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And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.
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.
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.

New Defender's Study Bible Notes

8:22 I was ashamed. Ezra’s example here is worth noting in relation to the carrying out of Christian ministries today, relying not on secular influence or political enforcement for the accomplishment of his goal, but on God alone. After genuine submission to God, accompanied by fasting and prayer, and for the sake of a consistent spiritual testimony before the king, they proceeded in faith, and God honored this with His full protection during a long and dangerous journey (Ezra 8:31).


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