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Ezra 5

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Prophets Encourage Temple Rebuilding 1–2

1
Now 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 prophesied they unto them. ​
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. ​

Persian Officials Challenge the Work 3–5

3
At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall? ​
4
Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were that were making this building.
5
But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, till the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it. ​

Tatnai's Report to King Darius 6–17

6
The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent unto Darius the king; ​
7
they sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, all peace.
8
Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goeth on with diligence and prospereth in their hands. ​
9
Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?
10
We asked them their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were at the head of them.
11
And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished. ​
12
But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. ​
13
But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God. ​
14
And the gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; ​
15
and he said unto him, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in its place.
16
Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not completed. ​
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. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Ezra 5

Verse 1

Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo — The work had 'ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius' (Ezra 4:24). Haggai's word came in that year, in the sixth month (Hag 1:1), and Zechariah's in the eighth (Zech 1:1). 'Prophesied' is Aramaic neba, to speak by inspiration, here 'in the name of the God of Israel'.

Verse 2

Zerubbabel… and Jeshua — Jeshua the son of Jozadak is the 'Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest' of Hag 1:1. Haggai records that the LORD 'stirred up the spirit' of both men and the people (Hag 1:14). The prophets 'helping them' (se'ad, to aid) are those through whose prophesying the elders 'prospered' (Ezra 6:14).

Verse 3

Tatnai, governor on this side the river — Pechah is the title of a governor; 'this side the river' is the Aramaic abar nahara, which Ezra 6:6 renders 'beyond the river'. The question 'Who hath commanded you to build this house?' is put again to the elders in v.9, and their answer fills vv.11–16.

Verse 5

the eye of their God — Ayin, eye: 'Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him' (Ps 33:18). 'Cause them to cease' is betel, the verb that stopped the work in Ezra 4:24, when the Jews were made to cease 'by force and power' (4:23). Now the officials could not hinder them until the matter reached Darius.

Verse 6

the copy of the letter — The letter itself is reported in Aramaic, the language of the Persian officials' correspondence, as the earlier exchange with Artaxerxes was (Ezra 4:11–16). It is a report of what Tatnai and Shetharboznai found, sent to the king, with a request that he search his records (v.17). Darius's reply follows in Ezra 6:6–12.

Verse 8

great stones, and timber — Gelal, 'great', is used of stones only here and in Ezra 6:4, where the decree prescribes 'three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber'. 'Fast' (in 'goeth fast on') is osparna, speedily, and 'prospereth' is tselach, used again in Ezra 6:14 of the elders who 'prospered through the prophesying of Haggai'.

Verse 11

servants of the God of heaven and earth — 'God of heaven' is the title Cyrus used in his decree (Ezra 1:2). The elders add 'and earth' and claim a house 'builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up', that is, Solomon, of whom it is written 'So Solomon built the house, and finished it' (1 Kgs 6:14).

Verse 12

provoked the God of heaven unto wrath — The Aramaic regaz, 'provoked… unto wrath', is a single word, found only here. The elders do not blame Babylon: God 'gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar', as 2 Chr 36:16–17 records, 'until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people… he gave them all into his hand.'

Verse 13

the first year of Cyrus — The decree is told in Ezra 1:1–4, where the LORD 'stirred up the spirit of Cyrus' to fulfil the word spoken by Jeremiah. Here Cyrus is 'the king of Babylon', the throne he had taken; in Ezra 1:1 he is 'king of Persia'. The text of the decree was found later in the palace at Achmetha (Ezra 6:2–5).

Verse 14

Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor — The vessels were numbered to Sheshbazzar 'the prince of Judah' (Ezra 1:7–8); Nebuchadnezzar had carried them off (2 Chr 36:18). Pechah, 'governor', is the same word used of Tatnai in v.3, and Judah too had a governor appointed by the king whose authority the officials were questioning.

Verse 16

laid the foundation — The foundation is described in Ezra 3:8–11, in the days of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and Zechariah says Zerubbabel's 'hands… have laid the foundation of this house' (Zech 4:9). The officials name Sheshbazzar, the governor Cyrus had commissioned (v.14). 'Not finished' ends at Ezra 6:15, in Darius's sixth year.

Verse 17

search made in the king's treasure house — The officials ask for nothing against the Jews, only that the king search the records at Babylon and send word. Darius did so: 'search was made in the house of the rolls… in Babylon' (Ezra 6:1), and the roll with Cyrus's decree turned up at Achmetha, in the province of the Medes (6:2).