Ezra 8:18
And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּבִ֨יאּוּ
upon us they brought
H935
וַיָּבִ֨יאּוּ
upon us they brought
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 19
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
כְּיַד
hand
H3027
כְּיַד
hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
3 of 19
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ
of our God
H430
אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ
of our God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
4 of 19
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
הַטּוֹבָ֤ה
And by the good
H2896
הַטּוֹבָ֤ה
And by the good
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
5 of 19
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙
H5921
עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
6 of 19
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אִ֣ישׁ
us a man
H376
אִ֣ישׁ
us a man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
7 of 19
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
וּבָנָ֥יו
of the sons
H1121
וּבָנָ֥יו
of the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
9 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וּבָנָ֥יו
of the sons
H1121
וּבָנָ֥יו
of the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
11 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וּבָנָ֥יו
of the sons
H1121
וּבָנָ֥יו
of the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
13 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
14 of 19
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וּבָנָ֥יו
of the sons
H1121
וּבָנָ֥יו
of the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
16 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וְאֶחָ֖יו
and his brethren
H251
וְאֶחָ֖יו
and his brethren
Strong's:
H251
Word #:
17 of 19
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])
Cross References
Jeremiah 3:15And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.Nehemiah 2:8And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.Ezra 7:28And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.1 Chronicles 6:19The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.Daniel 1:20And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.Ezra 7:6This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.Ezra 8:22For 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.
Historical Context
Recruiting only 38 Levites and 220 Nethinim (8:18-20) from what must have been thousands in Babylon shows the dramatic reluctance to return. The fact that Ezra memorializes Sherebyah by name and traces his Merarite lineage suggests his recruitment was a significant victory—a respected leader whose participation encouraged others. These Levites would play crucial roles in post-exilic worship (Nehemiah 8:7's public Torah reading) and covenant renewal (Nehemiah 9-10).
Questions for Reflection
- How does Ezra's consistent attribution of success to 'the good hand of our God' challenge modern leadership's self-promotion?
- What does the emphasis on 'understanding' alongside genealogy teach about qualifications for spiritual leadership?
- Why is recruiting influential leaders (like Sherebyah) more strategic than merely increasing numbers?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And by the good hand of our God upon us—יַד־אֱלֹהֵינוּ הַטּוֹבָה עָלֵינוּ (yad-Eloheinu hatovah aleinu, the good hand of our God upon us) is Ezra's repeated theological refrain (7:6, 7:9, 7:28, 8:18, 8:22, 8:31), attributing all success to divine providence rather than human effort. The 'hand' metaphor depicts God's active intervention and protection. This acknowledgment frames the entire narrative—Ezra never credits his own leadership but consistently points to God's sovereign enablement.
They brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel—אִישׁ־שֶׂכֶל (ish-sekel, a man of understanding/insight) emphasizes intellectual and spiritual qualification, not mere genealogical credentials, though those are meticulously recorded: מַחְלִי (Machli) was Merari's son (Exodus 6:19), making this man a Merarite Levite. And Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen—שֵׁרֵבְיָה (Sherebyah, 'Yahweh has scorched/sent burning heat') becomes a key leader in Ezra-Nehemiah (Ezra 8:24, Nehemiah 8:7, 9:4-5, 10:12, 12:8, 12:24). The eighteen family members represent substantial leadership capital agreeing to return.