Ezra 5:1-10

1 Then the nevi’im, Chaggai HaNavi, and Zecharyah ben Iddo, prophesied unto the Yehudim that were in Yehudah and Yerushalayim in the shem Elohei Yisroel, Who was [in authority] over them.

2 Then rose up Zerubavel ben Sh’altiel, and Yeshua ben Yotzadak, and began to build the Beis Elohim which is at Yerushalayim; and with them were the nevi’im of Elohim helping them.

3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor of the province Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], and Shetar-Boznai and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath authorized you to build this Beis [Hamikdash], and to finish this structure?

4 Then said we unto them accordinging what were the shmot of the men that are constructing this building.

5 But the Ayn Eloheihem (Eye of their G-d) was upon the leaders of the Yehudim, that they could not cause them to cease, until the matter came to Daryavesh (Darius); and then answer was returned by letter concerning this matter.

6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor of the province Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], and Shetar-Boznai and his companions the envoys which were in the province Beyond-the-River [Euphrates], sent unto Daryavesh (Darius) the Melech [see 6:6];

7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Daryavesh HaMelech, all Shalom.

8 Be it known unto the Melech, that we went into the province of Yehudah, to the Beis of the great Elohim, which is being built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.

9 Then asked we those leaders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this Beis [Hamikdash], and to restore this structure?

10 We asked their shmot also, to inform thee, that we might write down the shmot of the men that were their heads for thy information.

Ezra 5:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

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, Ezr 5:1-5, and who, upon the answers received from the Jews, wrote a letter to Darius, to know the truth of things; and in which they seem to state fairly the case of the Jews, as they had it from them, so far as they understood it, Ezr 5:6-17.

\\son of Iddo\\ The grandson of Iddo; for he was the son of Berechiah, Zec 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, Hag 1:1, Zec 1:1, even "unto them"; or "against them", as De Dieu; reproving them for their sloth and neglect of building the temple, when they were careful enough to raise up goodly houses for themselves to dwell in; and for being intimidated by the command of the king of Persia, which only forbid the building of the city, that is, the walls of it, but not the temple any more than their own houses; and besides, there was now a new king, from whom they had not so much to fear. 20094-950306-0810-Ezr5.2