MPV Commentary

He Sends to Iddo for Ministers for the Temple Service.

Ezra gathered the people together at the river that flowed into Ahava (the location of this river is unknown). It was likely in Babylonia, near a town with the same name. The emigrants camped there for three days while preparations were being made and Ezra arranged the order of the caravan.

When he arrived, Ezra found no ordinary Levites among them. Despite their exemption from taxes for serving in the temple, none of the Levitical tribes joined the settlement in Jerusalem. It was only with difficulty that Ezra persuaded some priestly families to accompany him.

Ezra then sent a delegation to Eliezer with instructions to Iddo, the chief Nethinim. This delegation was likely dispatched due to Ezra's authority as a priest or his royal commission. Iddo, a prominent leader among the Nethinims, used his influence to bring thirty-eight Levites and two hundred twenty Nethinims (descendants of the Gibeonites) to the camp at Ahava. These individuals were responsible for performing the menial tasks associated with temple service.