Ezra 7:6

"the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—"

Key Reflection

This verse details Ezra's lineage, tracing him back to Aaron, the first high priest appointed by God according to Exodus 28. The original audience would recognize that Ezra descends from a long line of priests, emphasizing his credibility and authority as a religious leader and scribe. This genealogy underscores his legitimacy and scholarly background, which were crucial for his mission in restoring Jewish practices and laws after the Babylonian exile.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

A ready scribe -Or, “a ready writer”Psalms 45:1. The professional scribe was well known in Egypt from an early date (seeGenesis 39:4note); and under David and his successors “scribes” were attached to the court as the king’s secretaries (2 Samuel 8:17;2 Samuel 20:25;2 Kings 12:10, etc.). It was scarcely, however, until the time of the captivity that the class to which Ezra belonged arose. The “scribes” of this time, and of later Jewish history, were students, interpreters, and copiers of the Law (see the marginal references andJeremiah 8:8). They retained the knowledge of the old dialect, which was being rapidly superseded by a new one.

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