Ezra 5:1

_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._ Then the prophets ... prophesied ... in the name of the God of Israel. From the recorded writings of Haggai and Zechariah, it appears that the difficulties experienced, and the many obstacles thrown in the way, had first cooled the Jews in the building of the temple, and then led to an abandonment of the work, under a pretended belief that the time for rebuilding it had not yet come (Haggai 1:2). For 15 years the work was completely suspended. These two prophets upbraided them with severe reproaches for their sloth, negligence, and worldly selfishness (Haggai 1:4), threatened them with severe judgments if they continued bac

1,2 The building of the temple was stopped about fifteen years. Then they had two good ministers, who urged them to go on with the work. It is a sign that God has mercy in store for a people, when he raises up prophets to be helpers in the way and work of God, as guides, overseers, and rulers. In Haggai, we see what great things God does by his word, which he magnifies above all his name, and by his Spirit working with it....

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 copy of the letter_, 6-16. _They request to know how they are to proceed_, 17. NOTES ON CHAP. V Verse Ezra 5:1. _HAGGAI - AND ZECHARIAH_] These are the same whose writings we have among the twelve minor prophets....

Haggai and Zechariah stirred up Zerubbabel and Joshua Ezra 5:2; Haggai 1:14, and warned the people against neglecting the building of the temple, in order to give themselves to the beautifying of their own houses (see Haggai 1:4, Haggai 1:9). Zechariah was the son of Berechiah, and grandson of Iddo (see the marginal reference; Matthew 23:35). Compare a similar application of “son” in the case of Jehu (see the 2 Kings 9:20 note). In

EXPOSITION RECOMMENCEMENT OF THE BUILDING IN THE SECOND YEAR OF DARIUS. PREACHING OF HAGGAI AND ZECHARIAH (Ezra 5:1 :l, 2). It appears from the extant prophecies of these two prophets that the long frustration of their hopes had had its natural effect on the spirits of the people. They had begun to weary of endeavours which produced no practical result, and to despair of accomplishing an object which all their efforts did not perceptibly advance. A reaction had set in. The burning enthusiasm which had shown itself on the first arrival of the exiles with Zerubbabel ...

THEN THE PROPHETS, HAGGAI THE PROPHET, AND ZECHARIAH THE SON OF IDDO,.... The grandson of Iddo; for he was the son of Berechiah, Zechariah 1:1, PROPHESIED UNTO THE JEWS THAT WERE IN JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, IN THE NAME OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL; this they both did in the second year of Darius; the one began in the sixth month, and the other in the eighth month of the year, Haggai 1:1, even "unto them"; or "against them", as De Dieu; reproving them for their sloth and neglect of building the temple, when they were careful enough to raise up goodly houses for themselves to dwell in; and for being intimidated by the command of the king of Persia, which only forbid the building of the city, that is, the walls of it, but not the temple any more than their own houses; and besides, there was now a new king, f

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 (Ezra 5:6) Ezra 5:1. At that critical time when the enemy seemed to have triumphed, and they were losing their interest, God graciously intervened by sending them His two messengers the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. Their great prophetic messages will be more fully taken up in our annotations on the books which contain their prophecies. The voice of prophecy is always heard when the peo

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 been proceeding during the whole of this time. Owing to the action of Haggai and Zechariah, the Jews are once more roused to undertake the work, which had been interrupted sixteen years before, of rebuilding the Temple (so according to our present text). This time there is no objection; on the contrary, application is made to Darius by the governor, who is supported herein by some of the Samaritans (the Apharsachites), to permit the Jews to go on with their work (which is continued, however, pending the arrival of the king's reply) on the ground tha

HAGGAI. The prophet of that name. In the second year of Darius (Haggai 1:1), "sixth month". ZECHARIAH. The prophet of that name. In the second year of Darius, "eighth month" (Zechariah 1:1). GOD. Chaldee. _'elah_ (sing). Same as Eloah. App-4. OF ISRAEL. Still "Israel", because representative of the whole nation. See note on 1 Kings 12:17. EVEN UNTO THEM: or "[which was] over them"....

Ezra 5:1-2. The Voice of the Prophets and the National Revival 1. _Then the prophets_ R.V. NOW THE PROPHETS. The beginning of a new paragraph, cf. Ezra 1:1; Ezra 2:1; Ezra 3:8; Ezra 4:1. _Haggai the prophet_ After -the prophets", immediately preceding, this designation seems superfluous. But a comparison with chap. Ezra 6:14; Haggai 1:1, shows that the phrase was commonly attached to Haggai's name. The short exta