Ezra’s Call for Fasting and Dedication

Ezra 8 starts with a genealogy, goes to finding Levites in the middle, and from verses 21-36, we read Ezra’s calling for fasting and dedication. A time for fasting and dedication goes for this reason. Verses 21-23 give us an introduction to Ezra’s calling for fasting at the Ahava River. For the location of Ahava, the river isn’t exactly known and may have a different name today. Some commentators believe that Ahava was one of the streams of numerous canals of Mesopotamia that communicated with the Euphrates. Robert Jamieson, a co-author of the Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible comments that it was perhaps the place appointed for general rendezvous in the neighborhood of the town of the same name. The emigrants encamped there for three days, according to Eastern custom, while the preparations for the departure were being completed and Ezra was arranging the order of the caravan.

Jamieson gives this interesting note about the dangers involved in the migration process:

The dangers to travelling caravans from the Bedouin Arabs that prowl through the desert were in ancient times as great as they still are; and it seems that travelers usually sought the protection of a military escort. But Ezra had spoken so much to the king of the sufficiency of the divine care of His people that he would have blushed to apply for a guard of soldiers. Therefore he resolved that his followers should, by a solemn act of fasting and prayer, commit themselves to the Keeper of Israel. Their faith, considering the many and constant perils of a journey across the Bedouin regions, must have been great, and it was rewarded by the enjoyment of perfect safety during the whole way.

Okay, I can’t be sure if this is really Ezra making a mistake or not. This isn’t even a justification for the hyper-faith or the Name It and Claim It Movement. It should also be noted that Nehemiah refused military help (Nehemiah 2:9).

The late J. Vernon McGee in his Thru the Bible Commentary says this about verses 22-23:

He said, “You know, I went before ethe kign and told him that the hand of our God wa with us, that He will be against our enemie sand will lead us back to our land.” Then Ezra looked at the delegation gathered by the river ready to go on that long march. He looked at the families and the little ones, and he knew the dnagers along the way. The normal thing to do would be to ask the king for a little help–for a few guards to ride along with them. Then the king would say, “I thought you were trusting the LORD.”

Sometimes, some of us become very eloquent about how we are trusting God and how wonderful He is, but when we get right down to the nitty-gritty, we don’t really trust Him. Ezra is that kind of an individual. He surely is human. He says,”I was ashamed to go ask the king.” What was the alternative? He called a prayer meeting and a fast. He said, “Oh Lord, we just have to depend on You.” You know, the Lord puts is many of us in that position, many, many times.

Priests to guard the offerings

Verses 21-36 talk about the offerings. Ezra set apart 12 leading priests. Only two names were mentioned namely Sherebiah and Hashabiah, and 10 of their kinsmen with them. Th offerings to be guarded were indeed, robbery bait. If I were a robber, I’d definitely want them. When one does a computation of the modern equivalents, this is a really huge loot to steal:

1. 22,100 kilograms of silver (650 talents)
2. Silver vessels and gold vessels, each group worth 3,400 metric ton
3. 20 bowls of gold are worth 8,400 kilograms
4. Two fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold

Ezra would need divine intervention with that! The Bedouins aren’t a friendly bunch. I could imagine how much money I’d have if I stole all of them. However, these articles are all consecrated to the LORD. The silver and gold are free will offerings to the LORD. They are to be guarded carefully. The priesthood is a tremendous responsibility. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 also writes that pastors are not to be greedy for filthy lucre. Ezra had to be careful not to choose priests who were ill in character. Jeremiah has numerous verses condemning the priests before the exile. It was important to have priests of dignity and honor, not the kind of priests that Judah had before the exile. The priests and the Levites (temple workers) received the stuff to be returned to Jerusalem.

Departure happened on the 12th day of the first month. The 12-day delay occurred because of the three-day delay in searching for more Levites and the fast seeking God’s protection. The hand of God was on them and they were protected from the bandits. This would be the 12th lunar day of the first month of Nisan, around March to April, when Passover is celebrated. They arrived in Jerusalem where they rested for three days. Three does carry a significant meaning such as the Trinity. God exists as Three Persons. They are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. There’s only one God and He exists in Three Persons. It’s one in essence (God) existing as three Persons.

The exiles returned from captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel. 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 male lambs, and as a sin offering, 12 male goats. It would be the Passover and there was the need for purification. The Jews also delivered Artaxerxes I’s orders to the royal satraps and the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who gave them assistance to the people and the house of their God.