(11) And thus they returned us answer.—The elders of the Jews take the Syrian satrap into their confidence, and give, in a few most pathetic words the record of their national honour, their national infidelity, and their national humiliation. Every word is true to the history, while the whole exhibits their deep humility and holy resolution. read more
(12) Gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean.—These words not only show that the people regarded themselves as punished by the sole hand of God, but also remind the overthrowers of the Chaldean power that they also themselves are no more than instruments of the same Divine will. read more
NEW DIFFICULTIES MET IN A NEW SPIRITEzra 5:3-17; Ezra 6:1-5IT is in keeping with the character of his story of the returned Jews throughout, that no sooner has the chronicler let a ray of sunshine fall on his page-in his brief notice of the inspiriting mission of the two prophets-than he is compelled to plunge his narrative again into gloom. But he shows that there was now a new spirit in the Jews, so that they were prepared to meet opposition in a more manly fashion. If their jealous... read more
CHAPTER 5 1. The prophetic ministry of Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5:1 ) 2. The result of their ministry (Ezra 5:2 ) 3. Tatnai’s interference (Ezra 5:3-5 ) 4. The letter to Darius (Ezra 5:6-17 ) Ezra 5:1 . At that critical time when the enemy seemed to have triumphed, and they were losing their interest, God graciously intervened by sending them His two messengers the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. Their great prophetic messages will be more fully taken up in our annotations on the... read more
5:11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a {d} great king of Israel builded and set up.(d) That is, Solomon. read more
WORK RESUMED AND OPPOSITION RESUMED (vv. 1-5) The initiative for resuming the work had come from the Lord who moved the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to speak in His name to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. Haggai's prophecy is recorded in the book bearing his name, which begins, "In the second year of King Darius on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to Haggai the prophet, to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high... read more
BACK TO THE HOMELAND CYRUS’ PROCLAMATION (Ezra 1:0 ) Babylon has had its days, and with its downfall has come that of the Assyrian Empire. The Medes and Persians, with Cyrus at their head, are now in power, and in the providence of God, Daniel, the Jewish prophet and statesman, has influence at this court, as in that of Nebuchadnezzar. By a study of the earlier prophets, especially Jeremiah, he has become aware that the time is nigh for the captivity of Judah to end and his people to... read more
Ezra 5:0 1. Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo [the prophecies of these writers should be read at this point], prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. 2. Then rose up [being inspired and excited] 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... read more
The Lord had certainly softened the minds of those men, that though they sent an accusation against the people to the king, yet the Lord overruled the inditing of it. When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 . But I beg the Reader to observe further what confidence the people had taken from the consciousness that the eye of the Lord their God was upon them. No doubt the Lord blessed the words of his servants the prophets unto them. I... read more
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Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ezra 5:3-17
(3-17) Tatnai’s appeal to Darius. read more