Ezra 5:11 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 5:3-17

We have here, I. The cognizance which their neighbours soon took of the reviving of this good work. A jealous eye, it seems, they had upon them, and no sooner did the Spirit of God stir up the friends of the temple to appear for it than the evil spirit stirred up its enemies to appear against it. While the people built and ceiled their own houses their enemies gave them no molestation (Hag. 1:4), though the king's order was to put a stop to the building of the city (Ezra 4:21); but when they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 5:11

And thus they returned us answer ,.... To the purpose and in the manner following: saying, we are the servants of the God of heaven and earth ; signifying that they were doing his work, in obedience to his will, and to whom they were accountable: and build the house that was builded these many years ago ; even five hundred years ago, or thereabout; so that they were not erecting a building where there was none before, but were rebuilding what was in ruins: which a great king of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 5:11

We are the servants of the God of heaven - How simple, plain, and ingenuous is this confession! They were the servants of the God of heaven. How came they then into bondage! Why, they provoked the God of heaven - repeatedly sinned against him, and then he gave them into the hands of their enemies. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 5:3-17

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 5:3-17

Opposition revived. We have in these verses a twofold account of two different things. In Ezra 5:3 , Ezra 5:4 , in the first place, we have the historian's account of the revived opposition called out by the revival of the work of temple-building on the part of the Jews. In Ezra 5:6-10 we have an almost identical but slightly fuller account of the same matter in the letter sent by the opponents themselves to Darius. In Ezra 5:5 , in the next place, we have the historian's account... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 5:3-17

Wisdom in trial. Hardly had the Jews recommenced their work, when they again found themselves subjected to a— I. TRIAL OF FAITH . "At the same time," etc. ( Ezra 5:3 ). Again their unfriendly neighbours came to the attack. They challenged their right to build up the walls: "Who hath commanded you to build?" "By whose authority do ye these things?" The names of the leading men were demanded ( Ezra 5:4 ), with a view of sending them on to the Persian court. Pressure was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 5:6-17

The letter to Darius. The occasion of this letter was the resumption of the work of rebuilding the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem after an interval of sixteen years. The authors of it are Tatnai, the governor, probably of all the provinces west of the Euphrates, and Shethar-boznai, who may have been the scribe or secretary associated with him, as Shimshai was with Rehum (see Ezra 4:8 ). Or possibly Shethar-boznai was the leading man of the Apharsachites; for these are mentioned as more... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 5:11

We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth. Instead of doing as they were requested, and giving in a long list of names and titles of office, the elders merge their individuality in this general phrase; as though they would say, "As individuals, we are nothing; as men of mark in our nation, we are nothing; what we do, we do simply as servants of God, directed by him ( Haggai 1:8 ), bound to obey him, answerable only to him for our conduct." They speak of God as "the God of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 5:11-17

Things a Church should understand concerning itself. I. THAT IT IS ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF HEAVEN . "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth" ( Ezra 5:11 ). 1. An exalted service. It is the service of God. 2. An extensive service. It reaches in its influence throughout heaven and earth. 3. An arduous service. It is to rebuild a ruined temple in the midst of enemies. 4. A humble service. At best the Church is but a servant. II. THAT IT... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezra 5:11

Ezra 5:11. We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth The God we worship is not a local deity; and therefore we cannot be charged with making a faction, or forming a sect in building this temple to his honour. But we pay our homage to the God on whom the whole creation depends, and therefore ought to be protected and assisted by all, and hindered by none. It is the wisdom as well as duty of kings to countenance the servants of the God of heaven. And build the house that was builded... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 5:3-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 5:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 5:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 5:3-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 5:3-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 5:3-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 5:6-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 5:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 5:11-17

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezra 5:11

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