CHAPTER V _Haggai and Zechariah the prophets encourage Zerubbabel and_ _Jeshua to proceed with the building of the temple_, 1, 2. _Tatnai, the governor of the provinces on this side the_ _Euphrates, and his companions, inquire by what authority_ _they do this_, 3-5. _They write to Darius; a co... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 5:2. _THEN ROSE UP ZERUBBABEL_] Here we find _three classes_ of men joining in the sacred work: _Zerubbabel_ the _civil_ governor; _Jeshua_ the _high priest_ or _ecclesiastical_ governor; and _Haggai_ and _Zechariah_ the _prophets_. How glorious it is when we see the _civil government_ jo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 5:3. _TATNAI, GOVERNOR_] He was governor of the provinces which belonged to the Persian empire on their side 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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 5:4. _WHAT ARE THE NAMES_] It is most evident that this is the _answer_ of the _Jews_ to the inquiry of Tatnai, Ezra 5:3, and the verse should be read thus: _Then said we unto them after this_ _manner: THESE are the names of the men who make this building_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 5:5. _THE EYE OF THEIR GOD WAS UPON THE ELDERS_] The _watchful_ _care_ of God was upon the elders. They were assured of his _favour_; and they found his especial _providence_ working in their behalf.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 5:8. _WITH GREAT STONES_] They are making a very _strong_ and a very _costly_ building.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _WE ARE THE SERVANTS OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN_] How simple, plain, and ingenuous is this confession! They were the servants of the God of heaven. How came they then into bondage! Why, they _provoked the God of heaven - repeatedly sinned_ against him, and then he gave them into the hands of the... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezra 5:17. _THE - TREASURE HOUSE_] גנזיא _ginzaiya_. This is a Persian word, [Persian] _gunji, a treasury_. There is a great deal of good sense and candour in this letter. Nothing of passion or prejudice appears in it. They laid before the king a fair statement without any attempt to prejudic... [ Continue Reading ]