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Ezra 8:15

in Ezra 8

Now I assembled these exiles at the canal that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. And when I searched among the people and priests, I found no Levites there.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

KJV

And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

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This verse in Ezra 8

Commentary

4 notes on this verse
Ahava was both a town and a river Ezr 8:21. The modern name of the place is Hit. It is famous for its bitumen springs, and is situated on the Euphrates, at a distance of about 80 miles from Babylon, toward the northwest. None of the sons of Levi - The Levites appear to have been disinclined to return to Jerusalem (see Ezr 3:8 note).

This site's exposition

none of the sons of Levi

Ezra's muster at the river Ahava turns up every class he expected except one: he views the people and the priests and finds none of the sons of Levi. The gap stands out against the careful roll just given, since the tribe set apart for the temple's service is the one tribe missing from a company bound for the temple. Three days in tents at the rendezvous become three days with a problem exposed before the caravan can take a single step toward Jerusalem.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Some priests there were, but no others that were Levites. Where was the spirit of that sacred tribe? Ezra, a priest, like Moses proclaims, Who is on the Lord's side?
The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

It is probable that the Ahava was one of the streams or numerous canals of Mesopotamia communicating with the Euphrates [Cyclopædia of Biblical Literature]. But it was certainly in Babylonia on the banks of that stream; and perhaps the place appointed for general rendezvous was in the neighborhood of a town of the same name.

The words behind it

18 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וָֽאֶקְבְּצֵ֗םand I assembled them

    vaekbetzemH6908 →127 times

  • אֶל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • הַנָּהָר֙the river

    hanaharH5104 →119 times

  • הַבָּ֣אwhich goes

    haba'H935 →2568 times

  • אֶֽל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • אַהֲוָ֔אAhava

    ʾahava'H163 →3 times

  • וַנַּחֲנֶ֥הand we encamped

    vanachanehH2583 →

  • שָׁ֖םthere

    shamH8033 →834 times

  • יָמִ֣יםdays

    yamimH3117 →2304 times

  • שְׁלֹשָׁ֑הthree

    sheloshahH7969 →432 times

  • וָאָבִ֤ינָהand I considered !

    vaavinahH995 →

  • בָעָם֙<in> the people

    vaamH5971 →1873 times

  • וּבַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔יםand <in> the priests

    uvakohanimH3548 →750 times

  • וּמִבְּנֵ֥יand any of [the] descendants of

    umibeneiH1121 →4930 times

  • לֵוִ֖יLevi

    leviH3881 →291 times

  • לֹא־not

    lo'-H3808 →5168 times

  • מָצָ֥אתִיI found

    matzatiH4672 →455 times

  • שָֽׁם׃there

    shamH8033 →834 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

9 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Ezra 8:21And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.6 worksEzra 7:7So in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, he went up to Jerusalem with some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants.5 worksEzra 8:31On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem, and the hand of our God was upon us to protect us from the hands of the enemies and bandits along the way.5 worksEzekiel 3:15I came to the exiles at Tel-abib who dwelt by the River Kebar. And for seven days I sat where they sat and remained there among them, overwhelmed.3 worksPsalms 137:1By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.3 worksEzra 8:2from the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom; from the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel;3 works
The other 3 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 16:13On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there.2 worksEzekiel 1:1In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles by the River Kebar, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God.2 worksEzra 7:24And be advised that you have no authority to impose tribute, duty, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Ezra 8:21

    And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our…

    it leads to

    • 2 Chronicles 20:3

      Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.

    • Joel 1:14

      Consecrate a fast; proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.

    • Isaiah 30:21

      And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”

    • 1 Samuel 7:6

      When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged…

    • Jonah 3:5

      And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least.

  • Through

    Psalms 137:1

    By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.

    it leads to

    • Ezekiel 1:1

      In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles by the River Kebar, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

  • Through

    Ezekiel 3:15

    I came to the exiles at Tel-abib who dwelt by the River Kebar. And for seven days I sat where they sat and remained there among them, overwhelmed.

    it leads to

    • Job 2:13

      Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw how intense his suffering was.

    • Psalms 137:1

      By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.

About Ezra

Ezra Kneels in Prayer, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Ezra Kneels in Prayer, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Ezra: the study guide →Read Ezra 8 →

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Keil, The Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Ezra 8 →