Ezra 6:3

the same Cyrus the king R.V. Cyrus the king. See Ezra 5:13.

made a decreeconcerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let &c. R.V. made a decree; concerning &c., let &c. The words -concerning the house of God at Jerusalem" form a kind of heading to the memorandum, of which what follows is a transcript.

where they offered sacrifices R.V. where they offer sacrifices.

andlet the foundations thereofbe strongly laid The meaning of these words in the original is very uncertain They have been variously rendered, (1) -and let them set up its foundations" (active), (2) -And let its foundations be set up" (passive): but neither rendering gives any fresh idea to the preceding clause. (3) The rendering of the A.V. and R.V. -let the foundations thereof be strongly laid" (whether passive, i.e. heavily weighted, or active, i.e. capable of bearing heavy weights), gives a fair sense, the emphasis resting upon the substantial character of the building. It may be doubted whether the text is correct. The transition from this clause to the description of the height and breadth of the building (the length being omitted) is abrupt and awkward.

The rendering of the versions shows the difficulty which the words occasioned and possibly the uncertainty of the text at a very early period. LXX. καὶ ἔθηκαν ἔπαρμα. Vulg. -ponant fundamenta supportantia". 1Es 6:24 -With continual fire" διὰ πυρὸς ἐνδελεχοῦς.

the height thereof, &c. In view of the uncertainty of the text, it is doubtful whether we can rely upon these statements of dimensions, especially as the length is not specified. Solomon's temple is described in 1 Kings 6:2 as 60 cubits long, 20 broad, and 30 high. Here the temple is to be 60 cubits high and 60 broad. Josephus who, speaking of Zerubbabel's temple, describes its height as 60 cubits less than that of Solomon's temple, is clearly comparing the passage in 2 Chronicles 3:4, where the porch of Solomon's temple is said to be 120 cubits in height, with the statement of our verse. If the dimensions here given are correct, the second temple in breadth and height was much larger than the first. The comparison in respect of size could hardly account for the disparaging criticism of certain Jews alluded to in Zechariah 4:10; Haggai 2:3. The view that the present verse does not give the actual dimensions but only the extreme limits to which the plan might be followed is too obviously an attempt to escape the difficulty to be at all a probable explanation.