The arrival.
After the muster-roll, as described to us in Ezra 2:1-67 of this chapter, the next thing, naturally, is the expedition itself. In the present instance, however, this is disposed of in a couple of syllables. "They came." In these modern days—so some one has noticed—in consequence of the great comparative ease and rapidity of the means of locomotion, we speak rather of arriving at than of travelling to our destinations. There is something parallel here. Nothing is related of this journey except that it was duly brought to an end. It does not follow from this, however, that it is unworthy of note. Often, where little is said, all the more is implied. How far this is the case in the present instance will be our first branch of inquiry. What we are afterwards told of the doings of these pilgrims immediately on their arrival at Zion will be our second and last.
I. BEFORE THE ARRIVAL. These travellers "came." That is all. What does this show as to their method of coming? The route traversed, it must be remembered, was by no means a short one. Babylon was always considered a long way from Jerusalem (Isaiah 39:3). Ezra, afterwards (Ezra 7:9), was four months on the road, a time, in these days, more than sufficient to travel round the whole globe. The road also at that time, viz; during the subsequent reign of Artaxerxes, was by no means a safe one (Ezra 8:22; see also Nehemiah 2:9). On the other hand, such travellers as these were, returning with spoils which had evidently seemed precious even to Nebuchadnezzar in all his pride (Daniel 1:2), would be especially liable to attack; to say nothing of the fact that their very errand would rouse the hatred of not a few. At the same time, the character of their company, as being a collection of families intending to "settle" again in Palestine, would itself put very great difficulties, in their case, in the way of defence; as also in regard to progress, and commissariat too. It is not every man who could have conducted even an army in safety so far; much less so large a household, so mixed a multitude, a caravan at once so vulnerable, so feeble, and yet so rich. It is something to be able to say of such that they did arrive at Jerusalem. Perhaps we shall see the significance of this brevity more plainly still in the way of contrast. "When Israel came out of Egypt" and travelled to Canaan before, they had a very much shorter journey before them, and their numbers were so vastly larger that they were able in some measure, even at first, to defend themselves (Exodus 17:8-13). Yet how much we are told, and how copiously, of their difficulties, their dangers, their deliverances, their many murmurings, rebellions, and judgments, and all the long succession of marvellous vicissitudes that betel them by the way (Numbers 20:14). That first journey of theirs to Canaan is the most adventurous journey on record. Never were any travellers so guided, so fed, so protected, so often so near to destruction and so triumphantly rescued from it. Nowhere, at any rate, are we told so much of any other journey on earth. The absolute silence of Scripture, therefore, respecting all the incidents of this second journey of the same people to the same land seems well worthy of note. We can only account for it by supposing that there was nothing notable to be told. But how much this implies, as we said. How much,
1. As to the character of the pilgrims. How unlike the Israelites in the desert, how quietly persevering, how free from "murmurings and disputings" these Israelites must have been. Considering how many occasions for disputing fellow travellers are known to find, the fact that in this four months' journey on the part of 50,000 people there was nothing of the kind worth mentioning is not without weight. Do we see in it one wholesome result of the heavy discipline of their long captivity? Like the singular post-captivity freedom of Israel from idolatry, that constant pre-captivity sin (see Psalms 119:67)? How much,
2. As to God's rule in this world. It was certainly by God's "good hand upon them" (Ezra 8:31, Ezra 8:32; Psalms 107:7; James 4:13-15) that they had come where they were, just as much so as in the case of those addressed in Joshua 23:14. How complete, therefore, in both cases, his faithfulness to his promise I How constant and effectual his providence! How all-ruling his power. Yet how exceedingly opposite his modes of operation! In the one ease by a succession of miracles which Israel never forgot. In the other case without a single incident that left any trace of its path; unless, indeed, we consider such consummate finish and ease of operation to be a kind of miracle in itself the standing miracle of his rule (see Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3 : "upholding," etc.).
II. AFTER THE ARRIVAL. The journey thus happily accomplished, what was first taken in hand? As far as possible, their first duty. They had come up specially to build the LORD'S house. It was necessary, of course, in order to do this, that they should have homes of their own. Before, however, they see to this second point in any way, they do all they can for the first. They cannot yet, whilst themselves homeless and unsettled, actually begin the LORD'S house. But they can lay aside of their substance for that purpose, and so show their desire; they can make their "offerings" (verse 68) and put them into the "treasury" (verse 69), adding thus to that which they had already collected in various ways (see Ezra 1:4, etc.) for that end. And this they do, it seems, first. Such is the Scriptural, such the politic, plan (see Deuteronomy 26:1-11; 1 Kings 17:13; Matthew 6:33; Luke 11:41). It is also to be observed that they do so "freely"—the Scriptural spirit (see Exodus 25:2; Exodus 35:5; Deuteronomy 15:10; 2 Corinthians 9:7). And that they do so, once more, sufficiently—the Scriptural proportion. "They gave after their ability". It would almost seem, indeed, as though 2 Corinthians 8:2 had been fulfilled in this case; so large, considering their numbers and probable condition, is the computed value of their contributions. For example, if the 61,000 drams or dareics of gold = £66,718 15s; and the 5000 pounds or minae of silver = £20,000, we have a total contribution of about £90,000, which, for a congregation of not quite 50,000 (children and poor and servants included, as it would seem), is nearly two pounds per head. Well would it be if no other "congregations" ever did any less. This additional provision thus made for God's house, they next see to their own; the result being as briefly summed up to us in verse 70. Comparing this verse with Nehemiah 7:73, which seems to relate to the same transaction, we find that in both cases, with some diversity on other points, God's ministers are named first. If this means that they were attended to first, it harmonises well with what went before. God's house before their own houses; God's ministers before themselves. In any case we seem invited to notice that all his ministers of all ranks were attended to; not the "priests" only, but all the divisions of the "Levites" (Levites proper, singers and porters), and even their assistants, the "Nethinims," too. Indeed, however we are to understand the peculiar expression, found both in Ezra and Nehemiah, "[some] of the people," it would seem, from the special subsequent mention in both cases of "all Israel" as "dwelling" "in their cities," that the laity also of all tribes, and probably also of all classes, including those mentioned in Ezra 2:59-63, were duly provided for in like manner. And if so, the picture is one of a very beautiful kind. All these pilgrims, down to the humblest, were pilgrims no more. All these once banished ones both arrived now and settled. In their true country; in their proper "cities;" in their respective homes! In all which we may see an illustration of the wonderful variety, order, and completeness of God's ways. In creation (Psalms 104:27; Psalms 136:25; Psalms 145:15, etc.). In providence (Acts 27:43, Acts 27:44). In grace (John 10:28; John 17:12). In the "dispensation of the fulness of times" (Daniel 12:13, as contrasted with Psalms 1:5; Luke 21:36, etc.). Happy, indeed, who can say, "We are journeying home to God" (Numbers 10:29).
HOMILIES BY J.S. EXELL