with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem.
We have here the commission which the Persian emperor granted to Ezra, giving him authority to act for the good of the Jews; and it is very ample and full, and beyond what could have been expected. The commission runs, we suppose, in the usual form: Artaxerxes, King of kings.
Commenting on Ezra 7:11-26
And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren,.... The priests, that he should think fit to take in to his assistance in this work: to do with the rest of the silver and gold; which should be left after the sacrifices were offered up: that do after the will of your God; as they should be directed by him, or was prescribed by him in the law.
GRACIOUS COMMISSION OF ARTAXERXES. (Ezra 7:11-26) this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave--The measure which this document authorized, and the remarkable interest in the Jews displayed in it, were most probably owing to the influence of Esther, who is thought to have been raised to the high position of queen a few months previous to the departure of Ezra [HALES].
Commenting on Ezra 7:11-26