Ezr 7:12-26 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 12. Artaxerxes, king of kings ] This letter, from the beginning of this verse to the end of , is in the Aramitic or Chaldee language. This title of the king would, in Persian, run thus: [Persian] Ardsheer shahinshah , or [Persian] padshah , "Ardsheer, king of kings;" " great or supreme king , or emperor ."

‏ Ezra 7:12-26

Verse 12. Artaxerxes, king of kings] This letter, from the beginning of this verse to the end of Ezr 7:12-26, is in the Aramitic or Chaldee language.

This title of the king would, in Persian, run thus: [Persian] Ardsheer shahinshah, or [Persian] padshah, "Ardsheer, king of kings;" "great or supreme king, or emperor."

Verse 13. Their own free-will] None shall be forced either to go or to stay. He who loves his God will avail himself of this favourable opportunity.

Verse 14. His seven counsellors] It is very likely that the privy counsel of the king consisted of seven persons simply. The names of these seven counsellors or chamberlains may be found in the book of Esther, Es 1:10.

Verse 16. And all the silver and gold] The king and his counsellors had already made a present to the house of the God of Israel; and Ezra is now empowered to receive any contribution which any of the inhabitants of the province of Babylon may think proper to give.

Verse 18. After the will of your God] He gave them the fullest liberty to order every thing according to their own institutions, binding them to no form or mode of worship.

Verse 22. A hundred talents of silver] The talent of silver was 450�.

A hundred measures of wheat] A hundred cors; each cor was a little more than seventy-five gallons, one quart, and a pint, wine measure.

A hundred baths of wine] Each bath was seven gallons and five pints.

Verse 23. Why should there be wrath] As he believed he was appointed by the Almighty to do this work, he therefore wished to do it heartily, knowing that if he did not, God would be displeased, and that the kingdom would be cut off from him or his posterity.

Verse 24. It shall not be lawful to impose toll] As these persons had no private revenues, it would have been unreasonable to have laid them under taxation.

Verse 26. Whether it be unto death] These include almost every species of punishment which should be inflicted on culprits in any civilized state. With this verse the Chaldee part of this chapter ends.