Ezra 5:3 - Matthew Henry

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.

6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai sent:
The governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, ^aand his companions, the Persians who were in the region beyond the River, to Darius the king.

7 (They sent a letter to him, in which was written thus)
To Darius the king:
All peace.

8 Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judea, to the¹ temple of the great God, which is being built with² heavy stones, and timber is being laid in the walls; and this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands.

9 Then we asked those elders, and spoke thus to them: ^a“Who commanded you to build this temple and to finish these walls?”

10 We also asked them their names to inform you, that we might write the names of the men who were chief among them.

11 And thus they returned us an answer, saying: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the¹ temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built ^aand completed.

12 But ^abecause our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of ^bNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and ^ccarried the people away to Babylon.

13 However, in the first year of ^aCyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to build this¹ house of God.

14 Also, ^athe gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem and carried into the temple of Babylon—those King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon, and they were given to ^bone named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.

15 And he said to him, ‘Take these articles; go, carry them to the temple site that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its former site.’

16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came and ^alaid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem; but from that time even until now it has been under construction, and ^bit is not finished.”

17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, ^alet a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter.

Commentaries:

Matthew Henry

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Ezra 5:4 >>

Ezra 5:1-17

The leaders forward the building of the temple. (1,2) letter against the Jews. (3-17)

Verses 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.

Verses 3-17 While employed in God's work, we are under his special protection; his eye is upon us for good. This should keep us to our duty, and encourage us therein, when difficulties are ever so discouraging. The elders of the Jews gave the Samaritans an account of their proceedings. Let us learn hence, with meekness and fear, to give a reason of the hope that is in us; let us rightly understand, and then readily declare, what we do in God's service, and why we do it. And while in this world, we always shall have to confess, that our sins have provoked the wrath of God. All our sufferings spring from thence, and all our comforts from his unmerited mercy. However the work may seem to be hindered, yet the Lord Jesus Christ is carrying it on, his people are growing unto a holy temple in the Lord, for a habitation of God through the Spirit.

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Ezra 5:4 >>

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Restoration of the Temple Resumed

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

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Every Morning