For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
My Notes
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Gill's Exposition
So we fasted, and besought our God for this,.... Sought the Lord by fasting and prayer for a good journey, and preservation in it:
and he was entreated of us; accepted their prayer, as Jarchi, so…
Barnes' Notes
What “enemy” menaced Ezra, and on what account, is wholly uncertain (compare Ezr 8:31). Perhaps robber-tribes, Arab or Syrian, were his opponents.
Adam Clarke
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,…
Ezra has procured Levites to go along with him; but what will that avail, unless he have God with him? That is therefore his chief care. In all our ways we must acknowledge God, and in those…
Cambridge Bible
I was ashamed same word as in Ezr 9:6 -I am ashamed", Jer 31:19 -I was ashamed".
to require R.V. to ask. The simplest rendering for the commonest word.
a bandof soldiers and horsemen Such an escort as…
Cross References
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