Oracle, which the Urim and Thummim was but a
type of. Nor does it appear that the second temple had the ark in
it, either the old one or a new one. Those shadows by degrees
vanished, as the substance approached; and God, by the prophet,
intimates to his people that they should sustain no damage by the
want of the ark, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.3.16-Jer.3.17" parsed="|Jer|3|16|3|17" passage="Jer 3:16,17">Jer. iii. 16,
17</scripRef>. <i>In those days,</i> when <i>they shall call
Jerusalem the throne of the Lord,</i> and <i>all the nations shall
be gathered</i> to it, they shall <i>say no more, The ark of the
covenant of the Lord, neither shall it come to mind,</i> for they
shall do very well without it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ez.iii-p0.4_1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.64-Ezra.2.70" parsed="|Ezra|2|64|2|70" passage="Ezr 2:64-70" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ezra.2.64-Ezra.2.70">
<p class="passage" id="Ez.iii-p9">64 The whole congregation together <i>was</i>
forty and two thousand three hundred <i>and</i> threescore,  
65 Beside their servants and their maids, of whom <i>there were</i>
seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and <i>there
were</i> among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
  66 Their horses <i>were</i> seven hundred thirty and six;
their mules, two hundred forty and five;   67 Their camels,
four hundred thirty and five; <i>their</i> asses, six thousand
seven hundred and twenty.   68 And <i>some</i> of the chief of
the fathers, when they came to the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.iii-p9.1">Lord</span> which <i>is</i> at Jerusalem, offered
freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:   69
They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work
threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound
of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.   70 So the
priests, and the Levites, and <i>some</i> of the people, and the
singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities,
and all Israel in their cities.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iii-p10">Here is, I. The sum total of the company
that returned out of Babylon. The particular sums before mentioned
amount not quite to 30,000 (29,818), so that there were above
12,000 that come out into any of those accounts, who, it is
probable, were of the rest of the tribes of Israel, besides Judah
and Benjamin, that could not tell of what particular family or city
they were, but that they were Israelites, and of what tribe. Now,
1. This was more than double the number that were carried captive
into Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, so that, as in Egypt, the time of
their affliction was the time of their increase. 2. These were but
few to begin a nation with, and yet, by virtue of the old promise
made to their fathers, they multiplied so as before their last
destruction by the Romans, about 500 years after, to be a very
numerous people. When God says, "Increase and multiply," <i>a
little one shall become a thousand.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iii-p11">II. Their retinue. They were themselves
little better than servants, and therefore no wonder that their
servants were comparatively but few (<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.65" parsed="|Ezra|2|65|0|0" passage="Ezr 2:65"><i>v.</i> 65</scripRef>) and their beasts of burden
about as many, <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.66-Ezra.2.67" parsed="|Ezra|2|66|2|67" passage="Ezr 2:66,67"><i>v.</i> 66,
67</scripRef>. It was not with them now as in days past. But notice
is taken of 200 <i>singing-men and women</i> whom they had among
them, who, we will suppose, were intended (as those <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.35.25" parsed="|2Chr|35|25|0|0" passage="2Ch 35:25">2 Chron. xxxv. 25</scripRef>) to excite
<i>their mourning,</i> for it was foretold that they should, upon
this occasion, <i>go weeping</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.50.4" parsed="|Jer|50|4|0|0" passage="Jer 50:4">Jer.
l. 4</scripRef>), with ditties of lamentation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.iii-p12">III. Their oblations. It is said (<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.68-Ezra.2.69" parsed="|Ezra|2|68|2|69" passage="Ezr 2:68,69"><i>v.</i> 68, 69</scripRef>), 1. That they
<i>came to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem;</i> and yet that
house, that holy and beautiful house, was now in ruins, a heap of
rubbish. But, like their father Abraham, when the altar was gone
they came with devotion to <i>the place of the altar</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.13.4" parsed="|Gen|13|4|0|0" passage="Ge 13:4">Gen. xiii. 4</scripRef>); and it is the character
of the genuine sons of Zion that they favour even <i>the dust
thereof,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.102.14" parsed="|Ps|102|14|0|0" passage="Ps 102:14">Ps. cii. 14</scripRef>.
2. That they offered freely towards the <i>setting of it up in its
place.</i> That, it seems, was the first house they talked of
setting up; and though they came off a journey, and were beginning
the world (two chargeable things), yet they offered, and offered
freely, towards the building of the temple. Let none complain of
the necessary expenses of their religion, but believe that when
they come to balance the account they will find that it clears the
cost. Their offering was nothing in comparison with the offerings
of the princes in David's time; then they offered by talents
(<scripRef id="Ez.iii-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.29.7" parsed="|1Chr|29|7|0|0" passage="1Ch 29:7">1 Chron. xxix. 7</scripRef>), now by
drams, yet these drams, being after their ability, were as
acceptable to God as those talents, like the widow's two mites. The
61,000 drams of gold amount, by Cumberland's calculation, to so
many pounds of our money and so many groats. Every maneh, or pound
of silver, he reckons to be sixty shekels (that is, thirty ounces),
which we may reckon 7<i>l.</i> 10<i>s.</i> of our money, so that
this 5000 pounds of silver will be above 37,000<i>l.</i> of our
money. It seems, God had blessed them with an increase of their
wealth, as well as of their numbers, in Babylon; and, as God had
prospered them, they gave cheerfully to the service of his house.
3. That they <i>dwelt in their cities,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.iii-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.70" parsed="|Ezra|2|70|0|0" passage="Ezr 2:70"><i>v.</i> 70</scripRef>. Though their cities were out of
repair, yet, because they were their cities, such as God had
assigned them, they were content to dwell in them, and were
thankful for liberty and property, though they had little of pomp,
plenty, or power. Their poverty was a bad cause, but their unity
and unanimity were a good effect of it. Here was room enough for
them all and all their substance, so that there was no strife among
them, but perfect harmony, a blessed presage of their settlement,
as their discords in the latter times of that state were of their
ruin.</p>
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