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以斯拉记生命读经 · 第4篇

被掳之人在以斯拉的祭司领导之下归回

The Return of the Captivity under the Priestly Leadership of Ezra
1读经：以斯拉记七至十章。神要应验祂藉耶利米所说的应许，就是被掳只会持续七十年，（耶二五１１～１２，但九２，）祂便成就两次的归回。第一次归回是在王室后裔所罗巴伯的领导之下，第二次归回是在祭司以斯拉的领导之下。
1Scripture Reading: Ezra 7—10 For God to fulfill His promise, spoken through Jeremiah, that the captivity would last only for seventy years (Jer. 25:11-12; Dan. 9:2), He accomplished two returns. The first return was under the leadership of Zerubbabel, a royal descendant. The second return was under the leadership of Ezra, a priest
2第一次归回不需要以斯拉的祭司领导，但需要知道如何治理的王室后裔所罗巴伯的君王领导。所罗巴伯治理得相当好，在建殿和筑坛上领头。此后，需要从王室转移到祭司职分，转移到大祭司亚伦的后裔以斯拉。以斯拉不但是祭司，也是经学家，就是通达神律法的人。（拉七６。）以斯拉是这样的人，所以有的应付这需要性能。
2The first return did not need the priestly leadership of Ezra; rather, it needed the kingly leadership of Zerubbabel, a royal descendant who knew how to govern. Zerubbabel governed quite well, taking the lead in building up the altar and the temple. After this, the need shifted from the royal family to the priesthood, to Ezra, a descendant of the high priest Aaron. Ezra was not only a priest but also a scribe, someone who was skilled in the law of God (Ezra 7:6). As such a person, Ezra had the capacity to meet the need
壹 被掳之人在以斯拉带领之下归回
I. THE RETURN OF THE CAPTIVITY UNDER EZRA
3七至八章说到被掳之人在以斯拉带领之下归回。
3Chapters seven and eight are concerned with the return of the captivity under Ezra
一 由于以斯拉向王的请求，开始归回
A. The Beginning of the Return through the Request of Ezra to the King
4被掳之人在以斯拉带领之下的归回，开始于他向王的请求。（七１～１０。）以斯拉必定向王恳求，使他国里的许多犹太人得著自由，得以返回他们列祖之地。我们看见，王不但允准以斯拉的请求，也供给他所需要的一切。
4The return of the captivity under Ezra began through his request to the king (7:1-10). Ezra must have appealed to the king to give many of the Jews in his empire the freedom to go back to the land of their fathers. As we will see, the king not only granted Ezra’s request but also provided everything he needed
１ 以斯拉的家谱
1. Ezra’s Genealogy
5七章一至五节里以斯拉的家谱，指明他是大祭司亚伦的后裔。２王允准以斯拉所求的王允准通达摩西律法的经学家以斯拉所求的。（６。）
5Ezra’s genealogy in 7:1-5 indicates that he was a descendant of Aaron the chief priest. 2. The King’s Granting of the Request of Ezra The king granted the request of Ezra, a scribe skilled in the law of Moses (v. 6
３ 平安来到耶路撒冷
3. Coming Safely to Jerusalem
6以斯拉和一些以色列人、祭司、利未人、歌唱的、守门的、殿役，在亚达薛西王第七年正月，离开巴比伦，因神至善的手，五月初一日平安来到耶路撒冷。以斯拉记没有说到神的灵，却几次题到神的手。（七６，９，２８，八３１。）神的灵与神的手有甚么不同？当神的灵在里面作工，那就是灵；当神的灵在外面作工，那就是神的手。
6Ezra, some of the children of Israel, some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants left Babylon on the first day of the first month in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king and came safely to Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month according to the good hand of God. The book of Ezra does not speak of the Spirit of God, but the hand of God is mentioned a number of times (7:6, 9, 28; 8:31). What is the difference between the Spirit of God and the hand of God? When God’s Spirit works inwardly, that is the Spirit. When God’s Spirit works outwardly, that is God’s hand.
４ 以斯拉立定心意寻求遵行耶和华的律法
4. Ezra Having Set His Heart to Seek and Do the Law of Jehovah
7以斯拉立定心意寻求遵行耶和华的律法，又将律例典章教训人。（七１０。）律例与典章不同。十条诫命是律法的主要项目，这一切诫命有其细节的律例。例如，第四条诫命是关于守安息日，关于这诫命的细节见于律例。典章是加上判决的律例。律例加上判决时，那律例就成为典章。关于守安息日的诫命，不但有细节的律例，也有对干犯这诫命者之判决的典章。以斯拉不但立定心意寻求遵行耶和华律法的主要部分，且将细节的律例和裁决、判决的典章教训人。
7Ezra had set his heart to seek and do the law of Jehovah and to teach His statutes and ordinances (7:10). We need to see the difference between the statutes and the ordinances. The Ten Commandments are the main items of the law, but all these commandments have their statutes, which give the details. For instance, the fourth commandment is about keeping the Sabbath. The details regarding this commandment are found in the statutes. The ordinances are statutes to which judgments have been added. When a judgment is added to a statute, that statute becomes an ordinance. Regarding the commandment to keep the Sabbath, there are not only statutes giving the details but also ordinances telling of the judgment that will come upon those who break this commandment. Ezra set his heart not only to seek and do the main part of the law of Jehovah but also to teach His statutes, the details, and His ordinances, the verdicts and judgments
二 波斯王亚达薛西的谕旨
B. The Decree of Artaxerxes King of Persia
8十一至二十八节告诉我们亚达薛西王对经学家祭司以斯拉的谕旨。
8Verses 11 through 28 tell us about the decree of Artaxerxes king of Persia to Ezra the priest, the scribe
１ 准许以色列人、
1. Permitting the Children of Israel
9祭司和利未人上耶路撒冷去王准许以色列人、祭司和利未人照他们所愿的，带著金银和器皿上耶路撒冷去。（１２～１９。）这就是说，他们得准许带著一切财物离去。
9the Priests, and the Levites to Go to Jerusalem The king permitted the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites to go to Jerusalem as they willed, with silver and gold and vessels (vv. 12-19). This means that they were permitted to go freely with all their wealth
２ 允准供给神殿的需用
2. Permitting the Provision for the Needs of the House of God
10王也允准从王的府库里支取神殿的需用。（２０。）
10The king also permitted the provision for the needs of the house of God out of the king’st re a sure house (v. 20
３ 命令一切库官，无论祭司以斯拉为神的殿要甚么，都要备办
3. Ordering All the Treasurers to Provide Whatever Ezra Required for the House of God
11王又命令幼发拉底河西的一切库官，无论祭司以斯拉为神的殿要甚么，都要备办。（２１～２３。）
11The king went on to order all the treasurers in the lands beyond the Great River, the Euphrates, to provide whatever Ezra the priest required for the house of God (vv. 21-23
４ 命令库官不可叫他们进贡、交课、纳税
4. Ordering the Treasurers Not to Impose Tribute, Taxes, or Tolls
12王也命令库官，不可叫祭司、利未人、歌唱的、守门的和殿役、并在神殿当差的人进贡、交课、纳税。（２４。）
12Next, the king ordered the treasurers not to impose tribute, taxes, or tolls on the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or servants of this house of God (v. 24
５ 授权以斯拉设立士师、审判官
5. Authorizing Ezra to Appoint Magistrates and Judges
13照著二十五至二十六节，王授权以斯拉设立士师、审判官，审理那地的百姓，将他神的律法教训他们，并照著神的律法和王的命令，施行审判。这里王作的事是为自己的权益。没有以斯拉这样的人，谁有资格在美地上的百姓中间维持正确的秩序？波斯王授权以斯拉设立士师、审判官是聪明的，因他知道以斯拉所立的人，不但会照著神的律法，也会照著王的命令施行审判。
13According to verses 25 and 26 the king authorized Ezra to appoint magistrates and judges to judge the people in the land, to teach them the laws of his God, and to execute judgment according to the law of God and the law of the king. Here the king did something for his own advantage. Without a person such as Ezra, who would have been qualified to maintain a proper order among the people in the good land? In authorizing Ezra to appoint judges and magistrates, the king of Persia was clever, for he knew that the ones appointed by Ezra would execute judgment not only according to the law of God but also according to the law of the king
６ 以斯拉称颂神
6. Ezra’s Blessing to God
14在二十七、二十八节以斯拉称颂神。他称颂神使王起这心意，修饰耶路撒冷耶和华的殿，他说神在王和谋士，并王的一切大能的军长面前施恩宠于他。然后以斯拉宣告，他因耶和华他神的手帮助他，他就得以坚强。王为以斯拉所作的，是照著耶和华的手所作的。在某种程度上，王、谋士、和大能的军长可能领悟，神是与犹太人同在。神的手在那里，为祂选民的益处，主宰的支配一切。
14Verses 27 and 28 are Ezra’s blessing to God. He blessed God for putting such a thing as this into the king’she art to beautify the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem, saying that God had extended lovingkindness to him before the king, before the king’s counselors, and before all the mighty officers of the king. Then Ezra declared that he was strengthened according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him. What the king did for Ezra, he did according to the hand of Jehovah. To some extent, the king, the counselors, and the mighty officers might have realized that God was with the Jews. God’s hand was there, controlling everything sovereignly for the benefit of His elect
三 家谱的登记
C. The Genealogical Enrollment
15八章一至二十节是从被掳中归回耶路撒冷之人家谱的登记。
15In 8:1-20 we have the genealogical enrollment of those who returned from their captivity back to Jerusalem
四 以斯拉宣告禁食
D. Ezra’s Proclamation of a Fast
16他们离开巴比伦以前，以斯拉宣告禁食，为要在他们神面前谦卑自己，求神使他们得平坦的道路，而不向王求步兵马兵，帮助他们抵挡路上的仇敌。（２１～２３。）以斯拉没有求王提供步兵，乃信靠神至善的手。
16Ezra proclaimed a fast before they left Babylon, to humble themselves before God to seek from Him a straight way for them, rather than to ask for troops and horsemen from the king to help them against the enemy in the way (vv. 21-23). Instead of asking for troops, which the king would have provided, Ezra put his trust in the good hand of God.
五 以斯拉分派祭司长十二人
E. Ezra Setting Apart Twelve of the Leading Men of the Priests
17以斯拉分派祭司长十二人，看管为神殿所献的金银和器皿，带到耶路撒冷神的殿里。（２４～３０。）这是个重大的责任，因这涉及从巴比伦到耶路撒冷行程上的危难险阻。
17Ezra set apart twelve of the leading men of the priests to take care of the offerings of silver, gold, and vessels for the house of God and to bring them to the house of God in Jerusalem (vv. 24-30). This was a serious responsibility, for it involved risk and danger on the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem
六 被掳归回之人的行程和到达
F. The Journey and Arrival of the Returned Captivity
18三十一至三十四节描述被掳归回之人的行程和到达。
18Verses 31 through 34 describe the journey and arrival of the returned captivity
１ 从亚哈瓦河边出发
1. Setting Out from the River Ahava
19正月十二日，他们从亚哈瓦河边出发，有神的手保佑他们，救他们脱离仇敌，和路上埋伏之人的手。（３１。）
19They set out from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, having the hand of their God upon them, who delivered them from the hand of the enemy and from people set in ambush on the way (v. 31
２ 到了耶路撒冷，把金银和器皿都交付了
2. Arriving at Jerusalem and Delivering All the Silver, Gold, and Vessels
20他们到了耶路撒冷，把金银和器皿都秤了，交在神的殿里。（３２～３４。）这指明他们非常谨慎的交付这些财物。七被掳归回之人向神献祭
20They arrived at Jerusalem and delivered all the silver, gold, and vessels to the house of God by weighing them (vv. 32-34). This indicates that they delivered this wealth in a very careful way. G. The Offerings to God by the Returned Captivity
21三十五节说到被掳归回之人向神献祭。他们一到达，就献燔祭和赎罪祭。
21Verse 35 speaks of the offerings to God by the returned captivity. As soon as they arrived, they offered burnt offerings and a sin offering
八 被掳归回之人，交付王的谕旨
H. The Returned Captivity’s Delivering the King’s Decrees
22被掳归回之人，将王的谕旨交给王所派的总督与河西的省长，他们就支助百姓和神的殿。（３６。）贰被掳归回之人洁净自己，
22The returned captivity delivered the king’s decrees to the king’s satraps and to the governors of the provinces beyond the River, and these supported the people and the house of God (v. 36). II. THE PURIFICATION OF THE RETURNED CAPTIVES
脱离外邦妻子的玷污
from the defilement of the foreign wives
23九、十章记载被掳归回之人洁净自己，脱离外邦妻子的玷污。以色列人进入美地时，神曾嘱咐他们不可与那地的人通婚。在以斯拉的时代，不但平民，连祭司和利未人也娶了外邦妻子。
23Chapters nine and ten are an account of the purification of the returned captives from the defilement of the foreign wives. God had charged the children of Israel, when they entered into the good land, not to have intermarriage with the peoples of the land. At Ezra’st i me, not only the common people but even the priests and the Levites had foreign wives.
一 由被掳归回之人的众官吏所发起
A. Initiated by the Officials of the Returned Captives
24这个洁净是由被掳归回之人的众官吏所发起。（九１～２。）他们指责以色列民、祭司和利未人，没有从那地的人分别出来，却为自己和儿子娶这些外邦女子为妻，以致圣别的种类和可憎之民混杂。（１～２。）他们指责首领和官长，在这对神不忠信的事上为首。
24This purification was initiated by the officials of the returned captives (9:1-2). They accused the people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites of not separating themselves from the peoples of the lands but taking the daughters of the nations for themselves and for their sons, thus mingling the holy seed with the peoples of abominations. They accused the leaders and the rulers of having been foremost in this unfaithfulness to God
二 以斯拉的反应
B. Ezra’s Reaction
25三至十五节描述以斯拉的反应。
25Verses 3 through 15 describe Ezra’s reaction
１ 撕裂衣服
1. Tearing His Garment
26以斯拉撕裂衣服，拔了头发和胡须，同那些因以色列神的言语战兢而聚集的人，惊恐而坐。（３～４。）那些因以色列神言语战兢而聚集的人，是忠信的人。
26Ezra tore his garment and pulled out hair from his head and his beard and sat down appalled with the gathering of those who trembled at the words of the God of Israel (vv. 3-4). Those who trembled at the words of God were the faithful ones
２ 彻底认罪，承认以色列人的罪孽
2. Making a Thorough Confession of the Iniquities of the Children of Israel
27以斯拉彻底认罪，承认以色列人从他们列祖直到他们时候的罪孽，说他们的罪孽使君王、祭司被交在外邦列王的手中，被掳蒙羞。（５～７。）
27Ezra then made a thorough confession of the iniquities of the children of Israel from their forefathers’ time to their time, saying that their iniquities issued in the delivery of their kings and their priests into the hand of the kings of the lands and into captivity and shamefacedness (vv. 5-7
３ 感谢神给他们留些逃脱的余民
3. Thanking God for Leaving Them a Remnant to Escape
28以斯拉感谢神给他们留些逃脱的余民，使他们安稳如钉子钉在神的圣所，在波斯王眼前向他们施恩，叫他们复兴，能重建他们神的殿，修其毁坏之处，并使他们在犹大和耶路撒冷有墙垣。（８～９。）
28Ezra thanked God for leaving them a remnant to escape and for giving them a peg in His holy place by extending His lovingkindness to them in the sight of the kings of Persia to give them a reviving, to raise up the house of their God, and to give them a wall and to repair its ruins in Judah and Jerusalem (vv. 8-9
４ 承认他们受玷污
4. Confessing Their Being Defiled
29以斯拉继续承认他们因求迦南人的平安与亨通，受了迦南人不洁和可憎之物的玷污，以致失去了享受应许之地的美物，以及遗留这地给他们子孙永远为业的权利。（１０～１５。）以斯拉承认，因著娶外邦妻子，百姓轻视并忽略了他们享受美地的权利，结果神使他们被掳。
29Ezra continued by confessing their being defiled with the uncleanness and abominations of the Canaanites in seeking their peace and prosperity, thus losing the right to enjoy the good of the promised land and to leave it for an inheritance to their children forever vv. 10-15). Ezra was confessing that by taking foreign wives the people were despising and neglecting their right to enjoy the good land and as a result they were given by God into captivity
三 会众的反应
C. The Congregation’s Reaction
30十章一至五节是会众的反应。
30In 10:1-5 we have the congregation’s reaction
１ 百姓为他们向神
1. Weeping Very Bitterly
31不忠信而痛哭
31for Their Unfaithfulness against Their God
32百姓为他们向神不忠信，娶了那地外邦女子为妻而痛哭。（１～２。）
32The people reacted by weeping very bitterly for their unfaithfulness against their God by marrying foreign women from the peoples of the land (vv. 1-2
２与他们的神立约
2). Making a Covenant with Their God
33他们也与他们的神立约，休这一切外邦的妻，离绝她们所生的，照著以斯拉和那因神命令战兢之人所议定的而行。（３。）
33They also made a covenant with their God to put away all their foreign wives and those born of them, according to the counsel of Ezra and of those who trembled at the commandment of their God (v. 3
３鼓励以斯拉当刚强办事
3). Encouraging Ezra to Be Strong and Bear His Responsibility
34百姓鼓励以斯拉当刚强办事，起誓必照著他的话去行。（４～５。）
34The people encouraged Ezra to be strong and bear his responsibility. Then they swore that they would do according to his word (vv. 4-5
四 最后的决定
D. The Final Decision
35十章六至四十四节记载最后的决定。有通告传遍犹大和耶路撒冷，叫以色列众人在三日之内聚集在耶路撒冷。（６～９。）其次，众人决定离绝这些国的民，和外邦的女子。（１０～１４，１６～１７。）然而，有少数人起来反对所决定的，且有一个利未人支持他们。（１５。）最后列出所有娶外邦女子为妻之人的名单。（１８～４４。）
35Ezra 10:6-44 is a record of the final decision. A proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of Israel to gather in Jerusalem within three days (vv. 6-9). Next, the decision was made to separate themselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign women (vv. 10-14, 16-17). However, a few of the people stood up against the decision, supported by one Levite (v. 15). Finally, there was a list of all the men who had married foreign women (vv. 18-44).
36我们已指出，以斯拉强调神的手。神藉著祂的手，使以色列人被掳。神也藉著祂的手，使以色列人从被掳中归回他们列祖之地。这里我们看见，同一位神作了两件不同的事：祂将祂的子民交给他们的仇敌作俘虏；祂也拯救他们脱离被掳，并将他们带回他们列祖之地。智慧的人以斯拉对此相当清楚。
36We have pointed out that Ezra emphasizes the matter of God’s hand. It was by His hand that God gave the children of Israel into captivity. It was also by His hand that God brought the children of Israel back from their captivity to the land of their forefathers. Here we see that the same God did two different things: He gave His people to their enemy as captives and He delivered them from captivity and brought them back to their fatherland. Ezra, a wise man, was clear about this.
37以斯拉看见第一次的归回并不完全、不完整。他看见需要有通达神律法的人，帮助百姓认识神，不是一般的认识，乃是照著神所说的认识。以斯拉有这样的性能，所以他自告奋勇去见王，请求王赐下谕旨，准许犹太人自由的作一切事。以斯拉一章告诉我们，神激动波斯王古列的灵，下诏重建神的殿，（１～２，）祂也激动犹大和便雅悯的族长、祭司、利未人的灵，上去建造在耶路撒冷神的殿。（５。）神隐藏自己，但在七十年满的时候，祂进来激动古列的灵，古列必定很喜乐，因为大巴比伦帝国在他手中；关于犹太人，他也许想要作与巴比伦人所作相反的事。按人说，是古列率先下诏的。事实上，这是神以隐藏的方式发起的。所以，第一次从巴比伦归回耶路撒冷，乃是神所发起的。第二次归回是通达神话语的祭司兼经学家以斯拉所发起的。以斯拉来见王，恳求允准他所求的。（七６。）由此我们看见，有时候神亲自在我们灵里激动我们为祂作事。然而，神常是静默的，因祂知道，更好是我们因为有像以斯拉那样的性能，而主动作一些事。在这样的情形里，神就对我们所作的事负责。无论事情是祂激起的，或是我们激起的，祂都会在其中，伸出祂的手来帮助我们。
37Ezra realized that the first return was not perfect, not complete. He realized that there was the need for someone who was skilled in the law of God to help the people to know God not merely in a general way but according to what God had spoken. Ezra had such a capacity, so he volunteered himself to go to the king and to request a decree from the king permitting the Jews to do everything freely. Chapter one of Ezra tells us that God stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation concerning the rebuilding of the house of God (vv. 1-2) and that He also stirred up the spirit of the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, the priests, and the Levites to go up to build the house of God in Jerusalem (v. 5). God was hiding Himself, but at the expiration of the seventy years, He came in to stir up the spirit of Cyrus. Cyrus must have been happy that the great empire of Babylon was in his hand, and regarding the Jews he might have wanted to do something that was opposite to what the Babylonians had done. Humanly speaking, Cyrus took the initiative to make the decree. Actually, this was initiated by God in a hidden way. Therefore, the first return from Babylon to Jerusalem was initiated by God. The second return was initiated by Ezra, a priest and a scribe skilled in the Word of God. Ezra came to the king and appealed to him to grant his request (7:6). From this we see that sometimes God personally stirs us up in our spirit to do something for Him. However, often God is quiet, realizing that it is better that we do something because we have the capacity, as Ezra had. In this kind of situation, God is responsible for the things we do. Whether the things are stirred up by Him or stirred up by us, He will be in them, stretching out His hand to do everything to help us