Ashamed as We Understand It?

Thinking about Ezra 8.22. I don't think that Ezra was constrained by his pride here, as if to say he was too proud to ask for the king's help. I think he realized the implications. He had told the king that God's hand is for good on all who seek him. If he asked the king for help, the king would think, "it's some God you have Ezra. He's not even strong enough to protect you on your journey back to your homeland?" Ezra is concerned about God's glory here, not about his own pride.

On the other hand, he does use the word "ashamed" so it would be pretty important to really understand his use of that word here. NIDOTTE: ‏שׁוֹּבִ‎ with a subjective sense. With a subjective sense ‏שׁוֹּב ‎may denote the fear of offense against decency or correct conduct. In this sense Ezra was “ashamed” to misuse his position for further requests for protection (Ezra 8:22).