---
title: "Clarke"
description: "are furthered in their work, 36. NOTES ON CHAP. VIII Verse Ezra 8:2. Gershom — One of the descendants of Phinehas, son of Eliazar. Verse Ezra 8:3. Of the"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezra/8"
---

*are furthered in their work*, 36.
NOTES ON CHAP. VIII

Verse [Ezra 8:2](../../../kjv/ezra/8/2). ***Gershom*** — One of the descendants of Phinehas, son of Eliazar.

Verse [Ezra 8:3](../../../kjv/ezra/8/3). ***Of the sons of Shechaniah*** — There were three of this name; the second is mentioned [Ezra 8:6](../../../kjv/ezra/8/6), and the third [Ezra 10:2](../../../kjv/ezra/10/2). They were all different persons, as may be seen from their fathers' houses.

Verse 15. ***The river that runneth to Ahava*** — Ahava was a *river* itself, which is supposed to be the same that is called *Diava* or *Adiava*, in the province of *Adiabene*; and perhaps the place whence the people of *Ava* came who were brought by the king of Assyria to Palestine, [2 Kings 17:24](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/24).
***None of the sons of Levi.*** — None that were *simply Levites*. He found *priests*, and they were *sons of Levi*; but no *Levites* that were not *priests*.

Verse 17. ***At the place Casiphia*** — The most judicious commentators are agreed that by *Casiphia*, the *Caspian mountains*, between Media and Hyrcania, are intended; where, probably, the *Nethinim* were employed in working silver mines: כסף *keseph*, from which the word comes, signifies *silver*.

Verse 22. ***I was ashamed to require - a band*** — He had represented God, the object of his worship, as supremely powerful, and as having the strongest affection for his true followers: he could not, therefore, consistently with his declarations, ask a band of soldiers from the king to protect them on the way, when they were going expressly to rebuild the temple of Jehovah, and restore his worship. He therefore found it necessary to seek the Lord by *fasting* and *prayer*, that they might have from *Him* those succours without which they might become a prey to their enemies; and then the religion which they professed would be considered by the heathen as false and vain. Thus we see that this good man had more anxiety for the glory of God than for his own personal safety.

Verse 26. ***Silver vessels a hundred talents*** — That is, The *weight* of all the silver vessels amounted to one hundred talents; not that there were one hundred vessels of silver, *each* a *talent* in *weight*.
Reckoning in round sums, 650 *talents* of silver at *£*450 the talent, amount to *£*292,500 sterling. *Silver vessels*, 100 talents, amount to *£*45,000; *gold*, 100 talents, at *£*7,000 per talent, amount to *£*700,000 independently of the 20 *basons of gold*, amounting to 1000 *drachms*. Now the *golden drachm* or *daric* was worth about 1*£*. 2*s*., therefore these basons were worth *£*1100; the whole amounting to *£*1,038,600 sterling. But these different weights and coins are variously computed; some making the silver talent only *£*353 11*s*. 10 ½*d*., and the talent of gold *£*5057 15*s*. 1 ½*d*., calculations which I have elsewhere introduced.
***Two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold*** — What these were we cannot tell. The Syriac translates [Persian] *nechoso corinthio* *toba*, to be vessels of the *best Corinthian brass*; so called from the brass found after the burning of Corinth by *Lucius Mummius*, which was brass, copper, gold, and silver, all melted together, as is generally supposed. But it was probably some *factitious* metal made there, that took the polish and assumed the brightness of gold, and because of its *hardness* was more durable. There is still a certain factitious metal of this kind, made among the Asiatics. I have seen this metal often made; it is as bright and fine as gold, takes a most exquisite polish, and will scarcely tarnish. I have kept this exposed to every variation of the air, even among old iron, brass, copper, c., for twenty years together, without being scarcely at all *oxidized*. It requires much art in the making, but the constituent materials are of small value. Vessels of this metal, because of their lustre and durability for ornamental and domestic uses, are in many respects more valuable than gold itself. The only difficulty is to get at first the *true* *colour*, which depends on the *degree of heat*, and the time employed in *fusion* but there are, however, proper rules to ascertain them. This metal is widely different from the *or molu* of France and England, is less expensive, and much more valuable.

Verse 35. ***Twelve bullocks for all Israel*** — Though of *tribes* there were only *Judah* and *Benjamin*, yet they offered a bullock for *every* *tribe*, as if present. There can be little doubt that there were individuals there from all the twelve tribes, possibly some families of each; but no complete tribe but those mentioned above.

Verse [Ezra 8:36](../../../kjv/ezra/8/36). ***The king's lieutenants*** — אחשדרפני *achashdarpeney*: this is generally understood to mean *lieutenant* or *deputy*, and is probably of *Persian* origin, though here greatly *corrupted*. The *Vulgate* renders it *regis satrapis*, to the *satraps* of the king, which is the Persian [Persian] *satrab*. A *viceroy* in Persian is [Persian] *soubah-dar; viceroys*, [Persian] *soubahdaran*. [Persian] *darafreen* signifies a person in whom one has *confidence*; and [Persian] *achi* is an epithet of a *vizir*. These two words conjoined will make nearly that of the text. But I do not give any of these etymologies with confidence. Other words might be proposed as candidates, but where there is so little certainty, conjecture is useless. Were it necessary a dissertation might be written on the *Persian words*, and *Persian forms of speech*, in *this* and the *two* *following books*; but probably after my toil few of my readers would thank me for my pains.

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