Ezra 8:35

SACRIFICES WERE OFFERED FOR THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL

"The children of the captivity, that were come out of exile, 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 Jehovah. And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of God."

"Twelve bullocks for all Israel, ..." (Ezra 8:35). All except one of the sacrifices mentioned here were either twelve or multiples of that number, indicating that, "Ezra believed that the restored community represented all twelve of the tribes of Israel."[19]

Matthew Henry believed that these offerings "for all Israel" indicated that, "The union of the two Israels was then accomplished, as prophesied by Ezekiel 37:22."[20]

Keil pointed out that, "The sin-offering had served as an atonement for Israel; and that the burnt-offering typified the surrender of the entire nation of Israel to the service of the Lord, and was a declaration that those who had returned were henceforth resolved, together with all Israel, to dedicate themselves to the service of the Lord their God."[21]

"They delivered the king's commissions to the ... satraps" (Ezra 8:36). These were the Persian lieutenants and governors under Artaxerxes the king who were in charge of all that vast territory west of the Euphrates River. "These satraps were the military chiefs in charge of the provinces, and they were also endowed with the authority as well."[22] As a result of this royal directive, "They furthered the people and the house of God as Artaxerxes had commanded."[23]