Ezra 6
PATVcr. 1. JL HEN Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, tvltere the treasures were laid np in Babylon. In the house where the records of the kingdom were kept; but by what follows, it appears that in Babylon they found nothing. [.CHAP. VII. were carried captivo by Shalmaneser, yet many of them remained in their country, and were carried away by Nebuchadnezzar, together with Judah and Benjamin, with whom they returned out of Babylon, as many others of the ten tribes did,, who were carried away at the taking of Samaria. (See chap. ii. of tliis book, vcr. 70. 2 Chron. xxxi. 5. 10, 11. xxxiv. 7. 9. xxxv. 3. 17. Ezra viii. 35. Acts xxvi. 7.) Vcr. 18. And they set the priests in their divisio7is, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God ivhick is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.] Where directions are given for their service, Numb. iii. G. viii.
Ezra 6:2
And there teas found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written. . They searched therefore at Achmetha, which was afterward called Ecbatana, where the kings of Persia sometimes kept their courts: and there was found a volume concerning the affairs of Judca, wherein was the following Tecord. This argued a great goodness in, Darius, that he did not presently decree against them, because nothing that they alleged was found in Babylon; but caused a search to be made in another place, where he knew records were preserved.
Ezra 6:3
In the first year of Cyrus the king. This, perhaps, was the inscription of the following memorial. TJie same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits.] Or rather, the length thereof, as these last words maybe translated. They had liberty to make it of these dimensions if they pleased, but no bigger: and these exceeded the proportions of Solomon’s temple, if we suppose it to have been thirty cubits in height, except the porch, which was a hundred dnd twenty. But I have shewn elsewhere, that it is probable all the temple of Solomon was in length a hundred and twenty cubits, and this house was but half so high. This Josephus saith, who saw this second temple, (lib. xv. Archseolog. cap. 14.)‘EvSa §’ avr$ 7rpoc rb fxiyeOog uq ityoc HZi’iKovra 7n’/x«Cj &c. It wanted (speaking of this temple) to make it great, sixty cubits in height; for so much higher teas the first temple which Solomon built. Vcr. 4. With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber; and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.] He ordered it to be built at his own charge, for so he saith God commanded him, (chap. i. 2.) " God hath charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem." Yet we do not find that the Jews made use of his bounty, as Pellicanus observes, because they would not provoke too much the envy of the Samaritans, who were angry at his kindness to them. And therefore they carried on the work at their own cost, till Darius now commanded they should have what they desired out of his revenue, to finish what they had begun.
Ezra 6:5
And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth oatof the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.] Thus far the decree of Cyrus is recited, which justified the truth of all the allegations of the Jews in the foregoing chapter. Now follows the decree of Darius thereupon. Ver. G. Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river.] It is most likely that he set down in his letter to these men, the 1 forementioned decree of Cyrus, as it was found in the records, and then gave the following command. Be ye far from thence.] Come not near Jerusalem to give them any hindcrancc or disturbance.
Ezra 6:7
Let the’ work of this house of God alone. Obstruct not the work, but rather further it. Let the governor of the Jews, and the elders of the Jews, build this house of God in his place:] In the place where it stood before. Zerubbabcl is constantly called the’ governor of the Jews, never their king, (Hag. i. 1. 14. ii. 2. 21.) and so some of his successors, (Mai. i. 9.) For in Babylon, as Josephus relates, he was aw/iaTo^uXag, a keeper of the king’s body, and riov alxjiaXurrcjv’IouSafwv tjycjuwv, the captain of the captive Jews; who in one word was called A-)(p.akb)Tapx a * Therefore he was appointed by Cyrus, and afterward by Darius, to govern the province of Judea in the king’s name, and at his charge to see the temple built at Jerusalem. But learned men give no credit to what Josephus says of his great office in Babylon.
Ezra 6:8
Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews. Whose names they had given in to him, (chap. v. 10.) For the building of this house of God.] As he had ordered they should not be hindered, so he made a further order that they should give them assistance in what they were about. That of the king’s goods, even of the tribute bey ond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.] That the work might not stop for want of money to go forward, which he ordered to be paid them without delay.’
Ezra 6:9
And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt-offerings of the God of heaven. So he had learned to call the God of Israel, after the example of Cyrus, who acknowledges God had made him so great, as he had Darius. »’ Wlieat, salt, wine, and oil.] For meat-offerings to attend upon the burnt-offerings. According to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem.] This was a great honour done to God s ministers, who might have whatsoever they desired for his service. Let it be given them day by day without fail.] That the morning and evening burnt-sacrifices might never fail to bo offered every day.
Ezra 6:10
That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. From this place principally Mr. Mede proves at large, that sacrifices were a rite of supplication unto God; such ones, namely, whereby the supplicant came not with a naked petition, but presented something unto his God, whereby to find favour in his sight, and obtain his petition: whence we find Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, where they pitched their tents, to have built an altar also (which was a place for sacrifice), and there called upon the name of the Lord. And by this place it appears, that the sacrifices and oblations presented by gentiles were not refused by the Jews, when they desired their prayers to God for them. The Hebrew doctors indeed say, that all such sacrifices were eucharistical, not hilastical, that is, sacrifices of thanksgiving or acknowledgment to God (being burnt-offcrings)^not sacrifices of expiation, or sin-offerings. Microsoft ® CHAP. VI.] UPON EZRA. So Maimonides, in his treatise of sacrifices, “All the eucharistical sacrifices of the gentiles were burnt-offerings.” There is a memorable passage in Josephus (lib. ii. de Bello Judaico, cap. 31.) concerning Eleazar the priest, who, being admonished to admit the sacrifices and oblations of the gentiles, acknowledged that their ancestors adorned the temple with gifts offered by the gentiles, always accepting twv i%cj%tv iSvCov Sopeac ml Sfvaiag, the gifts and sacrifices of external nations. TJie king and his sons.’] Here it must be noted, that Darius the First had no sons, but Darius the Second had, viz. Artaxerxes Mnemon, and Cyrus the younger, who were great men, and reigned in some manner with him. Artaxerxes Mnemon (as Dr. Alix, makes account) was thirty-five years old in the second year of Darius; and Cyrus (who was slain in a battle against his brother) was a little younger. Ver. ]1. Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and, being set up, let him be hanged thereon.’] To make the decree more valid and better observed, he added this penalty; that if any acted contrary to it, a beam should be taken out of his own house, and, being set up, he should be hanged thereon. But Lud. de Dieu observes, that there is no construction in these words, which we render, being set up; therefore he would have them translated after the LXX. and standing, let him be beat upon it; whipped, as we say, at a post, as the manner was among the Persians and other nations. Only among the Jews they that were beaten did not stand, but lay. down, (Deut. xxv. 2.) But if a greater punishment be here meant, then he makes the first words refer to the wood, and the latter to the man, in this manner, and from above let it fall upon him. That is, the stake, being lifted up, shall be struck into his body, and come out at his fundament; which was a cruel punishment among the eastern people, and still continued there. And let his house be made a dunghill for this.] The pulling down of a beam from his house, supposes the pulling down of the house, which he orders should not be built again, but the place where it stood be made a dunghill. Thus the Romans pulled down the houses of very wicked men for their greater disgrace; of Sp. Cassius, for instance, and of Ovidius Pollio…
Ezra 6:12
And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there, destroy all kings and people that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God ichich is at Jerusalem. He was touched with such a sense of the greatness of the God of the Jews, that he prays, He who had all power in heaven and earth, would not only punish all those kings over whom he had no power (not being his subjects), who went about to obstruct this work, but de r stroy both them and their people. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.] He concludes as he began, that forthwith this decree should be executed, (ver. 8.)
Ezra 6:13
TJien Tatnai, governor on this side^ the river, Shetlvar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. They were as punctual in executing his decrees as he desired, and that without any delay.
Ezra 6:14
And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying ofHaggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son oflddo. Who directed and encouraged them in their work; representing to them> it is likely, the wonderful goodness of God, who had inclined the heart of the king of Persia to be so highly favourable to them.’. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the’ God of Israel, and according to. the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.] If this -Darius was he called Hystaspes, then it was Artaxerxes Longimanus his successor that is here meant; who, though he found the temple built, yet sent Ezra to beautify it, and to see things done there according to their law, (chap. vii. 12. 21. 27.) But some think him to be Artaxerxes Mnemon, who reigned with his father many years, and lived till he was ninety-four years old. (Plut.)
Ezra 6:15
And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.’) Now they did in four years more than they had done in many years before. For, partly by their own poverty, and partly by the corruption of the courtiers of Persia, who hindered the necessary supplies; and partly by the envy of the Samaritans, who retarded them by their false accusations, and by their interest in the governors of Syria; and. partly by the sluggishness of the Jews, and their inclination to mind their own private interest more than the public good, the work went on so slowly, that not, only the prophets reprehended them for it, but God punished them severely by scarcity.of provision, as we read in the prophet Haggai: but now, by the favour of this king, and by the zeal of God’s prophets, it went on apace, and was speedily finished.
Ezra 6:16
And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy. By the children of Israel are to be understood hot only the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin (who were the chief), but all those of other tribes, many of which, from the time of Cyrus to the second of Darius, were come to their own country, though we have not a particular account of their names. This appears from the next verse. All these, together with the priests and Levites, agreed to dedicate this house with festival joy. Thus the temple at first was dedicated, (1 Kings viii. 2. 2 Chron. vii. 4, &c.) That is, after it was built, being designed only for sacred uses, now they shewed, by an example, how it should be used, which is.the proper and simple sense of the word dedicate, as Selden explains it, (lib. iii. de Synedr. cap. 13. sect. 5.) But the Hebrew doctors observe, that by these sacrifices now offered, there was no new sanctity given to the place, but the old only restored.
Ezra 6:17
And offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs. A hecatomb was the noblest sacrifice among the heathen, of which we find often mention in their books; and with that the Jews began the dedication of the temple: to which they made many additional offerings, some of which were peace-offerings, on which they feasted,, as the hundred bullocks, I suppose, were whole burnt-offerings.* And for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.] For it appears by many places before recited, that though the ten tribes
Ezra 6:19
And the children of the captivity kept the Passover upon the fourteenth’ day of the first month. As was enjoined Exod. xii. G. The Jews had the free exercise of their religion in Babylon (as 1 shall observe more largely afterward), where thoy circumcised their children, and also made proselytes; but the children qf the captivity signified those who were come back from it, and ate the passOver, which they could not have done if they had not been circumcised.
Ezra 6:20
For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passoverfor all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.] They had time to purify themselves between the day wherein the temple was perfected, and the day wherein this feast was to be kept, there being above a month between.
Ezra 6:21
And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves nnto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel, did eat.] That is, all proselytes, who bad entirely made themselves subject to the law of Moses; for others might not eat of it, but they might, (Exod. xii. 48, 49.) Now, as Pellieanus observes, there were many proselytes who quite forsook their heathenish religion, and were brought to the knowledge and worship of the true God, by the favour of Cyrus and Darius, kings of Persia. They had kept the Passover before this, being in the place which God chose, and having an altar where they might sacrifice; but it was not a quiet and settled time, and they had much occasion to be among the heathen; and so, it is likely, could not easily purify themselves to eat of it, as they did now. Ver. 22/ And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the Lord had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel] God filled their hearts with joy, by turning tho heart of the king, who now reigned over all the kingdoms which were formerly under the power of the Assyrians, who had grievously oppressed them, as the Persians who came in their stead now highly favoured them; who having conquered Babylon, were called the kings of Assyria. For we find in these books, the king of Persia, after that conquest, is called by the name of the king of Babylon, (see Nehem. xiii. G.) as the same king of Persia is here called the king of Assyria: for the kings formerly callod by these names were possessed of vast dominions over many large provinces; which tho Persian kings enjoying, they retained the ancient For, as Joh. Vorstius obnames of the former kings serves, in his Dissert, de QuaUor Monarcluis, sect. 9. the kingdom of Babylon was not extinguished by little and little, but all at once: Cyrus possessed himself of it entirely, simul et semel; and, adding a vast dominion to the small one he had before, was called the king of those dominions which he conquered.