Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Twelve he-goats - This was a sin-offering for every tribe.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Compare with this modest sacrifice, which suits well “the day of small things” Zechariah 4:10, the lavish offering of Solomon (see the marginal reference “n”).

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And offered, at the dedication of this house of God, an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs,.... Hecatombs of various sorts, which were always reckoned grand sacrifices, even among Heathens, of which Homer sometimes speaks; some of these were for burnt offerings, and others peace offerings, by way of thankfulness to God for the finishing of the temple; part of which belonging to the offerers, they feasted upon it with great gladness of heart:

and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel; for though the ten tribes were carried captive by Shalmaneser, yet, as before observed, there were some of them that remained in the land, and others that went and returned with the two tribes; and therefore a sin offering was made for them all, for the typical expiation of guilt contracted since they had been in an Heathen land, and, temple service had ceased.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

twelve he-goats — as at the dedication of the tabernacle (Numbers 7:87; Numbers 8:17).

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Ezra 6:17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

Ver. 17. An hundred bullocks, &c.] This little (in comparison of what was done at Solomon’s dedication, 1 Kings 8:63) was highly accepted in heaven: as was likewise Noah’s sacrifice, which yet could not be great: because that after a great trial of affliction, "the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality," 2 Corinthians 8:2; which, saith Aristotle, is not to be measured by the worth of the gift, but by the will of the giver, Oυ τω πληθει των διδομενων, αλλα τη του διδοντος εξει (Arist. Ethic. lib. 4). {See Trapp on "Ezra 2:6"}

Twelve he-goats] A fit creature for a sin offering, because nasty, unruly, &c.

According to the number of the tribes of Israel] All whom (wheresoever dispersed) they remember in their prayers; as we should likewise do all the Israel of God, in all places.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

17.A hundred bullocks — Compare the far larger offering of Solomon at the dedication of the first temple. 1 Kings 8:63. But the present offering was large and liberal, according to the circumstances of the worshippers.

According to the number of the tribes — The chastisements of the exile had thoroughly subdued these Jews, and the Israelites that had returned with them, and now, at this feast of dedication, they seek to wipe out their ancient schism, making an atonement for it by a sin offering, and, by the offering of twelve he goats, present themselves before Jehovah as the representatives of all the tribes who had been one people and one nation at the dedication five hundred years before. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah, (l, 4, 5,) that Judah and Israel should return together, going and weeping, and join themselves in a perpetual covenant.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

Ezra 6:17. And offered a hundred bullocks, &c. — Few in number in comparison of those which Solomon had offered at the dedication of his temple. But, being according to their present ability, their offering was accepted, for it was made after a great trial of affliction, and in the midst of deep poverty, as the apostle speaks in another case, 2 Corinthians 8:2. Indeed, these hundreds were more to them than Solomon’s thousands to him. And they offered them willingly and cheerfully, for this service was performed with joy, all being glad to see the temple built, and the concerns of it in so good a posture. For a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats — One for every tribe, to make atonement for their sins, which they looked upon as necessary in order to the acceptance of their services. It appears from many passages of Scripture, that though Shalmaneser had carried captive the ten tribes, yet many of them had remained in their country, and were carried away by Nebuchadnezzar, together with Judah and Benjamin, with whom they returned out of Babylon, as many others of the ten tribes did, who were carried away at the taking of Samaria.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

CHAPTER VI.

Goats, which had not left off sucking. (Menochius) (Numbers vii. 87.) --- Israel. The Samaritan Chronicles assert that the tribes returned, as the prophets had foretold, and the sacred history seems to suppose: (Calmet) which may be true of many, (Haydock) though the greatest part remained in captivity. (Calmet)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

offered = brought near. App-43.

all Israel. See note on 1 Kings 12:17. Note the number "twelve". App-10.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

Twelve he-goats - as at the dedication of the tabernacle (Numbers 8:17).

According to the number of the tribes of Israel. Although the returned exiles belonged chiefly to Judah and Benjamin, some connected with the other tribes joined the caravan of travelers to Jerusalem, and these few considered themselves as representing the whole Jewish nation.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(17) Twelve he goats.—The people are not now “Judah” or “Judah and Benjamin,” but “all Israel.” On the Day of Atonement, on the new moons, and on all the great feasts the kid was the sin-offering for the people. But only here is one offered for each tribe.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

offered

8:35; Numbers 7:2-89; 1 Kings 8:63,64; 1 Chronicles 16:1-3; 2 Chronicles 7:5; 29:31-35

a sin offering

Leviticus 4:3,13,14,22,23,28; 2 Chronicles 29:21-23

according to

Though the tribes of Benjamin and Judah, with the priests and Levites, formed the bulk of the people, yet many from the other tribes had returned with them from captivity.

1 Kings 18:31; Luke 22:30; Revelation 7:4-8; 21:12

Reciprocal: Exodus 24:4 - according;  Leviticus 9:3 - Take ye;  Leviticus 16:5 - General;  Numbers 7:10 - dedicating;  Numbers 15:24 - one kid;  2 Samuel 6:17 - offered;  1 Chronicles 29:21 - sacrificed;  2 Chronicles 29:32 - the number;  Ezra 2:70 - General;  Ezekiel 46:12 - a voluntary;  Matthew 19:28 - the twelve;  Acts 26:7 - our;  James 1:1 - to