Ezra 5:3 - Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

Ezra 5:3

Restoration of the Temple Resumed

1 Then the prophet ^aHaggai and ^bZechariah the son of Iddo, prophets, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.

2 So ^aZerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and ^bthe prophets of God were with them, helping them.

3 At the same time ^aTattenai the governor of the region beyond¹ the River and Shethar-Boznai and their companions came to them and spoke thus to them: ^b“Who has commanded you to build this² temple and finish this wall?”

4 ^aThen, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were constructing this building.

5 But ^athe eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius. Then a ^bwritten answer was returned concerning this matter.

Commentaries:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

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Ezra 5:3-4

At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river—The Persian empire west of the Euphrates included at this time Syria, Arabia, Egypt, Phœnicia, and other provinces subject to Darius. The empire was divided into twenty provinces, called satrapies. Syria formed one satrapy, inclusive of Palestine, Phœnicia, and Cyprus, and furnished an annual revenue of three hundred fifty talents. It was presided over by a satrap or viceroy, who at this time resided at Damascus. Though superior to the native governors of the Jews appointed by the Persian king, he never interfered with their internal government except when there was a threatened disturbance of order and tranquillity. Tatnai, the governor (whether this was a personal name or an official title is unknown), had probably been incited by the complaints and turbulent outrages of the Samaritans against the Jews; but he suspended his judgment, and he prudently resolved to repair to Jerusalem, that he might ascertain the real state of matters by personal inspection and enquiry, in company with another dignified officer and his provincial council.

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