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Ezra Chapter
Five
Ezra 5
Chapter Contents
The leaders forward the building of the temple. (1,2)
letter against the Jews. (3-17)
Commentary on Ezra 5:1,2
(Read Ezra 5:1,2)
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.
Commentary on Ezra 5:3-17
(Read Ezra 5:3-17)
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.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Ezra》
Ezra 5
Verse 1
[1] Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the
son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the
name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
The son — His grand-child; for he was the son of Baraciah.
Prophesied — Commanding them from God to
return to building the temple, with a promise of his favour and assistance.
Verse 2
[2] Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua
the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem:
and with them were the prophets of God helping them.
Helping — Encouraging the people to work by their presence, and
assurance of success. It is supposed, the work had stopt about fifteen years.
The first chapter of Haggai is the best comment on these two verses.
Verse 3
[3] At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this
side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto
them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
Shethar-boznai — Not Rehum and Shimshai, etc. who
were either dead, or removed from their office by Darius.
Verse 4
[4] Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the
names of the men that make this building?
We — Jews.
Accordingly — According to what they asked.
That made this building — That were the
undertakers and encouragers of it.
Verse 8
[8] Be it known unto the king, that we went into the
province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great
stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and
prospereth in their hands.
Great God — And indeed, thus far the greater
part of the Samaritans agreed with them.
Verse 17
[17] Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be
search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it
be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at
Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
Now therefore. … — If the case had been
so fairly stated to Artaxerxes, he would hardly have hindered the work. The
people of God could not be persecuted, if they were not belied.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Ezra》
05 Chapter 5
Verse 1
Then the prophets, Haggai.
The great work resumed
The best commentary on these verses is the first chapter of
Haggai.
I. The inciters to
the west.
1. Want of interest in the work is implied.
2. Obligation to perform the work is implied.
3. Exhortations to resume the work were given.
II. The leaders in
the work. “Then rose up Zerubbabel,” etc.
1. They resumed the work readily.
2. They led the work appropriately. “Those that are in places of
dignity and power, ought with their dignity to put honour upon and with their
power to put life into every good work.”
3. They led work influentially. The example of those who occupy high
stations is--
III. The helpers in
the work. “The prophets.” They assisted by their--
1. Exhortations to vigorous prosecution of the work.
2. Assurances of the presence
of God with them.
3. Promises of future blessings from God to them.
IV. The great first
cause of the work. “ The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel,” etc. “All
holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed” from Him. “I
will build My Church,” said our Lord to Peter. All the inspiration, wisdom,
etc., of the under-builders come from him. Learn--
1. The insidious nature of worldliness.
2. The value of faithful ministers.
3. The solemn obligation of men in eminent stations. (William
Jones.)
Hebrew prophets in unfavourable times
The Hebrew prophets came when the circumstances of society were
least favourable. Like painters arising to adorn a dingy city, like poets
singing of summer in the winter of discontent, like flowers in the wilderness,
like wells in the desert, they brought life and strength and gladness to the
helpless and despondent, because they came from God. The literary form of their
work reflected the civilisation of their day, but there was on it a light that
never shone on sea or shore, and this they knew to be the light of God. We
never find a true religious revival springing from the spirit of the age. Such
a revival always begins in one or two choice souls--in a Moses, a Samuel, a
John the Baptist, a St. Bernard, a Jonathan-Edwards, a Wesley, a Newman. (W.
F. Adeney, M. A.)
Verse 1-2
Verse 1
Then the prophets, Haggai.
The great work resumed
The best commentary on these verses is the first chapter of
Haggai.
I. The inciters to
the west.
1. Want of interest in the work is implied.
2. Obligation to perform the work is implied.
3. Exhortations to resume the work were given.
II. The leaders in
the work. “Then rose up Zerubbabel,” etc.
1. They resumed the work readily.
2. They led the work appropriately. “Those that are in places of
dignity and power, ought with their dignity to put honour upon and with their
power to put life into every good work.”
3. They led work influentially. The example of those who occupy high
stations is--
III. The helpers in
the work. “The prophets.” They assisted by their--
1. Exhortations to vigorous prosecution of the work.
2. Assurances of the presence
of God with them.
3. Promises of future blessings from God to them.
IV. The great first
cause of the work. “ The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel,” etc. “All
holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed” from Him. “I
will build My Church,” said our Lord to Peter. All the inspiration, wisdom,
etc., of the under-builders come from him. Learn--
1. The insidious nature of worldliness.
2. The value of faithful ministers.
3. The solemn obligation of men in eminent stations. (William
Jones.)
Hebrew prophets in unfavourable times
The Hebrew prophets came when the circumstances of society were least
favourable. Like painters arising to adorn a dingy city, like poets singing of
summer in the winter of discontent, like flowers in the wilderness, like wells
in the desert, they brought life and strength and gladness to the helpless and
despondent, because they came from God. The literary form of their work
reflected the civilisation of their day, but there was on it a light that never
shone on sea or shore, and this they knew to be the light of God. We never find
a true religious revival springing from the spirit of the age. Such a revival
always begins in one or two choice souls--in a Moses, a Samuel, a John the
Baptist, a St. Bernard, a Jonathan-Edwards, a Wesley, a Newman. (W. F.
Adeney, M. A.)
Verses 3-17
Verses 3-5
At the same time came to them Tatntia.
The great work investigated and continued
The sacred work investigated by the secular authorities.
1. The nature of the investigation.
2. The spirit of the investigation.
The eye of
the world is upon the work of the Church to-day. Let the members see to it that
it shall be apparent to all unprejudiced persons that their work tends to
promote truth and righteousness, purity and peace, piety and patriotism.
II. The sacred wore
carried on through the divine blessing, “But the eye of their God was upon the
elders of the Jews,” etc. This suggests--
1. The Divine interest in the work.
2. The Divine oversight of the work.
3. The Divine inspiration of the workers.
4. The Divine protection of the workers. (William Jones.)
Verses 6-17
The copy of the letter that Tatnai.
The letter of the king concerning the work
This letter has three chief divisions.
I. The inquisition
of the Persian authorities.
II. The reply of
the Jewish leaders. It presents the following aspects of the work. That it
was--
1. Not a mere human enterprise, but a Divine commission.
2. Not an innovation, but a restoration.
3. Not in a spirit of presumption and pride, but of obedience and
humility.
4. Not in opposition to, but in conformity with, royal authority.
5. Not political, but religious in its character.
III. The appeal of
the Persian authorities to the king. Conclusion: Two things we may well admire and imitate.
1. The fairness of the Persian officials.
2. The faithfulness of the Jewish leaders. (William Jones.)
We are the servants of the
God of heaven and earth.
The supremacy of God
Consider:
I. The universal
supremacy of God.
1. Its ground.
2. Its extent.
II. The great
obligation of men to obey Him. Our obedience should be--
1. Complete.
2. Perpetual.
3. Hearty.
4. Joyous.
III. The exalted
privilege of men. When the service of God is rightly estimated, it is regarded
as a glory and rejoiced in as a privilege. (William Jones.)
But after that our fathers
had provoked the God of heaven.--
Arguments against sinning
In this verse we have three weighty reasons against abstaining
from sin.
I. It provokes
god. This will be more impressively realised if we reflect that He is a being
of--
1. Infinite purity.
2. Infinite patience.
II. It deprives the
sinner of his protection.
III. It strips the
sinner of power to battle with his foes. Guilt robs a man of courage. The
consciousness of right action in a righteous cause is the mightiest inspiration
in conflict and the surest defence in peril. (William Jones.)
.
Verse 9
Then the prophets, Haggai.
The great work resumed
The best commentary on these verses is the first chapter of
Haggai.
I. The inciters to
the west.
1. Want of interest in the work is implied.
2. Obligation to perform the work is implied.
3. Exhortations to resume the work were given.
II. The leaders in
the work. “Then rose up Zerubbabel,” etc.
1. They resumed the work readily.
2. They led the work appropriately. “Those that are in places of
dignity and power, ought with their dignity to put honour upon and with their
power to put life into every good work.”
3. They led work influentially. The example of those who occupy high
stations is--
III. The helpers in
the work. “The prophets.” They assisted by their--
1. Exhortations to vigorous prosecution of the work.
2. Assurances of the presence
of God with them.
3. Promises of future blessings from God to them.
IV. The great first
cause of the work. “ The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel,” etc. “All
holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed” from Him. “I
will build My Church,” said our Lord to Peter. All the inspiration, wisdom,
etc., of the under-builders come from him. Learn--
1. The insidious nature of worldliness.
2. The value of faithful ministers.
3. The solemn obligation of men in eminent stations. (William
Jones.)
Hebrew prophets in unfavourable times
The Hebrew prophets came when the circumstances of society were
least favourable. Like painters arising to adorn a dingy city, like poets
singing of summer in the winter of discontent, like flowers in the wilderness,
like wells in the desert, they brought life and strength and gladness to the
helpless and despondent, because they came from God. The literary form of their
work reflected the civilisation of their day, but there was on it a light that
never shone on sea or shore, and this they knew to be the light of God. We
never find a true religious revival springing from the spirit of the age. Such
a revival always begins in one or two choice souls--in a Moses, a Samuel, a
John the Baptist, a St. Bernard, a Jonathan-Edwards, a Wesley, a Newman. (W.
F. Adeney, M. A.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》