Bible Commentaries

Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which [is] at Jerusalem: and with them [were] the prophets of God ^a helping them.

(a) Who encouraged them to go forward, and cursed them because they were more careful to build their own houses, than zealous to build the temple of God.

^b Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

(b) That is, the enemies asked this, as in (Ezra 5:10).

But the ^c eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this [matter].

(c) His favour and the spirit of strength.

And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a ^d great king of Israel builded and set up.

(d) That is, Solomon.

But in the ^e first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon [the same] king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

(e) Read (Ezra 1:1,2).

And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that [was] in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto [one], whose name [was] ^f Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;

(f) Read (Ezra 1:8).

Now therefore, if [it seem] good to the king, let there be search made in the king's ^g treasure house, which [is] there at Babylon, whether it be [so], that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

(g) Meaning in the library or places where lay the register or record of times.