1 esdras 2:6 - Of such therefore as dwell in various places, let those who are in his own place help each one with gold, and with silver,

Generated Verse: 1 esdras 2:6

What does "1 esdras 2:6" mean?


This verse from 1 Esdras 2:6 (which corresponds to Ezra 1:4 in the canonical book of Ezra) is part of the decree issued by Cyrus, the King of Persia, allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. Let's break down its meaning:

"Of such therefore as dwell in various places": This refers to the Jewish people who were scattered in different regions of the Persian Empire, having been exiled from their homeland. They were now living among the general population of the empire.

"let those who are in his own place help every one with gold, and with silver": This is a directive to the Jewish people who were staying behind in their current locations (rather than returning to Jerusalem). Cyrus commands that they should contribute financially to those who were returning to Jerusalem. The "gold and silver" symbolizes the wealth and resources needed to finance the rebuilding of the Temple and the resettlement of Jerusalem. "His own place" means the locality where the Jews who chose to remain in exile were living.

In simpler terms:

The verse means that Jewish people living in various parts of the Persian Empire who weren't going back to Jerusalem should help those who were returning by giving them gold and silver to support the reconstruction effort.

Significance:

Financial Support: The verse highlights the importance of financial support in the rebuilding process. The returnees needed resources to rebuild not just the Temple, but also their homes and their community.
Community Responsibility: It emphasizes the responsibility of the Jewish community as a whole to support the restoration of Jerusalem. Even those who chose to remain in exile were expected to contribute to the cause.
Cyrus' Decree: The verse demonstrates the comprehensive nature of Cyrus' decree, which not only permitted the return of the exiles but also encouraged financial assistance for the project.
1 Esdras vs. Ezra: Keep in mind that 1 Esdras is considered apocryphal by some Christian traditions and is not included in the Hebrew Bible. It contains similar material to Ezra and Chronicles, but with some differences in content and order. This specific verse, however, is also found in Ezra 1:4 with slight variations in wording.

In summary, the verse is a call for financial assistance from the Jewish diaspora to support the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, as part of King Cyrus' decree.

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