Bible Commentaries

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Ezra 5

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Introduction

1  Zerubbabel and Jeshua, incited by Haggai and Zechariah, set forward the building of the temple.
3  Tatnai and Shethar-boznai are not able to hinder the Jews.
6  Their letter to Darius against the Jews.
Verse 1

Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
A. M. 3484. B.C. 520. Haggai. These are the same Haggai and Zechariah, whose writings we have among the twelve minor prophets; and, as a great part of them refer to the events here recorded, the reader will find it very profitable to compare them with the history
Haggai 1:1-15
Zechariah
Zechariah 1:1-21
the son of Iddo
That is, "the grandson of Iddo;" for Zechariah was the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo.
in the name
Micah 5:4, Haggai 1:2-8, Zechariah 1:3,4, 4:6-10
Verse 2

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 helping them.
rose up
3:2, Haggai 1:12-15
Jeshua
Zechariah 6:11
Joshua, Josedech
the prophets.
6:14, Haggai 2:4-9,20-23, Zechariah 3:1-4, 2 Corinthians 1:24
Verse 3

At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
Tatnai
Tatnai was governor of the provinces which belonged to the Persian empire west of the Euphrates, comprehending Syria, Arabia Deserta, Phoenicia, and Samaria. He seems to have been a mild and judicious man, and to have acted with great prudence and caution, and without any passion or prejudice.
6, 6:6,13, 7:21, Nehemiah 2:7-9
Who hath commanded you
9, 1:3, Matthew 21:23, Acts 4:7
Verse 4

Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
What are
make this building
Chal. build this building.
Verse 5

But the 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.
But the eye
7:6,28, 8:22, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalms 32:8, 33:18, 34:15, 76:10, Philippians 1:28, 1 Peter 3:12
that they
Psalms 129:2-5
then they returned
6:6-12
Verse 6

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, sent unto Darius the king:
A. M. 3485. B.C. 519. copy
4:11,23
Apharsachites
4:9
Apharsathchites
6:6
Verse 7

They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
wherein
Chal. in the midst whereof. all peace.
4:17, Daniel 3:9, 4:1, 6:21, John 14:27, 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Verse 8

Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.
the province
2:1, Nehemiah 7:6, 11:3, Esther 1:1,22
the great God
1:2,3, 6:10, 7:23, Deuteronomy 10:17, 32:31, Psalms 145:3, Daniel 2:47, 3:26, Daniel 4:2,34-37, 6:26
great stones
Chal. stones of rolling.
Mark 13:1,2
Verse 9

Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
Who commanded
3,4
Verse 10

We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
asked
Verse 11

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 great king of Israel builded and set up.
We are
Joshua 24:15, Psalms 119:46, Daniel 3:26, Jonah 1:9, Matthew 10:32, Luke 12:8, Acts 27:23, Romans 1:16, 6:16, Galatians 6:14
which a great
1 Kings 6:1-7, 2 Chronicles 3:1-5
Verse 12

But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
A. M. 3408. B.C. 536. But after
2 Kings 21:12-15, 2 Chronicles 34:24,25, 36:16,17, Nehemiah 9:26,27, Isaiah 59:1,2, Jeremiah 5:29, Daniel 9:5
he gave
Deuteronomy 28:15-68, 29:24-28, 31:17, 32:30, Judges 2:14, 4:2, 6:1, 1 Kings 9:6-9, 2 Chronicles 7:19-22, Psalms 106:40
into the hand
2 Kings 24:2,10-17, 25:1,8-11,12-30, 2 Chronicles 36:6-10, Jeremiah 39:1-14, Daniel 1:1,2
Verse 13

But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
1:1-8, 6:3-5, Isaiah 44:28, 45:1
Verse 14

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 Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
the vessels
1:7-10, 6:5, 2 Chronicles 36:7,18, Jeremiah 52:19, Daniel 5:2,3
the king
7:27, Proverbs 21:1
Sheshbazzar
16, 1:11
whom
Haggai 1:1,14, 2:2,21
governor
or, deputy.
Acts 13:7,8,12
Verse 15

And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.
let the house
1:2, 3:3, 6:3
Verse 16

Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
Sheshbazzar
laid
2, 3:8,10, Haggai 1:12-14, 2:18, Zechariah 4:10
A. M. 3468-3485. B.C. 536-519. it is not finished
6:15
Verse 17

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, 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.
A. M. 3485. B.C. 519. let there be
4:15,19, 6:1,2, Proverbs 25:2
a decree
6:3-5

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