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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 6:1-12

We have here, I. The decree of Cyrus for the building of the temple repeated. To this the Samaritans referred because the Jews pleaded it, and perhaps hoped it would not be found, and then their plea would be over-ruled and a stop put to their work. Search was ordered to be made for it among the records; for, it seems, the tribes had not taken care to provide themselves with an authentic copy of it, which might have stood them in good stead, but they must appeal to the original. It was looked... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 6:1

Then Darius the king made a decree ,.... To make inquiry after the edict of Cyrus, to search the public records for it: and search was made in the house of the rolls ; or "books" F18 בבית ספריא , εν ταις βιβλιοθηκαις , Sept. "in bibliotheca", V. L. "in bibliotheca librorum", Tigurine version; "in domo librorum", Pagninus, Montanus. , in a public library or museum: where the treasures were laid up in Babylon ; where things of worth and value were reposited; not only gold,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 6:2

And there was found at Achmetha ,.... Which Jarchi and Aben Ezra take to be the name of a vessel in which letters and writings were put for safety; but it was no doubt the name of a place; the Vulgate Latin version has it Ecbatana; and so Josephus F19 Antiqu. l. 11. c. 4. sect. 6. ; which was the name of a city in Media, where the kings of that country had their residence in the summer time F20 Curtius, l. 5. c. 8. Vid. Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 3. c. 6. ; for it has its... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 6:3

In the first year of Cyrus the king; the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be builded ,.... See Ezra 1:1 , the place where they offered sacrifices ; to God in times past, ever since it was built by Solomon: and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid ; so as to bear and support the building erected on them, as the word signifies: the height thereof sixty cubits ; which were thirty more than the height of Solomon's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 6:4

With three rows of great stones ,.... Which Jarchi interprets of the walls of it, and these stones of marble; and so Ben Melech: and a row of new timber ; of cedar wood upon the rows of stone, see 1 Kings 6:36 or for the lining and wainscoting the walls: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house ; treasury, or exchequer; but it does not appear that this part of the decree was observed, at least hitherto; but the Jews built at their own expense, and perhaps did not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 6:5

And also let the golden and silver vessels ,.... See Ezra 1:7 and which confirms what the Jews said to Tatnai, Ezra 5:14 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 6:1

In the house of the rolls - ספריא בית beith siphraiya , the house of the books, the king's library. This is the first time we hear of a library. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 6:2

At Achmetha - Ecbatana in India, whither it is probable all the records of Cyrus had been carried. This was a sort of summer residence for the kings of Persia. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 6:3

The height thereof threescore cubits - This was much larger than the temple of Solomon. This was sixty cubits high, and sixty cubits broad; whereas Solomon's was only twenty cubits broad, and thirty cubits high. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 6:4

Three rows of great stones , and a row of new timber - We have noticed this kind of building before, three courses of stones, and then a course of strong balk; and this continued to the square of the building. And let the expenses be given - Cyrus had ordered wood to be cut at Libanus, and conveyed to Joppa at his expense; but it does not appear that he furnished the other expenses of the building, for we have already seen that the Jews contributed for the... read more

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