Ezra 8:31-36

Ezra 8:31-36

[31] Then we departed  from the river  of Ahava  on the twelfth  day of the first  month,  unto Jerusalem:  and the hand  of our God  was upon us, and he delivered  us from the hand  of the enemy,  and of such as lay in wait  by the way.  [32] And we came  to Jerusalem,  and abode  there three  days.  [33] Now on the fourth  day  was the silver  and the gold  and the vessels  weighed  in the house  of our God  by the hand  of Meremoth  the son  of Uriah  the priest;  and with him was Eleazar  the son  of Phinehas;  and with them was Jozabad  the son  of Jeshua,  and Noadiah  the son  of Binnui,  Levites;  [34] By number  and by weight  was written  at that time.  [35] Also the children  of those that had been carried away,  which were come out  of the captivity,  offered  burnt offerings  unto the God  of Israel,  twelve  bullocks  for all Israel,  ninety  and six  rams,  seventy  and seven  lambs,  twelve  he goats  for a sin offering:  all this was a burnt offering  unto the LORD.  [36] And they delivered  the king's  commissions  unto the king's  lieutenants,  and to the governors  on this side  the river:  and they furthered  the people,  and the house  of God. 

What does Ezra 8:31-36 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The exiles had begun their journey on the first day of the first month ( Ezra 7:9), but they had camped by the Ahava waterway for12days ( Ezra 8:31). They arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month ( Ezra 7:9). God kept them safe on their dangerous trip, and all their valuable cargo arrived safely.
Burnt offerings represented the consecration of the worshippers" persons to God ( Leviticus 1; Leviticus 6:8-13). Sin offerings provided atonement (covering) for the worshippers" sinful natures ( Leviticus 4:1 to Leviticus 5:13; Leviticus 6:24-30). A satrap ( Ezra 8:36; lit. protector of the realm) ruled over governors in the Persian governmental structure.