What is the meaning of Ezra 1:6? And all their neighbors supported them The exiles did not leave Persia empty-handed; God stirred the hearts of people around them to give. • Similar divine favor is seen when the Israelites departed Egypt (Exodus 12:35-36). • Proverbs 16:7 reminds us that when a person’s ways please the LORD, even enemies can become allies. • This support fulfills Cyrus’s decree (Ezra 1:4) and shows God’s sovereign ability to move both kings and common citizens (Ezra 1:1). with articles of silver and gold Precious metals were the primary currency of the ancient world. • Silver and gold echo the treasures once taken by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:13); God is now replenishing what was lost. • Haggai 2:8—“The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the LORD of Hosts”—underscores that earthly wealth is ultimately at His disposal. • These items would soon fund temple worship, just as the tabernacle was equipped by voluntary offerings of gold and silver (Exodus 35:22). with goods and livestock provision for daily life and the lengthy journey to Jerusalem. • Livestock ensured food, sacrifices, and plowing animals once they arrived (Leviticus 1:2; Deuteronomy 8:10). • Practical goods reflect God’s care for physical as well as spiritual needs (Matthew 6:31-33). and with valuables Beyond the basics, God supplied abundance. • Psalm 23:5—“You prepare a table before me… my cup overflows.” • The generosity of Gentile neighbors prefigures the nations bringing wealth to Zion (Isaiah 60:5-6). in addition to all their freewill offerings The returning Jews themselves gave sacrificially. • Voluntary giving had always marked genuine worship (Leviticus 22:29; 2 Chronicles 31:12). • Ezra 2:68-69 records the actual amounts they contributed once in Jerusalem, showing follow-through on initial zeal. • God stirred both givers and receivers, illustrating 2 Corinthians 9:7—“God loves a cheerful giver.” summary Ezra 1:6 reveals a coordinated act of divine provision: outsiders freely supplying treasure, essentials, and extras, while the Israelites add their own voluntary gifts. God moves hearts, opens hands, and fulfills His promise to restore His people and His house, demonstrating that no obstacle—distance, poverty, or foreign rule—can hinder His redemptive plan. |
    |