John Gill Commentary Ezra 8:21

"Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance." — Ezra 8:21 (ASV)

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava
After the messengers to Iddo were returned with those they brought with them:

that we might afflict ourselves before our God ;
humble themselves before him for their sins, confess them, and declare their repentance of them, and ask forgiveness for them:

to seek of him a right way for us ;
to take from thence towards Jerusalem, to be directed by him in it: either by a prophet, or by a vision in a dream, as Eben Ezra; or rather by the guidance of his providence; this they sought in prayer by the river side, where it had been usual with them, and since has been, to perform religious exercises, see (Ezekiel 1:1) (3:15) (Acts 16:13) , hence Tertullian ^F26 calls the prayers of the Jews "orationes littorales"; they sought not so much which was the shortest and easiest way for them to travel in, as which was the safest:

and for our little ones and for all our substance ;
for the safe conveyance of them; this shows, that though males only are numbered, as before, yet they had their wives and children with them; for little ones cannot be supposed without women to take care of them.

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F26: Ad nationes, l. 1. c. 13. Vid. lib. de jejuniis, c. 16.