Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

With this verse the writer resumes the use of the Hebrew language, which he had discarded for the Chaldee from Ezra 4:8. With the exception of the letter of Artaxerxes Ezra 7:12-26, all the remainder of the book is in Hebrew.

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL KEPT THE PASSOVER

"And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. And the children of Israel that were come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, did eat, and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Jehovah had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel."

"With Ezra 6:19, the writer resumes the Hebrew language, which he had discarded for the Chaldee, beginning at Ezra 4:8. With the exception of the letter of Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:12-26), the remainder of the book is in Hebrew."[22]

"All of them were pure" (Ezra 6:20). It is not exactly clear, as the translation reads, but Cook assures us that a contrast is drawn between the universal purity of the Levites and the more general purity of the priests. "This made it fitting that the Levites should slaughter all the consume."[23]

"And all such as had separated themselves from the filthiness of the nations of the land" (Ezra 6:21). Here, these are contrasted with the returnees from captivity. "These were those who were left in Palestine by Nebuchadnezzar and had become mixed with the heathen population."[24]

"Jehovah ... turned the heart of the king of Assyria" (Ezra 6:22). This is a reference, of course, to Darius I the king of Persia. However it is definitely not "a scribal error"[25] as charged by Cundall. Darius was king of Persia and also king of Babylon, but as the ruler of the former Assyrian Empire, he was also "King of Assur,"[26] as Keil stated it.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. The month Nisan or Abib, which was the month following that in which the temple was finished, Ezra 6:15, this passover was kept at the exact time the law commanded, Exodus 12:2.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Ezra 6:19-22. And of the Passover.

Scofield's Reference Notes

first month

i.e. April.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Ezra 6:19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth [day] of the first month.

Ver. 19. And the children of the captivity] So the returned captives are called, first, to keep still afoot the remembrance of their late misery, lest they should despise the chastening of the Lord, Hebrews 12:5. Secondly, to remind them of that signal mercy of their return to their own country. Hence doth the evangelist Matthew so oft mention their transportation to Babylon, and rings it in the ears of his ungrateful countrymen, Matthew 1:11-12; Matthew 1:17.

Kept the passover] In remembrance, that the punishing angel passed over their ancestors in Egypt, Exodus 12:12-14, and for confirmation of their faith in Christ, the true paschal Lamb. Hast thou escaped a danger? offer a passover. Hath Christ delivered thee from the wrath to come? keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth 1 Corinthians 5:8.

Upon the fourteenth day of the first month] See Exodus 12:2, with the note.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

THE PASSOVER OBSERVED, Ezra 6:19-22.

19.The fourteenth day — The day of old appointed for the killing of the paschal lamb. Exodus 12:6.

The first month — Nisan, which followed immediately after Adar. Compare Ezra 6:15. The year is not mentioned, but it was, doubtless, the very next month after the feast of dedication, which the writer had just described. As Israel improved the first opportunity after they entered Canaan to celebrate the passover, (Joshua 5:10,) so now they do the same at the earliest opportunity after they have returned from exile and finished the house of God. Then the reproach of Egypt had just been rolled away, (Joshua 5:9,) now the reproach of Babylon had ceased.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

Ezra 6:19. And the children, of the captivity kept the passover — Now they were newly delivered out of their bondage in Babylon, it was seasonable to commemorate their deliverance out of their bondage in Egypt. Fresh mercies should put us in mind of former mercies. We may suppose that they had kept the passover, after a sort, every year since their return; for they had an altar and a tabernacle. But they were liable to frequent disturbances from their enemies, were straitened for room, and had not conveniences about them, so that they could not do it with due solemnity, till the temple was built; and now they made a joyful festival of it, it falling out in the next month after the temple was finished and dedicated.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

And. Here the author resumes the Hebrew language. (Calmet) --- Captivity, from which they were released, ver. 17. (Haydock)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

And, &c. Here recommences the Hebrew language. See note on Ezra 4:8.

kept the passover. One of the ten so recorded. See note on Exodus 12:28.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(19) Upon the fourteenth day of the first month.—Recording the special celebration of the Passover—after the precedent of Hezekiah and Josiah—Ezra returns to the Hebrew language. The occasion was, as it were, a renewal of the redemption from Egypt, and another wilderness had been passed.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

the children

kept

Exodus 12:6-36; Joshua 5:10; 2 Chronicles 30:1-35