Ezra 8:25
And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Persian kings followed Cyrus's policy of supporting subject peoples' religions to maintain loyalty (Cyrus Cylinder documents this strategy). Artaxerxes' contributions (7:15-16) plus voluntary Jewish donations created enormous wealth transfer from Babylon to Jerusalem. The careful weighing and documentation parallels ancient Near Eastern commercial contracts (evidenced in thousands of cuneiform tablets) where witnesses verified transactions. Ezra's meticulous record-keeping (noting exact weights in vv. 26-27) provided legal protection and theological testimony to God's provision.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the collaboration between pagan king and Jewish community teach about God's sovereignty over secular powers?
- How does the careful weighing and documentation model accountability in handling sacred resources?
- In what ways should modern ministry leaders balance faith-risk (refusing military escort) with careful stewardship (precise accounting)?
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Analysis & Commentary
And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels—וָאֶשְׁקְלָה (va'eshqelah, and I weighed) indicates precise measurement. The שָׁקַל (shaqal, to weigh) was standard commercial practice ensuring accountability—exact weights recorded at transfer prevented later disputes about missing items. The כֶּסֶף וְהַזָּהָב וְהַכֵּלִים (kessef v'hazahav v'hakelim, the silver and the gold and the vessels) comprised both raw precious metals and crafted liturgical implements.
Even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered—תְּרוּמַת (terumat, the offering/contribution) designates these treasures as קֹדֶשׁ (holy) from the moment of dedication. The donors span the spectrum: הַמֶּלֶךְ (hamelekh, the king—Artaxerxes), יֹעֲצָיו (yo'atzav, his counselors), שָׂרָיו (sarav, his princes), and כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל (kol-Yisrael, all Israel present—the Babylonian Jewish community). This unprecedented collaboration between pagan monarchy and diaspora community funded temple worship, demonstrating God's sovereign orchestration of history.