The response. "Then rose up," etc. The edict of Cyrus had been issued (see Ezra 1:2 4). The voice of God was in the voice of the king (see Ezra 1:1 ). But who responded? I. THE CHIEFS OF THE FATHERS OF JUDAH AND BENJAMIN RESPONDED . 1. Happy the people whose magistrates lead them nobly. 2. Politics cannot be divorced from religion. 3. Evil rulers are scourges of God to wicked peoples. Representative governments—responsibility of the franchise.... read more
The muster. We have noted already that the great and primary feature in the restoration of Israel from captivity was the restoration of the house. With a view to this restoration, as we have seen, the whole edict of Cyrus was framed. In the passage now before us we shall see, in the next place, that the results of that edict were in accordance with this design. They secured, i.e; the two first requisites for carrying out this design, providing, as they did, on the one hand, the requisite... read more
All they that were about them. i.e. all their neighbours. Strengthened their hands. This is the literal rendering. The margin gives the right meaning—"helped them." With precious things. Migdanoth , a rare word, only used here, in Genesis 24:53 , and in 2 Chronicles 21:3 ; always connected with silver and gold: derived from meged , which means " precious. " Besides all that was willingly offered . The gold, silver, precious things, etc. previously mentioned were... read more
The vessels . Probably all that he could find, yet scarcely all that had been taken away, since many of these were of bronze ( 2 Kings 25:14 ), and the restored vessels seem to have been, all of them, either of gold or silver (see Ezra 1:11 ). Which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth. The carrying off of sacred vessels, as well as images, from temples is often represented in the Assyrian sculptures. It was a practice even of the Romans, and is commemorated on the Pillar of Titus, where... read more
THE RESTORATION OF THE SACRED VESSELS BY CYRUS ( Ezra 1:7-11 ). Following the ordinary custom of the early Oriental conquerors, Nebuchadnezzar, long before he destroyed the Jewish temple, had carried off from it, partly as trophies of victory, partly as articles of value, many of the sacred vessels used in the temple service (see 2 Chronicles 36:10 ; Jeremiah 27:19 , Jeremiah 27:20 ; Daniel 1:2 ). At his final capture and destruction of Jerusalem he bore off the... read more
Mithredath the treasurer. Not "Mithridates, the son of Gazabar," as the Vulgate renders. The Hebrew gizbar represents a Persian word, gazabara or ganzabara , which had no doubt the meaning of "treasurer," literally " treasure-bearer. " We have here the first occurrence of the famous name, borne by so many great kings, of Mithridates. The name is thoroughly Persian, and is excellently rendered by the Hebrew מִתְיְדָת . It means either " given by Mithra" or " dedicated to... read more
The house of his gods - Rather, “of his god” Daniel 1:2, i. e., Merodach, “his lord” (see 2 Chronicles 36:7 note). read more
Mithredath - Or, “Mithridates.” The occurrence of this name, which means “given by Mithra” or “dedicated to Mithra,” is an indication that the sun-worship of the Persians was at least as old as the time of Cyrus.Sheshbazzar - i. e., Zerubbabel. On his royal descent, see 1 Chronicles 3:19 note. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:5-6
The return. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are the historical introduction to this third period of Jewish history. The first or formative period is that of the exodus and the conquest of Canaan. The second, that of the kings, is the period of national development, when all that was possible to them as a nation was accomplished. The third period was that of national dependence, and it lasted 600 years. From the return from captivity to the fall of Jerusalem, the history of the Jews is bound... read more