Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

At the place Casiphia - The most judicious commentators are agreed that by Casiphia, the Caspian mountains, between Media and Hyrcania, are intended; where, probably, the Nethinim were employed in working silver mines: כסף keseph, from which the word comes, signifies silver.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Casiphia - Its situation is wholly unknown; but it cannot have been far from Ahava.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief, at the place Casiphia,.... Not a place by the Caspian sea, and near the Caspian mountains, as Munster, which was too far off to go and return in the time they must, see Ezra 7:9, but, as Jarchi, a place in Babylon so called, a village near it, or a parish or street in it, where Ezra knew lived many of the Levites and Nethinims, and where Iddo was the chief of the Levites, and over them both:

and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia; but Iddo was not one of the Nethinims; for he was chief of the Levites, and by his authority many of them were sent as well as of the Nethinims; but none of the latter were over the Levites, for they were servants to them, Ezra 8:20, but, according to Jarchi, the Nethinims are not at all intended in this clause, who reads the words:

to Iddo and Achim, (the name of a man with him; perhaps it may be better rendered, "to Iddo and his brother",)

who were appointed, or settled, in the place Casiphia; and with him De Dieu agrees, and so the Syriac version:

who dwelt in Casiphia: that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God; both Levites to be singers and porters there, and the Nethinims to wait on them.

Geneva Study Bible

(d) He was the chief teacher of the law to the Levites.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Ezra 8:17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, [and] to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.

Ver. 17. At the place Casiphia] Where it may seem that there was a college of Levites, and Iddo was their president.

And to his brethren the Nethinims] Who were now become men of mark, brethren to Iddo, and much sought for by Ezra, Ezra 2:43, for the service they did about God’s house.

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible

Ver. 17. Casiphia— It is not easy to guess what place this was. The text calls it Casiphia the place. Some have taken it for the Caspian mountains situate between Media and Hyrcania, in the mines of which these captive Nethinims are supposed to have been sent to work; if so, it is no wonder that they should be so ready to embrace the benefit of the king's decree. The LXX render it a place of silver; for ףּכס keseph signifies silver.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

I sent them with commandment; which he might do, partly by virtue of that authority which he had over them by his priesthood; and partly by that authority which he either had received or could easily procure from the king to that purpose.

Iddo the chief; the head of the rest, either by ecclesiastical order or government, which the Persian kings allowed to the Jews; or by some grant or commission from the king.

At the place Casiphia; not a place near the Caspian Lake, as some guess from the likeness of the names; for that was at too great a distance for his present purpose; but some other place not far from Ahava, where he knew that there was a college or considerable company of Levites together.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

17.Iddo the chief — This person was evidently the head man of a community of the Nethinim — descendants of the Gibeonites given to the service of the temple, (see 1 Chronicles 9:2,) who were dwelling at the place Casiphia. This place is now unknown, but seems, from the short time occupied in obtaining men from there, to have been not very far from Ahava.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

Ezra 8:17. And I sent them unto Iddo the chief — Chief among the Levites, who dwelt at the place here mentioned, and there had the free exercise of their religion, as this and many other passages in this book plainly enough prove. For we find the people resorting to Ezekiel in their captivity, and him preaching to them the word of God, in many places of his book, particularly Ezekiel 33:30-31, &c. And Ezra, in all likelihood, was an instructer among them, as Joiarib and Elnathan also were, and Iddo, to whom these were sent. By which means many proselytes were made, who left their own country, and came with them to Jerusalem when they returned, Ezra 6:21. At the place Casiphia — It is not easy to guess what place this was. The text calls it Casiphia the place. Some have taken it for the Caspian mountains, situate between Media and Hyrcania. But certainly these must have been at too great a distance from the road he was taking. Perhaps it was in Parthia, where was a city called Caspi, known to the ancient geographers. The LXX. render it, a place of silver, for כסŠ, keseph, signifies silver. That they should bring us ministers for the house of our God — The furnishing of God’s house with good ministers is a good work, and which will redound to the comfort and credit of all that have any hand it.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Chasphia. The Caspian mountains, between Media and Hyrcania. Here the Nathinites were forced to labour, under Eddo. The service of the temple would be far more eligible. (Calmet)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Casiphia. Not identified. Probably near Babylon.

Nethinims. These were the ministers of the Levites. Originally Gibeonites. See note on Ezra 2:43.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. With commandment unto Iddo the chief. Ezra sent this deputation, either by virtue of authority, which by his priestly character he had over the Levites, or of the royal commission with which he was invested. The deputation were despatched to Iddo, who was a prince or chief of the Nethinims-for the Persian government allowed the Hebrews, during their exile, to retain their ecclesiastical government by their own chiefs, as well as to enjoy the privilege of free worship, Iddo's influence procured and brought to the camp at Ahava thirty-eight Levites and 220 Nethinims, and descendants of the Gibeonites, who performed the servile duties of the temple.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(17) The place Casiphia.—Evidently near Ahavah, and a colony of Jews presided over by Iddo, one of the humble race of the Nethinims, but at present chief under the Persians. Ezra was aware of their existence in these parts.

Ministers.—A term obviously including Levites and Nethinims.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Casiphia

Casiphia is supposed to denote the Caspian mountains, between Media and Hyrcania, near the Caspian Sea. It is evident, from a comparison of ch. 7:9 with ver. 31, that Casiphia could not be far from Ahava.

I told them

Heb. I put words in their mouth.

Exodus 4:15; Deuteronomy 18:18; 2 Samuel 14:3,19; Jeremiah 1:9; 15:19

the Nethinims

2:43,58; 7:7

ministers

Numbers 8:22-26; 18:6; 1 Chronicles 23:3-6,26-32; Titus 1:5