NOW, etc.] The book of Ezra begins with the last words of 2 Ch; Ezra 1:1 and the first half of Ezra 1:3 occurring in 2 Chronicles 36:22; 2 Chronicles 36:23. The three books, Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah, were probably at first continuous, in this order; but subsequently the arrangement in the Hebr... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RETURN OF THE JEWS FROM CAPTIVITY The chapter narrates how Cyrus, king of Persia, permitted the Jews in Babylon to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple there, and restored the vessels taken from it.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD GOD.. HATH GIVEN ME] Cyrus showed great regard for the religious sentiments of his various subjects; and just as in his inscriptions it is represented to the Babylonians that he had obtained his victories through Merodach their chief god, so here in a decree issued to the Jews his success i... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER REMAINETH] RV 'whosoever' (of the captive people) 'is left' (cp. Nehemiah 1:2), there being an allusion to the remnant of Israel. THE MEN OF HIS PLACE] i.e. his Babylonian neighbours (Ezra 1:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE SPIRIT, etc.] It was only a small proportion of the exiled Jews who were inspired with such zeal for their land and the sanctuary of their God as to exchange the comfort of Babylon for the desolation of Judæa. In this passage those who took advantage of Cyrus' decree are represented as belongi... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD BROUGHT FORTH] see 2 Kings 24:13; 2 Chronicles 36:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHESHBAZZAR] It seems probable that this was the Persian or Babylonian name of Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:2). In favour of the view that the same person is designated by the two names is the fact that the foundation of the Temple is ascribed to both (Ezra 5:16; Ezra 3:8), whilst the double name may be paral... [ Continue Reading ]
CHARGERS.. KNIVES] The words probably mean different kinds of vessels.... [ Continue Reading ]