Ezra 7:18

And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.

And whatsoever {H4101}{H1768} shall seem good {H3191} to thee, and to {H5922} thy brethren {H252}, to do {H5648} with the rest {H7606} of the silver {H3702} and the gold {H1722}, that do {H5648} after the will {H7470} of your God {H426}.

Whatever seems good to you and your kinsmen to do with the rest of the silver and gold, do it according to the will of your God.

You and your brothers may do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, according to the will of your God.

And whatsoever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do ye after the will of your God.

Commentary

Ezra 7:18 is part of the generous decree issued by King Artaxerxes I of Persia to Ezra the scribe, granting significant resources and authority for the restoration of temple worship and the implementation of God's law in Jerusalem. This verse specifically addresses the remaining silver and gold not allocated for immediate temple sacrifices or purchases.

Context

In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes' reign (c. 458 BC), Ezra, a skilled scribe and priest, received a royal commission to return to Jerusalem. This decree, detailed in Ezra 7:12-26, provided substantial financial support from the royal treasury, permission for exiles to return, and legal authority for Ezra to establish God's laws. The silver and gold mentioned here were contributions from the king and his counselors, along with freewill offerings from the people of Israel who remained in Babylon. After specific allocations for temple needs (Ezra 7:17), this verse grants Ezra and his brethren discretion over the surplus, with a crucial caveat.

Key Themes

  • Divine Providence Working Through Secular Rulers: This verse beautifully illustrates how God can move the hearts of even pagan kings to accomplish His purposes. Artaxerxes not only permitted the return but also provided lavishly, showing an unusual respect for the God of Israel. This echoes the sentiment found in Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD."
  • Stewardship and Discretion: Ezra and his companions were entrusted with considerable wealth. The king's directive gave them autonomy over the remaining funds, highlighting the principle of responsible stewardship of resources. They were not to spend it frivolously but for purposes aligned with their divine mission.
  • The Primacy of God's Will: The phrase "that do after the will of your God" is the cornerstone of this verse. Despite the king's generosity and the freedom granted, the ultimate authority and guiding principle for all their actions was to be the will of the God of Israel. This underscores the paramount importance of seeking and obeying divine direction in all endeavors.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "after the will of your God" (Aramaic: lehon) is crucial. It signifies not merely a suggestion but a binding directive from the king, reflecting a remarkable acknowledgment of Israel's God. For Ezra, whose life was dedicated to studying and obeying God's law (Ezra 7:10), this was a direct affirmation of his mission and a powerful mandate to guide his decisions regarding the remaining treasury.

Practical Application

Ezra 7:18 offers valuable lessons for believers today. We are often entrusted with resources, talents, and opportunities. This verse reminds us that:

  • All resources are ultimately from God: Whether through unexpected sources or our own labor, we are stewards.
  • Discernment is vital: When given discretion, our decisions should always be filtered through the lens of God's will. We must actively seek divine guidance through prayer and scripture, just as Ezra would have done.
  • God works in diverse ways: Just as God used a pagan king to further His kingdom work, He can use various circumstances and individuals, sometimes unexpectedly, to provide for His purposes. Our focus should be on faithfully executing His will.
This verse challenges us to consider how we are using our "rest of the silver and the gold" – our time, money, and abilities – ensuring that all is done "after the will of our God."

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 12:15

    Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.

  • Ezra 7:26

    And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether [it be] unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

  • Ephesians 5:17

    Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is].

  • 2 Kings 22:7

    Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.
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