“And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. abode: or, pitched”
To that place of Euphrates, where Ahava the river entereth into it.
“And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims , at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. I told: Heb. I put words in their mouth”
Hebrew, put words in their mouth . He was the chiefest that taught there the Law of God unto the Levites.
“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.”
He showeth that the end of fasting, is to humble the body to the spirit, which must proceed of the heart lively touched, or else it is but hypocrisy.
“For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.”
He thought it better to commit himself to the protection of God, than by seeking these ordinary means to give occasion to others to think that he did doubt of God’s power.
“Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.”
This declared that their journey was full of danger, and yet God delivered them according to their prayer.
“Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;”
This was a token of a good conscience and of his integrity, that he would have witnesses of his fidelity.