Ezra 5:17

17 Now therefore, if it seemeth good to the king, reckon he in the biblet of the king, which is in Babylon, whether it be commanded of king Cyrus, that God's house should be builded (again) in Jerusalem; and send he to us the will of the king on this thing. (And so now, if it seemeth good to the king, let a search be made in the library, or in the archives, of the king, which is there in Babylon, to determine whether it was commanded by King Cyrus, that the House of God should be rebuilt in Jerusalem, or not; and then send he to us the desire of the king on this matter.)

Ezra 5:17 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 5:17

Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be
search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon,
&c.] Where were the archives of the kingdom, where the laws, decrees, edicts, and proclamations, and other things relating to the state, were laid up, that recourse might be had to them upon occasion:

whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build
this house of God at Jerusalem;
which the Jews affirmed was made by him, and upon which they proceeded:

and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter;
whether the Jews should be allowed to go on with the building of their temple, and finish it, or whether they should be restrained from it; signifying they were ready to do his will and pleasure either way, as he thought fit.

Ezra 5:17 In-Context

15 And Cyrus said to him, Take these vessels, and go, and set them in the temple, that is in Jerusalem; and be the house of God builded (again) in the place where it was. (And Cyrus said to him, Take these vessels, and go, and put them in the Temple, that is in Jerusalem; and let the House of God be rebuilt in the place where it once was.)
16 Therefore then that Sheshbazzar came, and setted the foundaments of God's temple in Jerusalem; and from that time till to now it is builded, and it is not yet fulfilled. (And so then that Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundation of the Temple of God in Jerusalem; and from that time until now it is being rebuilt, but it is not yet finished.)
17 Now therefore, if it seemeth good to the king, reckon he in the biblet of the king, which is in Babylon, whether it be commanded of king Cyrus, that God's house should be builded (again) in Jerusalem; and send he to us the will of the king on this thing. (And so now, if it seemeth good to the king, let a search be made in the library, or in the archives, of the king, which is there in Babylon, to determine whether it was commanded by King Cyrus, that the House of God should be rebuilt in Jerusalem, or not; and then send he to us the desire of the king on this matter.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.