INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 5 This chapter relates, how that the people of the Jews were stirred up by the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah to set about the building of the temple again, notwithstanding the orders to the contrary from the deputy governors of the king of Persia; nor could the present one... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE PROPHETS, HAGGAI THE PROPHET, AND ZECHARIAH THE SON OF IDDO,.... The grandson of Iddo; for he was the son of Berechiah, Zechariah 1:1, PROPHESIED UNTO THE JEWS THAT WERE IN JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, IN THE NAME OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL; this they both did in the second year of Darius; the one began... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ROSE UP ZERUBBABEL THE SON OF SHEALTIEL, AND JESHUA THE SON OF JOZADAK,.... Whose spirits were stirred up and quickened by the ministry of the prophets, the Lord accompanying it by his Spirit, Haggai 1:12, AND BEGAN TO BUILD THE HOUSE OF GOD WHICH IS AT JERUSALEM; to go on with the building of... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE SAME TIME CAME TO THEM TATNAI, GOVERNOR ON THIS SIDE THE RIVER, AND SHETHARBOZNAI, AND THEIR COMPANIONS,.... These were new governors and officers under the king of Persia in those parts, the old ones, Rehum, Shimshai, c. being either dead, or removed upon this new king coming to the throne:... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID WE UNTO THEM AFTER THIS MANNER,.... In answer to their questions; namely, Ezra and other Jews replied; for though Ezra is said after this to come from Babylon in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, he might go thither on some business, and then return again at that time; some indeed think thes... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE EYE OF THEIR GOD WAS UPON THE ELDERS OF THE JEWS,.... He in his providence looked favourably at them, smiled upon them, encouraged them in the work by his good Spirit, and by the prophets, and gave them success, and protected and defended them, see 2 Chronicles 16:9, THAT THEY COULD NOT CA... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COPY OF THE LETTER THAT TATNAI, GOVERNOR ON THIS SIDE THE RIVER, AND SHETHARBOZNAI, AND HIS COMPANIONS THE APHARSACHITES, WHICH WERE ON THIS SIDE THE RIVER,.... Which is thought by some to be one of the nations mentioned, Ezra 4:9 the name being pretty near alike to two of them; but perhaps migh... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SENT A LETTER UNTO HIM, WHEREIN WAS WRITTEN THUS,.... Or this was the inscription of it: UNTO DARIUS THE KING, ALL PEACE; wishing him all kind of happiness and prosperity.... [ Continue Reading ]
BE IT KNOWN UNTO THE KING,.... This seems to have been the usual form of beginning a letter to a king in those days, Ezra 4:12 that we went into the province of Judea; which from a kingdom was reduced to a province, and was become a part of the Babylonian, now Persian, monarchy, see Ezra 2:1 to the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ASKED WE THOSE ELDERS,.... The elders of the province of Judea; the chief men of it: WHO COMMANDED YOU TO BUILD THIS HOUSE, AND TO MAKE UP THESE WALLS? see Ezra 5:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ASKED THEIR NAMES ALSO,.... The names of the elders, those that set men about this work: TO CERTIFY THAT WE MIGHT WRITE THE NAMES OF THE MEN THAT WERE THE CHIEF OF THEM; take the names of them in writing, that they might with certainty acquaint the king who they were, and that if it was necessar... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THUS THEY RETURNED US ANSWER,.... To the purpose and in the manner following: SAYING, WE ARE THE SERVANTS OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH; signifying that they were doing his work, in obedience to his will, and to whom they were accountable: AND BUILD THE HOUSE THAT WAS BUILDED THESE MANY YEARS... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AFTER THAT OUR FATHERS HAD PROVOKED THE GOD OF HEAVEN UNTO WRATH,.... By their idolatries; which accounts for it how it was that they who were the servants of the great God of heaven and earth, and this temple built for the honour of his name, were not preserved by him; but they were carried cap... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IN THE FIRST YEAR OF CYRUS THE KING OF BABYLON,.... That is, the first year he was king of Babylon, having taken it, otherwise he was king of Persia many years before: THE SAME KING CYRUS MADE A DECREE TO BUILD THIS HOUSE OF GOD; see Ezra 1:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 14,15 AND THE VESSELS ALSO OF GOLD AND SILVER OF THE HOUSE OF GOD,.... Of which, and of what is said concerning them, and particularly of the delivery of them to Sheshbazzar, whom Cyrus made governor of Judah, and ordered him to carry them to Jerusalem, and build the temple there, and put them... [ Continue Reading ]
Ezra 5:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CAME THE SAME SHESHBAZZAR, AND LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE OF GOD WHICH IS IN JERUSALEM,.... Which makes it clear, that by Sheshbazzar is meant Zerubbabel; for he it was that laid the foundation of the temple, or at least by whose order it was laid, see Zechariah 4:9 AND SINCE THAT TIME E... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THEREFORE, IF IT SEEM GOOD TO THE KING, LET THERE BE SEARCH MADE IN THE KING'S TREASURE HOUSE, WHICH IS THERE AT BABYLON,.... Where were the archives of the kingdom, where the laws, decrees, edicts, and proclamations, and other things relating to the state, were laid up, that recourse might be h... [ Continue Reading ]