EZRA 6:1 King Darius Discovers and Reaffirms Cyrus’s Decree, and the
Work Is Completed. A record of Cyrus’s decree is discovered, and
King Darius confirms that the Jews are to be allowed to continue the
work.
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EZRA—NOTE ON EZRA 6:3 This record is not identical with the DECREE
as recorded in Ezra 1:2. It gives new specifications about the
building, its location, its size, and its materials. Perhaps a copy of
the original decree had been found (see note on 6:1–2), and
instructions may have been added to it.... [ Continue Reading ]
EZRA—NOTE ON EZRA 6:4 Using THREE LAYERS OF GREAT STONES AND ONE
LAYER OF TIMBER follows the construction of the older temple (1 Kings
6:36; 1 Kings 7:12). While the original decree had required people in
Babylon to help pay for the project (Ezra 1:4), this record requires
that the COST be met from... [ Continue Reading ]
EZRA—NOTE ON EZRA 6:7 GOVERNOR OF THE JEWS refers to Zerubbabel
(compare Haggai 1:1). What became of the first governor, Sheshbazzar,
is not known.
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EZRA—NOTE ON EZRA 6:8 Darius confirms Cyrus’s decree and also
provides for costs from taxes raised in the province Beyond the River
itself (v. Ezra 6:8). He also provides materials for sacrifices (v.
Ezra 6:9), with the political condition that the Jews would PRAY FOR
THE LIFE OF THE KING AND HIS SO... [ Continue Reading ]
EZRA—NOTE ON EZRA 6:11 Darius makes a further DECREE, backed up with
a typical threat. He borrows language from the Israelite way of
speaking about God’s presence in Jerusalem (THE GOD WHO HAS CAUSED
HIS NAME TO DWELL THERE, compare Deuteronomy 12:5). This does not
necessarily mean that Darius belie... [ Continue Reading ]
EZRA—NOTE ON EZRA 6:14 God, speaking here through his prophets, is
the real power behind events. But the actions of the Persian kings on
behalf of the Jews are also acknowledged.
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EZRA—NOTE ON EZRA 6:15 The MONTH OF ADAR (February/March) was the
last month of the year. The SIXTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF DARIUS was 515
B.C., almost exactly 70 years after the destruction of the first
temple (586), fulfilling the prophecy of 70 years of exile (see note
on 1:1).
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EZRA—NOTE ON EZRA 6:16 THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. Even though the
returned exiles consisted of only three tribes (see note on 1:5), they
represent all 12, THE NUMBER OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. The other
divisions, THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES and the laity, are a typical
way of describing the whole communit... [ Continue Reading ]
EZRA—NOTE ON EZRA 6:18 The PRIESTS and LEVITES are set IN THEIR
DIVISIONS, grouped according to their temple duties, as King David had
done (1 Chronicles 23:1).
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EZRA—NOTE ON EZRA 6:19 The text returns from Aramaic to Hebrew in v.
Ezra 6:19 (see note on 4:7–8). The PASSOVER is KEPT on its appointed
date, followed immediately by the FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD, which
lasts for SEVEN DAYS (see Leviticus 23:5). Participating are the
PEOPLE OF ISRAEL and the peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
EZRA—NOTE ON EZRA 6:21 Remarkably, the returning Jews are joined by
EVERY ONE WHO HAD... SEPARATED HIMSELF FROM THE UNCLEANNESS OF THE
PEOPLES OF THE LAND TO WORSHIP THE LORD. The community was based on
faith rather than on ancestry. Non-Israelites who expressed faith in
God and a willingness to fol... [ Continue Reading ]