Verse 1
Haggai - and Zechariah - These are the same whose writings we have among the twelve minor prophets.
The son of Iddo - That is, the grandson of Iddo; for Zechariah was the son of Barachiah, the son of Iddo. See his prophecy, [Zac 1:1] (note).
Verse 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 joining with the sacerdotal and prophetic for the establishment and extension of true religion!
Verse 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, and without any kind of prejudice. The manner in which he represented this to the king is a full proof of this disposition.
Verse 4
What are the names - It is most evident that this is the answer of the Jews to the inquiry of Tatnai, [Ezr 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.
Verse 5
The eye of their God was upon the elders - The watchful care of God was upon the elders. They were assured of his favor; and they found his especial providence working in their behalf.
Verse 8
With great stones - They are making a very strong and a very costly building.
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 their enemies.
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.
Verse 17
The - treasure house - גנזיא ginzaiya. This is a Persian word, 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 prejudice his mind, and gave him those directions which were most likely to lead him to the truth, and to form a correct judgment on a business which, however it issued, must be of considerable importance to the state. God was in all this business; he was now giving an additional proof of his continued regard for a disobedient people, whom, though he had punished in his justice, he had spared in his mercy.
Introduction
Darius orders search to be made for the edict of Cyrus, [Ezr 6:1]. It is found at Achmetha, [Ezr 6:2]. A transcript of this edict, [Ezr 6:3-5]. Darius confirms it, [Ezr 6:6-12]. Tatnai encourages the Jews to proceed; and they finish the temple in the sixth year of Darius, [Ezr 6:13-15]. They dedicate the temple, [Ezr 6:16-18]; keep the Passover, [Ezr 6:19-21], and the feast of unleavened bread, [Ezr 6:22].
Verse 1
In the house of the rolls - בית ספריא beith siphraiya, the house of the books, the king's library. This is the first time we hear of a library.
Verse 2
At Achmetha - Ecbatana in India, whither it is probable all the records of Cyrus had been carried. This was a sort of summer residence for the kings of Persia.
Verse 3
The height thereof threescore cubits - This was much larger than the temple of Solomon. This was sixty cubits high, and sixty cubits broad; whereas Solomon's was only twenty cubits broad, and thirty cubits high.
Verse 4
Three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber - We have noticed this kind of building before, three courses of stones, and then a course of strong balk; and this continued to the square of the building.
And let the expenses be given - Cyrus had ordered wood to be cut at Libanus, and conveyed to Joppa at his expense; but it does not appear that he furnished the other expenses of the building, for we have already seen that the Jews contributed for the defraying of all others. But it appears that he provided at his own expense the sacrifices and offerings for the temple. See [Ezr 6:9].
Verse 6
Be ye far from thence - Do not interrupt the Jews in their building; but, on the contrary further them all in your power.
Verse 10
And pray for the life of the king, and of his sons - Even heathens believed that offerings made in their behalf to the God of the Jews would be available. And this principle has had considerable influence in certain states where there was even a form of religion established by the law, to induce them to tolerate other forms, that the state might have the benefit of their prayers.
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, etc. 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.
Verse 14
According to the commandment of the God of Israel - He first gave the order, and stirred up the hearts of the following Persian kings to second that order.
Of Cyrus - This sovereign gave his orders for the rebuilding of the temple about A.M. 3468.
And Darius - Darius Hystaspes confirmed the above orders, A. M. 3485.
And Artaxerxes - Artaxerxes Longimanus sent Ezra to Judea with new privileges, A.M. 3547. With the permission of the same king, Nehemiah came to Judea in 3550. The writer recapitulates the different sovereigns who favored the Jews after the Babylonish captivity. See Calmet.
Verse 15
This house was finished - The sixth year of Darius mentioned here was about A.M. 3489, twenty years after the foundation had been laid by Zerubbabel, under the reign of Cyrus.