The prophets ᎬᏃ ᎡᎪ. CHAPTER V. encourage the builders. Zerubbabel, encouraged by Haggai and Zechariah, sets the work forward again, 1, 2. Their adversaries oppose then again, 3-5. Write to Darius, 6-17. B. C. 520. b B. C. 520. A. M. 3484. THEN the prophets, Haggai the What are the names of the men 1that A. M. 3484 prophet, and Zechariah the son make this building? of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. 2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem and with them were the prophets of God helping them. e 5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter. 6 The copy of the letter that B Č. 519. Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the k 3 ¶ At the same time came to them Tatnai,|| Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, governor on this side the river, and Shethar- sent unto Darius the king: boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, f Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? 7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, all peace. 8 Be it known unto the king, that we went Verses 3, 4. Tatnai and Shethar-boznai-These were probably new governors, or prefects, whom Darius had sent; for it was usual with new kings to Verse 1. Haggai and Zechariah-Concerning these prophets, see the books which bear their names. They are both thought to have been born at Baby-change the governors of provinces. Who hath comlon during the captivity, and both with united zeal || manded you to build this house?-No sooner did the encouraged the people to go on with the work of the Spirit of God stir up the friends of the temple to aptemple. Upon the accession of Darius to the throne, pear for it, but the evil spirit stirred up its enemies Haggai, in particular, by reproaching the people to appear against it. While the people builded and with their indolence and insensibility; by telling ceiled their own houses, their enemies gave them no them that they were careful enough to lodge them- molestation, (Hag. i. 4,) though the king's order was selves very commodiously, while the house of the to put a stop to the building of the city, chap. iv. 21. Lord lay buried in its ruins; and by putting them But when they fell to work again at the temple, then in mind that the calamities of drought and famine, the alarm was taken, and all heads were at work to wherewith God had afflicted them since their return, || hinder it. Then said we unto them-We Jews; were owing to their neglect in repairing the temple, What are the names, &c.-Certainly there ought prevailed with them to set about the work in good to be no interrogation in this verse, but the words earnest; so that, by virtue of these reproofs, as well should be rendered, Then we told them accordingly as some encouragements which God occasionally (that is, according to what they asked) what were authorized him to give them, they brought the whole the names of the men that made this building; that to a conclusion in a short time. The son of Iddo-is, who were the chief undertakers and encouragers That is, the grandson; for Zechariah was the son of Barachiah. Prophesied unto the Jews-Commanding them from God to return to building the temple, with a promise of his favour and assistance. Verse 2. Then rose up Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and began to build the house-It had been begun to be built long before, but from the first had gone on very slowly, and afterward had been quite intermitted, till those great men, excited by the prophets, set the work forward again. With them were the prophets of God helping them-Encouraging them by their presence, and by assuring them that God would be with them to protect them from their enemies, and give them success. It is supposed the work had been stopped about fifteen years. The first chapter of Haggai is the best comment on these two verses. of the work. For it appears, from verse 10, that Tatnai and his companions inquired who were the chief promoters of the work, to which a true answer was immediately given. Verse 5. But the eye of God was upon the elders, &c.—The peculiar favour, watchful providence, and powerful protection of God, giving them courage and resolution to go on with the work, notwithstanding the threats of their enemies; and so overruling the hearts and hands of their enemies, that they did not hinder them by force, as they might have done. While we are employed in God's work, we are taken under his special protection, and his eye is upon us for good. Verse 8. To the house of the great God-Whom the Jews account the great God, the God of gods, A. M. 3485. into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is build B. C. 519. walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. and his companions to the king. B. C. 519. 14 And the vessels also of gold and A. M. 3485. silver of the house of God, which Ne ed with 3great stones, and timber is laid in the||buchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; 1 9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, 1 Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? 10 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them. 11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up. n 12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them 17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king" let there be search made in the king's treasurehouse, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter. of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. 13 But in the first year of PCyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. B. C. 519. esteeming all others to be but little, or rather false gods. And, indeed, thus far the greater part of the Samaritans agreed with them. Verse 11. We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth-The God we worship is not a local deity; and therefore we cannot be charged with making a faction, or forming a sect in building this temple to his honour. But we pay our homage to the God on whom the whole creation depends, and therefore ought to be protected and assisted by all, and hindered by none. It is the wisdom as well as duty of kings to countenance the servants of the God of heaven. And build the house that was builded-Or rather, rebuild the house that was first built many years ago. Verses 12-14. After that our fathers had protoked the God of heaven-It was to punish us for our sins, that we were, for a time, put out of the possession of this house, and not because the gods of the nations had prevailed against our God. But in the first year of Cyrus, &c.-We have the royal decree of Cyrus to justify us, and bear us out in what we do. And he not only permitted, but charged and commanded us, to build this house, and to build it in ils place, (verse 15,) the same place where it had stood before. And the vessels also, &c.—These also he delivered to one whom he intrusted with the care of them, and commanded him to restore them to their ancient place and use. And these we have to show in confirmation of what we allege. Verse 16. Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation, &c.-The building was begun according to this order, as soon as ever we were returned, so that we have not forfeited the benefit of the order, for want of pursuing it in time; still it has been in building; but because we have met with opposition, it is not finished. But observe, they mention not the falsehood and malice of the former governors, nor make any complaint of that, (though they had cause enough,) to teach us not to render bitterness for bitterness; nor the most just reproach for that which is most unjust; but to think it enough, if we can obtain fair treatment for the future, without an invidious repetition of former injuries. Let us learn hence, with meekness and fear to give a reason of the hope that is within us, 1 Pet. iii. 15; rightly to understand, and then readily to declare what we do in God's service, and why we do it. Verse 17. Now therefore, let there be search made, &c.-So they properly propose, that the real facts might be ascertained; in the king's treasure-houseThe house or place where the records of the kingdom were preserved very carefully, as rich trea sures are wont to be. Thus these Samaritans seem to have given a fair representation of the cause of the Jews to the king, telling him only what was done, namely, that they were rearing the temple, as persons that intended to worship, and not what was not done, that they were fortifying the city, as if they intended war; as those Samaritans that had written Darius enforces the decree for EZRA. the building of the temple. to Artaxerxes had falsely represented. It is proba- || hindered. God's people could not be persecuted if ble, if their case had been as fairly stated to the for- they were not belied. Let but the cause of God and mer king (see the foregoing chapter) as it was now truth be fairly stated and heard, and it will keep its to Darius, he would not have ordered the work to be ground. CHAPTER VI. Darius's answer, 1-7. His decree, 8-12. The temple is finished, 13-15. The dedication of it, 16-18. The passover kept, 19-22, B. C. 519. a A. M. 3485. THEN Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the 'rolls, where the treasures were 2 laid up in Babylon. 2 And there was found at 3Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; 4 b With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house: 5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jeru a Chap. v. 17.- Chald. books.- 2 Chald. made to descend. Or, Ecbatana, or, in a coffer. b 1 Kings vi. 36.- - Chap. i. 7; NOTES ON CHAPTER VI. Verse 1. Then Darius the king made a decreeTo search the rolls in Babylon, where search was fairly made; but not finding the edict there, they searched in Achmetha, or Ecbatana, the royal city of the Medes and Persians, and found it there. As Darius, the better to fortify his title to the crown, had married two of the daughters of Cyrus, he thought himself concerned to do every thing which might tend to the honour of that great prince, and therefore more readily confirmed the decree which he had granted to the Jews. B. C. 519. salem, and brought unto Babylon, be A. M. 3485. restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God. 6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: 7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews, and the elders of the Jews, build this house of God in this place. 8 Moreover, I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. 9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt-offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, ing improbable that the king should give orders || about the breadth, and none about the length of it. Verse 3. The height thereof threescore cubits—|| These proportions differ from those of Solomon's temple, which was but thirty cubits high, only the porch was a hundred and twenty cubits high, and but twenty cubits in breadth. Either therefore Solomon's cubits were sacred cubits, which were larger than the other, and these but common cubits; or, the sixty cubits of height are meant only for the porch. And the word rendered breadth, should be rendered the extension or the length of it; it be Verse 5. And place them in the house of GodThus far the decree of Cyrus is recited, which justified all the allegations of the Jews in the foregoing chapter. In the next verse the decree of Darius thereupon appears to begin. Verses 6, 7. Be ye far from thence-Come not near Jerusalem to give the Jews any hinderance or disturbance. Let the work of the house of God alone -The manner of expression intimates that he knew they had an inclination to hinder it. Thus was the wrath of the enemy made to praise God, and the remainder thereof did he restrain. Verses 8, 9. That of the king's goods, forthwith expenses be given-That the work might not be stopped for want of money to carry it on, he orders certain sums to be paid them out of his own revenue. And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, &c.-He orders that they should be supplied with every thing they wanted for maintaining the sacrifices at the temple, when it should be built, both The temple B. C. 519. B. C. 519. A. M. 3485. wine, and oil, according to the appoint- || this house of God which is at Jerusa- A. M. 3485. ment of the priests which are at Jeru- lem. I Darius have made a decree; salem, let it be given them day by day without let it be done with speed. fail: 10 That they may offer sacrifices savours unto the God of heaven, and the life of the king, and of his sons. 13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the of sweet || river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, acpray for cording to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. for burnt-offerings and meat-offerings. Let it be pire sensibly declined ever after, till it was wholly given them day by day-That the morning and even-destroyed. ing sacrifices might not fail to be offered every day. Here let us admire, how the divine providence Verse 10. And pray for the life of the king and overruleth every thing according to its purpose, to his sons-Persuaded that he, whom he once and bring about all its wise designs. The great men, we again reverently calls the God of heaven, was ready here find, stood up against the poor and shattered to hear and answer his people in all things for which remnant of Judah; they took counsel together how they called upon him, he desires an interest in their to oppress them, and keep them down. They laid prayers for himself and family, and, in order that he their plans, exhibited their complaints against them, might obtain it, was kind to them. For though the and thought to overturn them: but, quite contrary Jews were not allowed to desire the heathen to to their thoughts, the steps they took for this purpose pray to their deities for them, because they were operated the contrary way, and proved the means forbidden to acknowledge any other gods but one of exalting and raising those whom they intended to yet the heathen might with reason ask the Jews to ruin to a higher pitch of power and pre-eminence. pray to Jehovah for them; because they acknow- The king, whose governors these men were, and to ledged a plurality of gods, and allowed the God of whom, undoubtedly, they represented how much it Israel to be really a God, as well as those they them- was for his interest to put a stop to the rise of Judah, selves worshipped. And the Jews were not pro- instead of hearkening to their complaints, as was hibited either by reason or revelation from addressing natural, and acting accordingly, sent back a decree, their prayers to God for the heathen, when they not only forbidding them to molest the Jews in any were desired by them so to do. What then are we to way, but also granting them the most extraordinary think of the spirit of those Christians, so called, who privileges and encouragements, as to the greatest hold it unlawful to pray for those whom they denomi- favourites. To what can we attribute this extraordinate heretics, though they are not heathen, but wor-nary behaviour in the king, but to an overruling shippers of the same living and true God, whom providence? which ruleth even the hearts of kings, they themselves profess to worship? Let them blush and turneth them as it seemeth best to his sovereign when they read this, to think how far the spirit of the wisdom. Jewish religion excels theirs! Verse 12. The God that hath caused his name to|| dwell there-Who hath willed that a temple should be built there, called the temple or house of Jehovah. Destroy all kings and people that shall put to their hand to alter, &c.-Darius was touched with such a sense of the greatness of the God of the Jews, that he prays, that He who had all power in heaven and earth, and was King of kings, would not only punish all those kings who went about to obstruct this work, but destroy both them and their people. Though this temple was at length most justly destroyed by the righteous hand of God, yet perhaps the Romans, who were the instruments of that destruction, felt the effects of this curse. For that em Verse 13. They did it speedily-When they received this order from the king, they applied themselves with as much haste to encourage and assist the work, as their predecessors had used to put a stop to it. Thus the enemies of the Jews were suddenly made their friends. Verse 14. They prospered through the prophesying of Haggai, &c.-This is a seasonable intimation that this great and unexpected success was not to be ascribed to chance, or to the kindness or good-humour of Darius, but unto God only, who, by his prophets, had required and encouraged them to proceed in the work, and by his mighty power disposed Darius's heart to such kind and noble purposes. And Artaxerxes-That is, Artaxerxes Longimanus, A. M. 3489. 15 And this house was finished on B. C. 515. the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 11 16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, 17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 11 Chald. the sons of the transportation." 1 Kings viii. 63; 2 Chron. vii. 5.-0 Chapter viii. 35.-P 1 Chronicles xxiv. 1. 91 Chron. xxiii. 6. who is here joined with Cyrus and Darius; because, though the temple was built before he came to the throne, in Darius's reign, (verse 15,) yet it was afterward beautified and adorned in consequence of the commission he gave Ezra and Nehemiah for that purpose, the latter of whom was invested with full power to take measures for the building of the city, and also the ordering of all other things that concerned the Jewish nation and religion. Verse 15. This house was finished in the third day of the month Adar―The tenth of March, in the year of the world 3489, in little more than four years after the Jews had returned to the work, and engaged heartily in it, in consequence of the reproofs and exhortations of Haggai and Zechariah; in something more than two years after the forementioned decree of Darius had been given forth; in about twenty years after the return from captivity; and five hundred and fifteen before the coming of the Messiah. Verse 16. The children of Israel-Probably some out of each of the twelve tribes; the priests and Levites, &c., kept the dedication of the house of God with joy-When it was built, being designed only for sacred uses, "they now showed by an example how it should be used," which, says Bishop Patrick, is the proper and simple sense of dedicating. They entered upon it with solemnity, and probably with a public declaration of the separating it from common uses, and the surrendering it to the honour of God, to be employed in his service. Verse 17. And offered a hundred bullocks, &c.Few in number in comparison of those which Solomon had offered at the dedication of his temple. But, being according to their present ability, their offering was accepted, for it was made after a great trial of affliction, and in the midst of deep poverty, as the apostle speaks in another case, 2 Cor. viii. 2. Indeed, these hundreds were more to them than Solomon's thousands to him. And they offered them willingly and cheerfully, for this service was performed with joy, all being glad to see the temple built, and the concerns of it in so good a posture. For a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats of the temple. B. C. 515. 18 And they set the priests in their A. M. 3489. P divisions, and the Levites in their a courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; 12 as it is written in the book of Moses. One for every tribe, to make atonement for their sins, which they looked upon as necessary in order to the acceptance of their services. It appears from many passages of Scripture, that though Shalmaneser had carried captive the ten tribes, yet many of them had remained in their country, and were carried away by Nebuchadnezzar, together with Judah and Benjamin, with whom they returned out of Babylon, as many others of the ten tribes did, who were carried away at the taking of Samaria. Verse 18. They set the priests in their divisions, &c.-When they had dedicated the house, they settled the household: they would have had small comfort in the temple, however solemnly dedicated, without the temple-service: and therefore having set up the worship of God in it, in this dedication of it, they took measures for keeping it up, and in doing so made the book of Moses their rule, to which they had a regard in this establishment. Though the temple-service could not be performed with so much pomp, and such a multitude of sacrifices, and other oblations, as formerly, because of their poverty; yet perhaps it was performed with as much purity, and close adherence to the divine institution, as ever, which was the true glory of it. Verse 19. And the children of the captivity kept the passover-Now they were newly delivered out of their bondage in Babylon, it was seasonable to commemorate their deliverance out of their bondage in Egypt. Fresh mercies should put us in mind of former mercies. We may suppose that they had kept the passover, after a sort, every year since their return; for they had an altar and a tabernacle. But they were liable to frequent disturbances from their enemies, were straitened for room, and had not conveniences about them, so that they could not do it with due solemnity, till the temple was built; and now they made a joyful festival of it, it falling out in the next month after the temple was finished and dedicated. Verse 20. The priests and Levites were purified together-Hebrew, 18, cheechad, as one man, so the word signifies. They were unanimous, both in their resolutions, and in their endeavours, to make |