The rendezvous, or the second muster.
We have been told twice before in this story that Ezra went up from Babylon to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:6-8, Ezra 7:9), and that he did not go by himself. But we only now enter upon the actual details of this second and supplementary expedition. Who were those that went up with him? And what was the nature of the first step which he and they took in common? We may answer these questions in the opposite order. The first step was to meet Ezra at the river or town of Ahava, situated, it is supposed, on the road to Jerusalem via Carchemish, and far enough off from Babylon to ensure comparative quiet and proper discrimination. Those who came consisted of two principal detachments, one of which came to the spot not only before the other, but in a somewhat different way. We may describe the first detachment as one in which we find the first last; the second as being one in which we find the last first.
I. THE FIRST LAST. Who might be expected to be foremost in a case of this kind? Where do we find them in actual fact? Let us consider this—
1. As to family. Judging by all analogy, the family of David, the royal family of Judah, ought to have been foremost in such a matter. Who so likely to feel the evils of captivity as the heirs to a throne? Who so eager to return from banishment (one would suppose) as those who had been banished at once from dignity and from home? The previous return, also, under the edict of Cyrus, seems to bear out this idea. Though no figure there is so prominent as that of Ezra is here, yet the most prominent of all those there mentioned is that of Zerubbabel, the lineal descendant of David, and representative of his house. Under his Babylonian name of Sheshbazzar he is the only person mentioned by name as returning in Ezra 1:1-11; and be comes first of all in the detailed catalogue of Ezra 2:1-70. Most probably, also, judging from what we read long afterwards of the descendants of David in Luke 2:4, the 123 returning "men of Bethlehem" mentioned in Ezra 2:21 in a later part of the same catalogue were kinsmen of his. In the present instance, on the other hand, we find apparent mention in Ezra 2:2, Ezra 2:3 of only one of this same royal family as returning, viz; Hattush, of the sons of Shechaniah. Also we find even this solitary specimen of that royal race only occupying the third place on the list of those named. Whatever the reasons, therefore, this is the fact, that the family first in rank and genealogy appears anything but first here either in importance or position. Is it the beginning of that descent which ends long after with finding David's greatest descendant as a "carpenter's son"?
II. THE LAST FIRST. This will be seen by considering the steps taken by Ezra to remedy the state of things just described. We find that he went
(a) As to number, bringing back 258 pilgrims in all;
(b) as to qualifications, all brought back being such "ministers" (verse 17) as were sought;
(c) as to variety, being both Levites and their assistants;
(d) as to character, being all men of resolution and purpose, whose "names" (end verse 20) would be given as those of men whose minds were made up.
Also, among these, two especially of much note, viz; Sherebiah and Hashabiah (comp. verse 24, and Nehemiah 8:7; Nehemiah 9:4; Nehemiah 10:11, Nehemiah 10:12; Nehemiah 12:24), the first named especially being a man of such acknowledged judgment and learning that his coming was regarded as a special mark of God's providential goodness (so we understand, with many, begin, verse 18). Thus conspicuously were the "last first;" thus happily were the vacant places in Ezra's company, as it were, more than supplied—Ezra himself being judge.
In CONCLUSION, we may see here—
1. How important religious movements often begin, viz; with the comparatively undistinguished, the rank and file. So with John the Baptist (Matthew 21:26), and our Lord himself (Mark 12:37; John 7:48). Both cases seem referred to in Matthew 21:31, Matthew 21:32.
2. How they are often perfected afterwards, viz; by the coming in then of distinguished persons assuming the lead of the whole. So amongst those baptized by John came Jesus among the last (Luke 3:21). See, also, in regard to the burial of Christ, how the two "counsellors," Joseph and Nicodemus, then interfered. And, finally, in the preaching of the gospel, how Paul was "born" last and became the first (1 Corinthians 15:8-10; 2 Corinthians 11:5, 2 Corinthians 11:23, etc.; Galatians 2:5, Galatians 2:8).
3. How all so assisting have their peculiar points, both good and evil. Some are to be praised for forwardness (2 Corinthians 9:2), some for steadiness when begun; some to be blamed for backwardness, some for fickleness, as the Galatians. So John is first to reach the sepulchre, Peter first to go in.
4. How perfect the impartiality of the Scriptural record. All this, so little to the credit of the Levites, written by a Levitical hand. Comp. story of Genesis 34:1-31; also Genesis 49:5-7, as recorded by Moses, himself a Levite.
5. How devoutly humble its spirit. Every advantage is attributed to the good hand of our God (1 Corinthians 15:10; Psalms 115:1; Philippians 2:13).
HOMILIES BY J.S. EXELL