Ezra 5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 5

We left the temple-work at a full stop; but, being God's work, it shall be revived, and here we have an account of the reviving of it. It was hindered by might and power, but it was set a-going again ?by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts.? Now here we are told how that blessed Spirit, I. Warmed its cool-hearted friends and excited them to built, Ezra 5:1, 2. II. Cooled its hot-headed enemies, and brought them to better tempers; for, though they secretly disliked the work as much as those in the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 5:1-2

Some reckon that the building of the temple was suspended for only nine years; I am willing to believe that fifteen years were the utmost. During this time they had an altar and a tabernacle, which no doubt they made use of. When we cannot do what we would we must do what we can in the service of God, and be sorry we can do no better. But the counsellors that were hired to hinder the work (Ezra 4:5) told them, and perhaps with a pretence to inspiration, that the time had not come for the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 5:3-17

We have here, I. The cognizance which their neighbours soon took of the reviving of this good work. A jealous eye, it seems, they had upon them, and no sooner did the Spirit of God stir up the friends of the temple to appear for it than the evil spirit stirred up its enemies to appear against it. While the people built and ceiled their own houses their enemies gave them no molestation (Hag. 1:4), though the king's order was to put a stop to the building of the city (Ezra 4:21); but when they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 5

INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 5 This chapter relates, how that the people of the Jews were stirred up by the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah to set about the building of the temple again, notwithstanding the orders to the contrary from the deputy governors of the king of Persia; nor could the present ones cause them to cease from it; though it must be owned they behaved towards them in a better manner than the former ones did, Ezra 5:1 , and who, upon the answers received from the Jews, wrote... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 5:1

Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo ,.... The grandson of Iddo; for he was the son of Berechiah, Zechariah 1:1 , prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel ; this they both did in the second year of Darius; the one began in the sixth month, and the other in the eighth month of the year, Haggai 1:1 , even "unto them"; or "against them", as De Dieu; reproving them for their sloth and neglect of building... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 5:2

Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak ,.... Whose spirits were stirred up and quickened by the ministry of the prophets, the Lord accompanying it by his Spirit, Haggai 1:12 , and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem ; to go on with the building of it; for they had laid the foundation before, and perhaps had carried it up to some little height, at least, before they ceased from it, Ezra 3:10 and with them were the prophets of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 5:3

At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions ,.... These were new governors and officers under the king of Persia in those parts, the old ones, Rehum, Shimshai, &c.; being either dead, or removed upon this new king coming to the throne: these came to the Jews: and said thus unto them, who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall ? for it seems by this time they had raised up the walls of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 5:4

Then said we unto them after this manner ,.... In answer to their questions; namely, Ezra and other Jews replied; for though Ezra is said after this to come from Babylon in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, he might go thither on some business, and then return again at that time; some indeed think these are the words of Tatnai and those with him; so Ben Melech, which seems to be favoured by Ezra 4:10 , and by reading the words with an interrogation, as we do; Aben Ezra says they are either... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 5:5

But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews ,.... He in his providence looked favourably at them, smiled upon them, encouraged them in the work by his good Spirit, and by the prophets, and gave them success, and protected and defended them, see 2 Chronicles 16:9 , that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius ; they were not intimidated by what the governor and those with him said to them, but went on in their work; nor did the governor attempt to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 5:6

The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river ,.... Which is thought by some to be one of the nations mentioned, Ezra 4:9 the name being pretty near alike to two of them; but perhaps might be a distinct colony in those parts Tatnai was governor of: these sent unto Darius the king ; and is as follows. read more

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