Verse 9. -
Chargers.
Agarteley, a rare word, perhaps Persian. The LXX. translate
ψυκτῆρες, "wine-coolers;" the Vulgate has
phialae, "vases;" the apocryphal Esdras,
σπονδεῖα, "vessels for drink-offerings." Probably basons or bowls are intended.
Knives. Machaldaphim, another rare word of doubtful sense. The LXX. render
παρηλλαγμένα, "changes," regarding the word as derived from
חלã, "to exchange." The apocryphal Esdras has
θυίσκαι "censers." But the most usual translation is that of the A. V., "knives."
1:5-11 The same God that raised up the spirit of Cyrus to proclaim liberty to the Jews, raised up their spirits to take the benefit. The temptation was to some to stay in Babylon; but some feared not to return, and they were those whose spirits God raised, by his Spirit and grace. Whatever good we do, is owing to the grace of God. Our spirits naturally bow down to this earth and the things of it; if they move upward in any good affections or good actions, it is God who raises them. The calls and offers of the gospel are like the proclamation of Cyrus. Those bound under the power of sin, may be made free by Jesus Christ. Whosoever will, by repentance and faith, return to God, Jesus Christ has opened the way for him, and raises him out of the slavery of sin into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Many that hear this joyful sound, choose to sit still in Babylon, are in love with their sins, and will not venture upon a holy life; but some break through all discouragements, whatever it cost them; they are those whose spirit God has raised above the world and the flesh, whom he has made willing. Thus will the heavenly Canaan be filled, though many perish in Babylon; and the gospel offer will not have been made in vain. The bringing back the Jews from captivity, represents the redemption of sinners by Jesus Christ.
And this is the number of them,.... Of the vessels delivered, as follows:
thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver; these, according to Ben Melech, were vessels in which water was put to wash hands in; but rather they were, as Aben Ezra observes from the Jerusalem Talmud (r), vessels in which they gathered the blood of lambs and bullocks slain for sacrifices:
nine and twenty knives; which, because the handles of them were of gold or silver, were valuable, and might be very large knives, and what the priests used in slaying and cutting up the sacrifices.
(r) T. Hieros. Yoma, fol. 41. 1.
