HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

INTRODUCTION.

This Book taketh its name from the writer, who was a holy priest and doctor of the law. He is called by the Hebrews Ezra, (Ch.) and was son, (T.) or rather, unless he lived above 150 years, a descendant of Saraias. 4 K. xxv. 18. It is thought that he returned first with Zorobabel; and again, at the head of other captives, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus, with ample authority. Esdras spent the latter part of his life in exhorting the people, and in explaining to them the law of God. He appeared with great dignity at the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem. 2 Esd. xii. 26. 35. We have four books which bear his name. C. --- This and the following book of Nehemias, originally made but one in Heb. (S. Jerom, &c.) as the transactions of both those great men are recorded. The third and fourth are not in Heb. nor received into the canon of the Holy Scriptures, though the Greek Church hold the third as canonical, and place it first; (W.) and Genebrard would assert that both ought to be received, as they were by several Fathers. But they contain many thing which appear to be erroneous, and have been rejected by others of great authority, and particularly by S. Jerom. The third book seems to have been written very early, by some Hellenist Jew, who was desirous of embellishing the history of Zorobabel; and the fourth was probably composed by some person of the same nation, who had been converted to Christianity, before the end of the second century; and who injudiciously attempted to convert his brethren, by assuming the name of a man who was so much respected. Many things have been falsely attributed to Esdras, on the same account. It is said that he invented the Masora; restored the Scriptures, which had been lost; fixed the canon of twenty-two books; substituted the Chaldaic characters instead of the ancient Hebrew, Samaritan, or PhÅ“nician. But though Esdras might sanction the latter, now become common, the characters might vary insensibly, (Bianconi. Kennicott, Dis. ii.) as those of other languages have done, (H.) and the sacred books never perished wholly; nor could the canon be determined in the time of Esdras. C. --- As for the Masoretic observations and points, they are too modern an invention. Elias Levita, Capel. Houbigant, &c. --- What we know more positively of Esdras, is, (W.) that he was empowered by Artaxerxes to bring back the Jews, and that he acted with great zeal. H. --- This book contains the transactions of 82 years, till A. 3550. The letter of Reum, and the king's answer, (C. iv. 7. till C. vi. 19. and well as C. vii. 12, 27.) are in Chaldee; the rest of the work is in Hebrew. C. --- We may discover various mysteries concealed under the literal sense of this and the following book. S. Jer. ep. ad Paulin. W. --- Esdras is supposed by this holy doctor, as well as by some of the Rabbins, &c. to have been the same person with the prophet Malachy; (Button) and several reasons seems to support this conjecture, though it must still remain very uncertain. C. --- Some think that (H.) Esdras wrote only the four last chapters, and the author of Paral. the six preceding ones. D. --- But it is most probable that he compiled both from authentic documents. H. --- Some few additions may have been inserted since, by divine authority. 2 Esd. xii. 11, 22. T.