Ezra 5

1 prophetaverunt autem Aggeus propheta et Zaccharias filius Addo prophetantes ad Iudaeos qui erant in Iudaea et Hierusalem in nomine Dei Israhel

2 tunc surrexerunt Zorobabel filius Salathihel et Iosue filius Iosedech et coeperunt aedificare templum Dei in Hierusalem et cum eis prophetae Dei adiuvantes eos

3 in ipso tempore venit ad eos Tatannai qui erat dux trans Flumen et Starbuzannai et consiliarii eorum sicque dixerunt eis quis dedit vobis consilium ut domum hanc aedificaretis et muros hos instauraretis

4 ad quod respondimus eis quae essent nomina hominum auctorum illius aedificationis

5 oculus autem Dei eorum factus est super senes Iudaeorum et non potuerunt inhibere eos placuitque ut res ad Darium referretur et tunc satisfacerent adversus accusationem illam

6 exemplar epistulae quam misit Tatannai dux regionis trans Flumen et Starbuzannai et consiliatores eius Apharsacei qui erant trans Flumen ad Darium regem

7 sermo quem miserant ei sic scriptus erat Dario regi pax omnis

8 notum sit regi isse nos ad Iudaeam provinciam ad domum Dei magni quae aedificatur lapide inpolito et ligna ponuntur in parietibus opusque illud diligenter extruitur et crescit in manibus eorum

9 interrogavimus ergo senes illos et ita diximus eis quis dedit vobis potestatem ut domum hanc aedificaretis et muros instauraretis

10 sed et nomina eorum quaesivimus ab eis ut nuntiaremus tibi quae scripsimus nomina virorum qui sunt principes in eis

11 huiuscemodi autem sermonem responderunt nobis dicentes nos sumus servi Dei caeli et terrae et aedificamus templum quod erat extructum ante hos annos multos quodque rex Israhel magnus aedificaverat et extruxerat

12 postquam autem ad iracundiam provocaverunt patres nostri Deum caeli et tradidit eos in manu Nabuchodonosor regis Babylonis Chaldei domum quoque hanc destruxit et populum eius transtulit in Babylonem

13 anno autem primo Cyri regis Babylonis Cyrus rex proposuit edictum ut domus Dei aedificaretur

14 nam et vasa templi Dei aurea et argentea quae Nabuchodonosor tulerat de templo quod erat in Hierusalem et asportaverat ea in templum Babylonis protulit Cyrus rex de templo Babylonis et data sunt Sasabassar vocabulo quem et principem constituit

15 dixitque ei haec vasa tolle et vade et pone ea in templo quod est in Hierusalem et domus Dei aedificetur in loco suo

16 tunc itaque Sasabassar ille venit et posuit fundamenta templi Dei in Hierusalem et ex eo tempore usque nunc aedificatur et necdum conpletum est

17 nunc ergo si videtur regi bonum recenseat in bibliotheca regis quae est in Babylone utrumnam a Cyro rege iussum sit ut aedificaretur domus Dei in Hierusalem et voluntatem regis super hac re mittat ad nos

Ezra 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

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.

Chapter Summary

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