Ezra5
New International Version
1Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.
2Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
3At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”
4They also asked, “What are the names of those who are constructing this building?”
5But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.
6This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates, the officials of Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius.
7The report they sent him read as follows: To King Darius: Cordial greetings.
8The king should know that we went to the district of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction.
9We questioned the elders and asked them, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”
10We also asked them their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.
11This is the answer they gave us: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished.
12But because our ancestors angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.
13“However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.
14He even removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon. Then King Cyrus gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor,
15and he told him, ‘Take these articles and go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem. And rebuild the house of God on its site.’
16“So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished.”
17Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezra 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The leaders forward the building of the temple. (1, 2). letter against the Jews. (3–17).
vv1-2
The building of the temple was stopped about fifteen years. Then they had two good ministers, who urged them to go on with the work. It is a sign that God has mercy in store for a people, when he raises up prophets to be helpers in the way and work of God, as guides, overseers, and rulers. In Haggai, we see what great things God does by his word, which he magnifies above all his name, and by his Spirit working with it.
vv3-17
While employed in God's work, we are under his special protection; his eye is upon us for good. This should keep us to our duty, and encourage us therein, when difficulties are ever so discouraging. The elders of the Jews gave the Samaritans an account of their proceedings. Let us learn hence, with meekness and fear, to give a reason of the hope that is in us; let us rightly understand, and then readily declare, what we do in God's service, and why we do it. And while in this world, we always shall have to confess, that our sins have provoked the wrath of God. All our sufferings spring from thence, and all our comforts from his unmerited mercy. However the work may seem to be hindered, yet the Lord Jesus Christ is carrying it on, his people are growing unto a holy temple in the Lord, for a habitation of God through the Spirit.
Key Words
חַגַּי: Chaggai, a Hebrew prophet
זְכַרְיָה: Zecarjah, the name of twenty-nine Israelites
בַּר: a son, grandson, etc.
עִדּוֹ: Iddo (or Iddi), the name of five Israelites
נְבָא: {to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse) to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)}
עַל: {above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications}
יְהוּדָאִי: a Jehudaite (or Judaite), i.e. Jew
דִּי: that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of
יְהוּד: properly, Judah, hence, Judaea
יְרוּשָׁלֵם: {Jerusalem}
Cross References
Ezra 5Documents Haggai's prophecies which stirred up the people to resume building after a long suspension.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Zechariah the son of Iddo joins Haggai in prophesying to catalyze the rebuilding of the temple.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Zerubbabel and Jeshua respond directly to the prophets by starting to build the house.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Later summary of how they builded and finished through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah.
Supported by JFB
Detailed inventory of the gold and silver vessels originally restored by Cyrus to Sheshbazzar.
Supported by JFB
Parallels 'the eye of their God was upon them' with the Lord's eye on those fearing Him.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Explains how provoking God's wrath led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The historical record of the original decree of Cyrus to rebuild the temple.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The actual text of Cyrus's decree discovered later during the search in the archives.
Supported by JFB
The fulfillment of the search request in Darius's treasure house at Babylon.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the Apharsachites, contrasting Tatnai's inquiry with Rehum's earlier malicious opposition.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Prophetic promise that Zerubbabel's hands laid the foundation and his hands would finish it.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel confession of being 'servants of the God of heaven' to gentile authorities.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms Nebuchadnezzar carrying off the sacred temple vessels to Babylon.
Supported by Matthew Poole