Ezra 6:11

_ALSO I HAVE MADE A DECREE, THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL ALTER THIS WORD, LET TIMBER BE PULLED DOWN FROM HIS_ _ HOUSE, AND BEING SET UP, LET HIM BE HANGED THEREON; AND LET HIS HOUSE BE MADE A DUNGHILL FOR THIS._ Whosoever shall alter this word. The warning was specially directed against the turbulent and fanatical Samaritans. The extremely favourable purport of this edict, which was issued about 16 or 17 years after that of Cyrus, was no doubt owing in some measure to the influence of Cyrus, of whom Darius entertained a high admiration, and whose two daughters he had married. But it proceeded still more from the deep impressions made even on the idolatrous people of that country and that age, as to the Being and Providence of the God of Israel. It may tend to throw additional light and illustration on the motives that influenced Darius, to mention what is asserted by Josephus ('Antiquities,' b....

1-12 When God's time is come for fulfilling his gracious purposes concerning his church, he will raise up instruments to do it, from whom such good service was not expected. While our thoughts are directed to this event, we are led by Zechariah to fix our regard on a nobler, a spiritual building. The Lord Jesus Christ continues to lay one stone upon another: let us assist the great design. Difficulties delay the progress of this sacred edifice. Yet let not opposition discourage us, for in due season it will be completed to his abundant praise. He shall bring forth the head-stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it....

Verse 11. _LET TIMBER BE PULLED DOWN_] Whether this refers to the punishment of hanging and gibbeting of whipping at a post, or of empaling, is not quite clear. In China they tie culprits to posts; and the executioner cuts them open while alive, takes out their bowels, c. Empaling thrusting a sharp stake through the body till it comes out at the side of the neck, or hanging, seems to be intended here. _LET HIS HOUSE BE MADE A DUNGHILL_] Let it be reduced to ruins, and never more used, except for the most sordid and unclean purposes....

BEING SET UP, LET HIM BE HANGED THEREON - Rather, “let him be lifted up and crucified upon it.” Crucifixion was the most common form of capital punishment among the Persians....

EXPOSITION DISCOVERY OF THE DECREE OF CYRUS ON THE SUBJECT OF THE TEMPLE, AND RECITATION OF ITS EXACT TERMS (Ezra 6:1). The application made by the satrap of Syria to Darius received his immediate attention. A search was instituted—in the first instance, at Babylon, but afterwards at the other capitals also; and in Ecbatana, the Median metropolis, where the Persian kings always resided during a portion of the year, a copy of the original decree was found, which is considerably fuller and more definite, though in some respects covering less ground, than the "proclamation'' with

ALSO I HAVE MADE A DECREE, THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL ALTER THIS WORD,.... Act contrary to this command, will not obey it, but as much as in him lies changes and revokes it: LET TIMBER BE PULLED DOWN FROM HIS HOUSE, AND BEING SET UP, LET HIM, BE HANGED THEREON; that is, let a beam be taken from it, and a gallows or gibbet made of it, and hang him on it: AND LET HIS HOUSE BE MADE A DUNGHILL FOR THIS; be pulled down, and never rebuilt more, Daniel 2:2, Daniel 2:9....

CHAPTER 6 _ 1. The search of the king and the result (Ezra 6:1)_ 2. The command of Darius (Ezra 6:6) 3. The king's command obeyed (Ezra 6:13) 4. The house finished (Ezra 6:14) 5. The dedication of the house (Ezra 6:16) 6. The feast of Passover and unleavened bread (Ezra 6:19) Ezra 6:1. King Darius had a search made in the place where the records of the empire were kept, “in t

THE KING'S REPLY ACCORDING HIS PERMISSION TOR THE BUILDING TO BE CONTINUED. Ezra 6:1. a decree: the actual decree does not begin until Ezra 6:8. Ezra 6:2. Achmetha: _cf._ Tob_3:7; _i.e._ Ecbatana, in Media, the summer residence of the Persian kings. A ROLL: in this case more probably a cylindrical clay tablet inscribed with cuneiform characters; but the fact that a roll is mentioned shows that the Jews of Ezra's time were unfamiliar with that form of writing. Ezra 6:3. This purports to be a copy of Cyrus-' decree (_cf._ Ezra 1:1); it is, however

ALTER.. similar strong threat in the inscription of Darius on the Behistun rock (App-57). Compare Daniel 3:29....

The penalty. _Also I have made a decree_ The same words as in Ezra 6:8; Ezra 4:19. _whosoever shall alter_ See especially Daniel 6:15. The word -alter" here probably includes infringement of the decree as well as alteration of its terms. _let timber be pulled down_ R.V. LET A BEAM BE PULLED OUT, more correctly. The beams of the man's own house should be the instruments of execution. _and being set up, let him be hanged thereon_ R.V. LET HIM BE LIFTED UP AND FASTENED THEREON. The subject of both words is the malefactor. The punishment here referred to is probably that of impalement, to which allusion is frequently made in Assyrian and Persian inscriptions. It may indeed be a form of crucifixio