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Ezra 8:22

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Ezra 8:22 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
Ezra 8:22 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezra 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
20and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name.
21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
22For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
23So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.
24Then I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
25and weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his princes, and all Israel there present, had offered:
← Ezra 8:21Ezra 8:23 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For I was ashamed to require of the kings band of soldiers and horsemen, etc.] Which he might have had, only asking for them; so great was the interest he had in the king’s favour: to help us against the enemy in the way; the Arabs, Samaritans, and others, that might lie in wait for them, to rob them of their substance: because we had spoken unto the king: of the special favour of God to them, his singular providence in the protection of them: saying, the hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; that pray unto him, serve and worship him; his hand is open to them to bestow all needful good upon them, temporal and spiritual, and his power and providence are over them, to…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“What “enemy” menaced Ezra, and on what account, is wholly uncertain (compare Ezra 8:31). Perhaps robber-tribes, Arab or Syrian, were his opponents. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“8:22 ashamed: Ezra had openly proclaimed his faith in God’s ability to protect the Israelites on their journey. Asking the king for help now would suggest that Ezra did not really believe in God’s ability to provide.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“I was ashamed: Co1 9:15; Co2 7:14 The hand: Ezr 7:6, Ezr 7:9, Ezr 7:28; Ch1 28:9; Ch2 16:9; Psa 33:18, Psa 33:19, Psa 34:15, Psa 34:22; Isa 3:10, Isa 3:11; Lam 3:25; Rom 8:28; Pe1 3:12 his power and his wrath: Jos 23:16; Ch2 15:2; Psa 21:8, Psa 21:9, Psa 34:16, Psa 90:11; Zep 1:2-6; Heb 10:38; Pe1 3:12 Ezra 8:23”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification