John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 7. And there went up some of the children of Israel , etc.] Perhaps some of the ten tribes, as well as others of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin; who, notwithstanding the edict of Cyrus, chose to remain in Babylon, and in the countries of it, until they saw how things would go in Judea; and hearing that the temple was finished, and that those that had returned had built them houses in their several cities, and prospered, thought fit to return also: and of the priests , and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem; to take their places, and execute their offices in the temple now built; for of the Levites especially, some of which were singers, and others porters, and of the Nethinims, there were but few that went up with Zerubbabel: now this journey of theirs was taken in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king; that is, of Darius Artaxerxes, and this was the year after the temple was finished: though it is thought by many learned men, and not without some show of reason, that Artaxerxes Longimanus is meant.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - Ezra went from Babylon to Jerusalem, for the good of his country. The king was kind to him; he granted all his requests, whatever Ezr desired to enable him to serve his country. When he went, many wen with him; he obtained favour from his king, by the Divine favour. Ever creature is that to us, which God makes it to be. We must see the han of God in the events that befall us, and acknowledge him with thankfulness.
Original Hebrew ויעלו5927 מבני1121 ישׂראל3478 ומן4480 הכהנים3548 והלוים3881 והמשׁררים7891 והשׁערים7778 והנתינים5411 אל413 ירושׁלם3389 בשׁנת8141 שׁבע7651 לארתחשׁסתא783 המלך׃4428
