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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Ezra 5:16-17

EZRA—NOTE ON Ezra 5:16 it has been in building. The period when building had stopped was irrelevant both to the information Tattenai was giving and the request he was making. Tattenai, following the Jews’ own account, wants to link the original authorization and the present building activity. So he portrays Sheshbazzar as having laid the temple’s foundations, since it was under his authority, though that achievement is attributed to Zerubbabel and Jeshua in Ezra 3:8.

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See also Ezra 5:16-17 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 16. _SHESHBAZZAR_] Probably the military officer that conducted the people from Babylon, and had the oversight of the work; but some think that Ezra is meant....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    SINCE THAT TIME EVEN UNTIL NOW - Sixteen years - from 536 B.C. to 520 B.C. The adversaries of the Jews here overstep the truth; since, in point of fact, the work had been suspended for a while Ezra 4:...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 5 _ 1. The prophetic ministry of Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5:1)_ 2. The result of their ministry (Ezra 5:2) 3. Tatnai's interference (Ezra 5:3) 4. The letter to Darius ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    EZRA 4:24 TO EZRA 5:17. The narrative which was broken off at the end of Ezra 4:5 is now resumed. There is silence regarding the period 536- 520 B.C.; in 516, however, it is said that the building had...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Then came the same Sheshbazzar_ The work here ascribed to Sheshbazzar is evidently that over which Zerubbabel presided in chap. 3. _the foundation_ R.V. - THE FOUNDATIONS "; so the Aramaic and Ezra...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    2. A letter is sent to clarify the situation. TEXT, EZRA 5:6-17 6 This is the copy of the letter which Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and his colleague...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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._ Then came...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE RECOMMENCED This chapter gives an account of a renewed attempt to rebuild the Temple, and recites a letter from the Persian officials in Judæa to the Persian court to enqui...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE *JEWS RETURN TO JERUSALEM EZRA _ROBERT BRYCE_ CHAPTER 5 V1 Haggai and Zechariah (a *descendant of Iddo) were *prophets. They spoke messages from the God of Israel to the *Jews who were in Jud...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (3-17) Tatnai’s appeal to Darius....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    SINCE THAT TIME. — No account is taken of the long interruption. Whether these words are part of the answer given to Tatnai by the Jewish leaders, or his own statement to Darius, it is evident that th...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    אֱדַ֨יִן֙ שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר דֵּ֔ךְ אֲתָ֗א יְהַ֧ב אֻשַּׁיָּ֛א...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    NEW DIFFICULTIES MET IN A NEW SPIRIT Ezra 5:3; Ezra 6:1 IT is in keeping with the character of his story of the returned Jews throughout, that no sooner has the chronicler let a ray of sunshine fall...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE MISSION OF HAGGAI AND ZECHARIAH Ezra 5:1 It is necessary to read the books of Haggai and Zechariah to see what difficulties the leaders of the people had to meet, and how much they needed the hel...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    A study of the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah makes it perfectly evident that the cessation of the work of building was unworthy of the men who had commenced. Judged by all human standards they co...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _In building, being pretty far advanced, though for some time past it had been at a stand. (Haydock) --- It is not probable that Zorobabel said this, but the author of the letter added it, as he suppo...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    The Lord had certainly softened the minds of those men, that though they sent an accusation against the people to the king, yet the Lord overruled the inditing of it. When a man's ways please the Lord...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Whatever happens, they have to go through that which puts faith to the proof; but their path is ordered by the will of God, and their faith relies upon Him. In this case they had to wait; but God's ti...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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 founda...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver....

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ezra 5:16. _Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation_, &c. The building was begun according to this order, as soon as ever we were returned, so that we have not forfeited the benefit of...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Zerubbabel and Shealtiel, incited by Haggai and Zacharie, set forward the building of the Temple. 3 Tatnai and Shether Boznai could not hinder the Iewes. 6 Their letter to Darius against the Iewes...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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. Tatnai probab...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The Letter of Inquiry Directed To Darius...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    WORK RESUMED AND OPPOSITION RESUMED (vv. 1-5) The initiative for resuming the work had come from the Lord who moved the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to speak in His name to the Jews in Judah and Je...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    3-17 While employed in God's work, we are under his special protection; his eye is upon us for good. This should keep us to our duty, and encourage us therein, when difficulties are ever so discourag...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    EVEN UNTIL NOW; allowing for some interruptions....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ezra 5:16 Then H116 same H1791 Sheshbazzar H8340 came H858 (H8754) laid H3052 (H8754) foundation H787 house...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PERSIAN GOVERNOR WRITES TO KING DARIUS CONCERNING THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE AND THE STATEMENT OF THE ELDERS CONCERNING THEIR CASE (EZRA 5:6). It should be noted how deliberately the writer gives...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Encouragement of the prophets and the work resumed. CHARACTERS: Zerubbabel, Haggai, Zechariah, Jeshua, Tattenai, Darius, Shethar-bozenai. CONCLUSION: It is a sign that God has mercy in sto...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ezra 5:4. _Then said we._ Septuagint: “Then said they unto them.” Ezra 5:16. _Since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished._ The chronology of the Persian empire...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The copy of the letter that Tatnai._ THE LETTER OF THE KING CONCERNING THE WORK This letter has three chief divisions. I. The inquisition of the Persian authorities. II. The reply of the Jewish l...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.] i. The work resumed through the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, the prophets (Ezra 5:1). ii. The workers interrogated by the Persian authorities west of the Euphrat...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION RENEWAL OF OPPOSITION ON THE PART OF THE NEIGHBOURING HEATHEN. LETTER WRITTEN BY THEM AND SENT TO DARIUS ...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So it tells us here in chapter five, The prophet Haggai, and the prophet Zechariah, they prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel. Then rose up Zerub...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Ezra 3:10; Ezra 3:8; Ezra 5:14; Ezra 5:2; Ezra 6:15;...

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