エズラ記 1:1-11 JCB

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:1

In the first year of Cyrus. The context shows that it is the first year of Cyrus at Babylon which is intended. Cyrus the Great became King of Persia by his final defeat and capture of Astyages, in b.c. 559 probably. His conquest of Babylon was, comparatively speaking, late in his reign (Herod; Xenoph.), and is fixed by the Canon of Ptolemy to b.c. 538. He took the city on the night of Belshazzar's feast ( Daniel 5:30 ), when Daniel had just been appointed to the third place in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:1

The crisis. The very first word of this book (literally "and," Keil, Wordsworth, etc.) has its importance. It shows the book to be an additional and continuous portion of that most important of all histories, the history of the Jews. How large is the place of that history in the Bible, beginning at Genesis 12:1-20 . and hardly passing again to that of the Gentiles at Acts 10:1-48 . How interesting a story in itself! No people so favoured ( Amos 3:2 ; Romans 3:1 ; Romans 11:28 ).... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:1

The sovereignty of God. Dualities are everywhere seen. Amongst these are things passive and active; things ruled over and things ruling. The mechanical heavens are active and rule the passive earth. In animated nature rulers and subjects are individualized; most remarkably so in the kingdom of men. Passing into the spiritual world, we still find order and rule; "principalities and powers in the heavenlies"—amongst angels of light, also amongst angels of darkness. But behind all these... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:1-4

1. Its promulgation by a heathen king, spontaneously as it would seem; 2. Its recognition of a single supreme God, "the Lord God of heaven;" 3. Its declaration that the supreme God had "charged" the king to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem; and 4. Its actual origination in a "stir" of the king's spirit by God himself. The secret government of the world by Jehovah is, in part, opened to us, and we see how great political events, anteriorly improbable, are brought about by his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:1-11

The wide reach of the rule of God. We are accustomed to pray that the kingdom of God may come; we desire, and therefore ask, that men may offer themselves in willing subjection to the service of their Divine Sovereign. For this we must labour and pray, and always shall do so the more earnestly as we ourselves are the more unreservedly subject to his benign and gracious rule. Meantime there is a sense in which God's rule is a present thing. The kingdom of God is among us; the arms of his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:1-11

The beginning of a great religious movement. Israel had experienced long bondage in a foreign land under a heathen king; this would have a beneficial influence. 1. It would tend to cultivate within them a right view of the sorrow consequent upon sin. Their captivity was a punishment for idolatry. Sin sends men into slavery. 2. It would tend to cultivate within them a right view of the external in religion. Solomon's temple was the pride of Israel. They prided themselves in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:2

Thus saith Cyrus. Persian inscriptions do not ordinarily commence in this way; but the formula "says Darius the king," "says Xerxes the king" is frequent in them. King of Persia . So the Behistun inscription: "I am Darius, the great king, the king of kings, the king of Persia. " The Lord God of heaven, Yehovah Elohey hashshamayim. "God of heaven" seems to have been a usual title of the Supreme Being among the Persians (see below, Ezra 6:9 , Ezra 6:10 ; Ezra 7:12 , Ezra... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:2-4

The edict. When the proclamation, which captive Israel had heard of with such interest and expectation, came to be examined, what was it found to contain? Besides a proper preamble, showing in whose name and by whose authority it was issued, three principal things; viz., 1. a remarkable confession; 2. a satisfactory permission; and 3. a considerate command. I. A REMARKABLE CONFESSION . A confession or acknowledgment— 1. Of Jehovah's existence. Cyrus, brought up... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:3

Who (is there) among you of all his people? Cyrus does not limit his address to the Jews, or even to Judah and Benjamin, but extends it to the whole people of Jehovah, i.e. to all the tribes equally. Gozan and Media, to which the ten tribes had been transported by the Assyrian monarchs, were within his dominions no less than Babylonia. That many non-Jewish Israelites did return appears from 1 Chronicles 9:3 . His God be with him. A pious wish, almost a blessing, indicative of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:4

Whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth. Literally correct; but the meaning is, "And with regard to all those who remain (of the captive people) in any part of the country where they have their temporary abode, let the men of his district help him with silver," etc. Cyrus finishes his decree by calling upon his heathen subjects to come to the aid of the poorer Israelites, and assist them with money, cattle, and other commodities, in order that none may be hindered by poverty,... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:2-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 1:4

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