And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar ,.... The twelfth month of the year with the Jews, and answers to part of our February and part of March: which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king ; four years after the decree came forth. read more
This house was finished - The sixth year of Darius mentioned here was about A.M. 3489, twenty years after the foundation had been laid by Zerubbabel, under the reign of Cyrus. read more
DECREE ISSUED BY DARIUS IN FURTHERANCE OF THE DECREE OF CYRUS . OBEDIENCE OF THE PERSIAN OFFICIALS , AND RAPID COMPLETION OF THE TEMPLE ( Ezra 6:6-15 ). The religious policy of Darius being directly opposed to that of his immediate predecessor, he would naturally reverse his decree with respect to the Jews ( Ezra 4:11-22 ). He would also be glad to show himself in accordance with the great founder of the empire, who was universally reverenced,... read more
Overthrow and upbuilding. The end of this mission brings to our view— I. THE OVERTHROW OF EVIL . "Then Tatnai,… Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius had sent, so did they speedily ' ( Ezra 6:13 ). With deepest mortification and chagrin must they have received these tidings from the Babylonian court. Their failure was complete and conspicuous. Not only had they not done what they wanted to do, but they bad been compelled to aid and prosper that... read more
The successful issue. The vicissitudes through which the building of the temple was carried to its completion figure forth those of the spiritual temple of the Church. This eventful history teaches— I. THAT GOD 'S PURPOSES WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED . 1. This truth is exemplified in. the creation. 2. This truth is also exemplified in prophecy. II. THAT GOD HONOURS HIS WILLING SERVANTS . 1. He gives them an interest in his work. "They prospered,"... read more
The work completed. These words form the conclusion of the first and longest portion of this scriptural Book of Ezra. All the remaining portion of the book is divided off from this in three separate ways. It is so, partly, on the question of time, a gap of something like sixty years intervening between the events mentioned at the close of this sixth chapter and those referred to at the beginning of the seventh. It is also divided off in regard to its method, being not so much, like the... read more
The temple finished. The building of the temple was finished in about four years after the work was resumed. This was a short time for a work so vast, when compared with the resources of the Jews. It was carried through without intermission; the zeal of the people was not suffered to become languid through delay. The fact illustrates both the propitious character of external circumstances and the wisdom of the Jewish leaders. When the building was completed it was dedicated, and the... read more
The house was finished on the third day of the month Adar. Haggai ( Haggai 1:15 ) gives the exact day of the recommencement of the work as the twenty-fourth of Elul in Darius's second year. Ezra here gives the exact day of the completion. From Zerubbabel's laying of the foundation ( Ezra 3:10 ), the time that had elapsed was twenty-one years. From the recommencement under the inspiriting influence of the two prophets, the time was only four years, five months, and ten days. read more
Church prosperity. I. THERE WAS A CHANGE OF MOOD IN THOSE WHO HAD SOUGHT TO HINDER THE WORK . Tatnai, who had sought to hinder the building of the temple, now by the royal command does all he can to promote it. The world sometimes changes its mood toward the Church; often from motives of policy or fear; seldom from good will. Civil governors can greatly aid religious builders. When enemies help the Church prospers. II. THERE WAS A FAITHFUL MINISTRY ... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 6:13-22
Here we have, I. The Jews? enemies made their friends. When they received this order from the king they came with as much haste to encourage and assist the work as their predecessors had done to put a stop to it, Ezra 4:23. What the king ordered they did, and, because they would not be thought to do it with reluctance, they did it speedily, Ezra 6:13. The king's moderation made them, contrary to their own inclination, moderate too. II. The building of the temple carried on, and finished in a... read more