I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and [of] his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
Ver. 13. And of his priests] sc. The God of heaven's priests, Ezra 7:12, and therefore honoured and respected by this great monarch; so was Samuel by Saul, Jaddus by Alexander the Great; the Bards (anciently) here in Albion by the greatest commanders.
Which are minded of their own freewill] He would compel none; neither doth Almighty God. His people are all volunteers, Psa 110:3 Isaiah 56:6; he finds them not so, but makes them so; and accounts that Virtus nolentium nulla est. Lex voluntaries quaerit The courage of the unwilling is nothing. The law seeks volunteers. (Ambrose in Psa 1:1-6). God accepts a freewill offering, and commands us to come off roundly and readily in his service.