Ezra 5:2

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.

Ezra 5:2 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 5:26

And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children
of Israel
Which is repeated for the certainty of it, and for the sake of what follows:

and the stranger that sojourneth among them;
the proselyte of righteousness; so the blessing of pardon, through the propitiatory sacrifice of Christ, comes upon believing Gentiles as well as Jews, ( Romans 4:9 ) ( 1 John 2:2 ) ;

seeing all the people [were] in ignorance;
both the congregation of Israel and the stranger; (See Gill on Numbers 15:25).

Ezra 5:2 In-Context

1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews that [were] in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, [even] to 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.

3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus to them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?

4 Then said we to them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

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].