And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which [is] in Jerusalem:
Ver. 16. And all the silver and gold that thou canst find] And gold thirsty Babylon was not without great store of both, could the owners but find in their hearts to part with it to so pious a use: some did, and the rather because the king and his council began to them.
With the freewill offering of the people] God's select people, of whom Moses singeth, "Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people!" Deuteronomy 33:29 .