Ezra5
New Living Translation
1At that time the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.
2Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jehozadak responded by starting again to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them and helped them.
3But Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues soon arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?”
4They also asked for the names of all the men working on the Temple.
5But because their God was watching over them, the leaders of the Jews were not prevented from building until a report was sent to Darius and he returned his decision.
6This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor, Shethar-bozenai, and the other officials of the province west of the Euphrates River sent to King Darius:
7“To King Darius. Greetings.
8“The king should know that we went to the construction site of the Temple of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being rebuilt with specially prepared stones, and timber is being laid in its walls. The work is going forward with great energy and success.
9“We asked the leaders, ‘Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?’
10And we demanded their names so that we could tell you who the leaders were.
11“This was their answer: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the Temple that was built here many years ago by a great king of Israel.
12But because our ancestors angered the God of heaven, he abandoned them to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who destroyed this Temple and exiled the people to Babylonia.
13However, King Cyrus of Babylon, during the first year of his reign, issued a decree that the Temple of God should be rebuilt.
14King Cyrus returned the gold and silver cups that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple of God in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of Babylon. These cups were taken from that temple and presented to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom King Cyrus appointed as governor of Judah.
15The king instructed him to return the cups to their place in Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple of God there on its original site.
16So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the Temple of God in Jerusalem. The people have been working on it ever since, though it is not yet completed.’
17“Therefore, if it pleases the king, we request that a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to discover whether King Cyrus ever issued a decree to rebuild God’s Temple in Jerusalem. And 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