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22 KiB
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493 lines
22 KiB
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Ezra, Chapter V].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
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</HEAD>
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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</h3>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC15004.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC15006.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E Z R A</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. V.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We left the temple-work at a full stop; but, being God's work, it shall
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be revived, and here we have an account of the reviving of it. It was
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hindered by might and power, but it was set a-going again "by the
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Spirit of the Lord of hosts." Now here we are told how that blessed
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Spirit,
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I. Warmed its cool-hearted friends and excited them to built,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. Cooled its hot-headed enemies, and brought them to better tempers;
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for, though they secretly disliked the work as much as those in the
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foregoing chapter, yet,
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1. They were more mild towards the builders,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:3-5">ver. 3-5</A>.
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2. They were more fair in their representation of the matter to the
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king, of which we have here an account,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:6-17">
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ver. 6-17</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Jews Encouraged by Their Prophets.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 520.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son
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of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that <I>were</I> in Judah and
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Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, <I>even</I> unto them.
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2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the
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son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which <I>is</I> at
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Jerusalem: and with them <I>were</I> the prophets of God helping them.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Some reckon that the building of the temple was suspended for only nine
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years; I am willing to believe that fifteen years were the utmost.
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During this time they had an altar and a tabernacle, which no doubt
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they made use of. When we cannot do what we would we must do what we
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can in the service of God, and be sorry we can do no better. But the
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counsellors that were hired to hinder the work
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:5"><I>ch.</I> iv. 5</A>)
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told them, and perhaps with a pretence to inspiration, that the time
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had not come for the building of the temple
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hag+1:2">Hag. i. 2</A>),
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urging that it was long ere the time came for the building of Solomon's
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temple; and thus the people were made easy in their own <I>ceiled
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houses,</I> while <I>God's house lay waste.</I> Now here we are told
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how life was put into that good cause which seemed to lie dead.</P>
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<P>
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I. They had two good ministers, who, in God's name, earnestly persuaded
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them to put the wheel of business in motion again. Observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. Who these ministers were, namely, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah,
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who both began to prophesy in the second year of Darius, as appears,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hag+1:1,Zec+1:1">Hag. i. 1; Zech. i. 1</A>.
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Note,
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(1.) The temple of God among men is to be built by prophecy, not by
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secular force (that often hinders it, but seldom furthers it), but by
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<I>the word of God.</I> As the <I>weapons of our warfare,</I> so the
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instruments of our building, <I>are not carnal,</I> but
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<I>spiritual,</I> and they are the ministers of the gospel that are the
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master-builders.
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(2.) It is the business of God's prophets to stir up God's people to
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that which is good, and to help them in it, to strengthen their hands,
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and, by suitable considerations fetched from the word of God, to
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quicken them to their duty and encourage them in it.
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(3.) It is a sign that God has mercy in store for a people when he
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raises up prophets among them to be their helpers in the way and work
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of God, their guides, overseers, and rulers.</P>
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<P>
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2. To whom they were sent. They prophesied unto the <I>Jews</I> (for,
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as to them pertained the giving of the law, so also the gift of
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prophecy, and therefore they are called <I>the children of the
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prophets,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+3:25">Acts iii. 25</A>,
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because they were educated under their tuition and instruction),
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<I>even unto them, upon them,</I> even <I>upon them</I> (so it is in
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the original), as Ezekiel prophesied <I>upon the dry bones,</I> that
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they might live,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+37:4">Ezek. xxxvii. 4</A>.
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They prophesied <I>against</I> them (so bishop Patrick), for they
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reproved them because they did not build the temple. The word of God,
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if it be not received now as a testimony to us, will be received now as
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a testimony to us, will be received another day as a testimony against
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us, and will judge us.</P>
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<P>
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3. Who sent them. They prophesied in the name, or (as some read it)
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<I>in the cause,</I> or for the sake, <I>of the God of Israel;</I> they
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spoke by commission from him, and argued from his authority over them,
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his interest in them, and the concern of his glory among them.</P>
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<P>
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II. They had two good magistrates, who were forward and active in this
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work. Zerubbabel their chief prince, and Jeshua their chief priest,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Those that are in places of dignity and power ought with their dignity
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to put honour upon and with their power to put life into every good
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work: thus it becomes those that preceded, and those that preside, with
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an exemplary care and zeal to <I>fulfil all righteousness</I> and to
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<I>go before in a good work.</I> These great men thought it no
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disparagement to them, but a happiness, to be taught and prescribed to
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by the prophets of the Lord, and were glad of their help in reviving
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this good work. Read the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:1,2,Hag+1:1-15">first chapter of the prophecy of Haggai</A>
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here (for that is the best comment on these two verses) and see what
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great things God does by his word, which he magnifies above all his
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name, and by his Spirit working with it.</P>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr5_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Case Represented to Darius.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 519.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side
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the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus
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unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to
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make up this wall?
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4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names
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of the men that make this building?
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5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews,
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that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to
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Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this
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<I>matter.</I>
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6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the
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river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites,
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which <I>were</I> on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
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7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto
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Darius the king, all peace.
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8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of
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Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great
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stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast
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on, and prospereth in their hands.
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9 Then asked we those elders, <I>and</I> said unto them thus, Who
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commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
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10 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might
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write the names of the men that <I>were</I> the chief of them.
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11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the
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servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that
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was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel
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builded and set up.
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12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven
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unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king
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of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried
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the people away into Babylon.
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13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon <I>the
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same</I> king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
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14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God,
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which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that <I>was</I> in
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Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did
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Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were
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delivered unto <I>one,</I> whose name <I>was</I> Sheshbazzar, whom he had
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made governor;
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15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into
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the temple that <I>is</I> in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be
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builded in his place.
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16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, <I>and</I> laid the foundation of
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the house of God which <I>is</I> in Jerusalem: and since that time
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even until now hath it been in building, and <I>yet</I> it is not
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finished.
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17 Now therefore, if <I>it seem</I> good to the king, let there be
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search made in the king's treasure house, which <I>is</I> there at
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Babylon, whether it be <I>so,</I> that a decree was made of Cyrus the
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king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king
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send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here,
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I. The cognizance which their neighbours soon took of the reviving of
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this good work. A jealous eye, it seems, they had upon them, and no
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sooner did the Spirit of God stir up the friends of the temple to
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appear for it than the evil spirit stirred up its enemies to appear
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against it. While the people built and ceiled their own houses their
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enemies gave them no molestation
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hag+1:4">Hag. i. 4</A>),
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though the king's order was to put a stop to the building of the city
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:21"><I>ch.</I> iv. 21</A>);
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but when they fell to work again at the temple then the alarm was
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taken, and all heads were at work to hinder them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
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The adversaries are here named: <I>Tatnai</I> and
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<I>Shethar-boznai.</I> The governors we read of
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:1-24"><I>ch.</I> iv.</A>)
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were, it is probable, displaced at the beginning of this reign, as is
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usual. It is the policy of princes often to change their deputies,
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proconsuls, and rulers of provinces. These, though real enemies to the
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building of the temple, were men of better temper than the other, and
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made some conscience of telling truth. If <I>all men have not faith</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+3:2">2 Thess. iii. 2</A>),
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it is well some have, and a sense of honour. The church's enemies are
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not all equally wicked and unreasonable. The historian begins to relate
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what passed between the builders and those inquisitors
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>),
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but breaks off his account, and refers to the ensuing copy of the
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letter they sent to the king, where the same appears more fully and at
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large, which he began to abridge
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
|
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|
||
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or make an extract out of, though, upon second thoughts, he inserted
|
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the whole.</P>
|
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<P>
|
||
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II. The care which the divine Providence took of this good work
|
||
|
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|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
|
||
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|
||
|
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<I>The eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews,</I> who were
|
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|
|
active in the work, so that their enemies could not cause them to
|
||
|
|
cease, as they would have done, till the matter came to Darius. They
|
||
|
|
desired they would only cease till they had instructions from the king
|
||
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about it. But they would not so much as yield them that, for <I>the eye
|
||
|
|
of God was upon them,</I> even their God. And,
|
||
|
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||
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|
1. That baffled their enemies, infatuated and enfeebled them, and
|
||
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|
protected the builders from their malicious designs. While we are
|
||
|
|
employed in God's work we are taken under his special protection; his
|
||
|
|
eye is upon us for good, seven eyes upon one stone in his temple; see
|
||
|
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|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+3:9,4:10">Zech. iii. 9; iv. 10</A>.
|
||
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||
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2. That quickened them. The elders of the Jews saw <I>the eye of God
|
||
|
|
upon them,</I> to observe what they did and own them in what they did
|
||
|
|
well, and then they had courage enough to face their enemies and to go
|
||
|
|
on vigorously with their work, notwithstanding all the opposition they
|
||
|
|
met with. Our eye upon God, observing his eye upon us, will keep us to
|
||
|
|
our duty and encourage us in it when the difficulties are ever so
|
||
|
|
discouraging.</P>
|
||
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|
||
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<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. The account they sent to the king of this matter, in which we may
|
||
|
|
observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. How fully the elders of the Jews gave the Samaritans an account of
|
||
|
|
their proceedings. They, finding them both busy and prosperous, that
|
||
|
|
all hands were at work to run up this building and that it went on
|
||
|
|
rapidly, put these questions to them:--"By what authority do you do
|
||
|
|
these things, and who gave you that authority? Who set you to work?
|
||
|
|
Have you that which will bear you out?" To this they answered that they
|
||
|
|
had sufficient warrant to do what they did; for,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) "<I>We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.</I> The
|
||
|
|
God we worship is not a local deity, and therefore we cannot be charged
|
||
|
|
with making a faction, or setting up a sect, in building this temple to
|
||
|
|
his honour: but we pay our homage to a God on whom the whole creation
|
||
|
|
depends, and therefore ought to be protected and assisted by all and
|
||
|
|
hindered by none." It is the wisdom as well as duty of kings to
|
||
|
|
countenance the servants of the <I>God of heaven.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) "We have a prescription to this house; it was built for the honour
|
||
|
|
of our God by Solomon many ages ago. It is no novel invention of our
|
||
|
|
own; we are but <I>raising the foundations of many generations,</I>"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+58:12">Isa. lviii. 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) "It was to punish us for our sins that we were, for a time, put
|
||
|
|
out of the possession of this house; not because the gods of the
|
||
|
|
nations had prevailed against our God, but because we had provoked him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
for which he delivered us and our temple into the hands of the king of
|
||
|
|
Babylon, but never intended thereby to put a final period to our
|
||
|
|
religion. We were only suspended for a time, not deprived for ever."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) "We have the royal decree of Cyrus to justify us and bear us out
|
||
|
|
in what we do. He not only permitted and allowed us, but charged and
|
||
|
|
commanded us to build this house
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and to build it in its place
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
the same place where it had stood before." He ordered this, not only in
|
||
|
|
compassion to the Jews, but in veneration of their God, saying, <I>He
|
||
|
|
is the God.</I> He also delivered the vessels of the temple to one whom
|
||
|
|
he entrusted to see them restored to their ancient place and use,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And they had these to show in confirmation of what they alleged.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(5.) "The building was begun according to this order as soon as ever we
|
||
|
|
had returned, so that we have not forfeited the benefit of the order
|
||
|
|
for want of pursuing it in time; still it has been in building, but,
|
||
|
|
because we have met with opposition, it is not finished." But, observe,
|
||
|
|
they mention not the falsehood and malice of the former governors, nor
|
||
|
|
make any complaint of them, though they had cause enough, to teach us
|
||
|
|
not to render bitterness for bitterness, nor the most just reproach for
|
||
|
|
that which is most unjust, but to think it enough if we can obtain fair
|
||
|
|
treatment for the future, without an invidious reference to former
|
||
|
|
injuries,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This is the account they give of their proceedings, not asking what
|
||
|
|
authority they had to examine them, nor upbraiding them with their
|
||
|
|
idolatry, and superstitions, and medley religion. Let us learn hence
|
||
|
|
with meekness and fear to <I>give a reason of the hope that is in
|
||
|
|
us</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+3:15">1 Pet. iii. 15</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
rightly to understand, and then readily to declare, what we do in God's
|
||
|
|
service and why we do it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. How fairly the Samaritans represented this to the king.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) They called the temple at Jerusalem the <I>house of the great
|
||
|
|
God</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
for though the Samaritans, as it should seem, had yet gods many and
|
||
|
|
lords many, they owned the God of Israel to be the <I>great God,</I>
|
||
|
|
who is above all gods. "It is the house of the <I>great God,</I> and
|
||
|
|
therefore we dare not oppose the building of it without orders from
|
||
|
|
thee."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) They told him truly what was done, not stating, as their
|
||
|
|
predecessors did, that they were fortifying the city as if they
|
||
|
|
intended war, but only that they were rearing the temple as those that
|
||
|
|
intended worship,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) They fully represented their plea, told him what they had to say
|
||
|
|
for themselves, and were willing that the cause should be set in a true
|
||
|
|
light.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) They left it to the king to consult the records whether Cyrus had
|
||
|
|
indeed made such a decree, and then to give directions as he should
|
||
|
|
think fit,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+5:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have reason to think that if Artaxerxes, in the foregoing chapter,
|
||
|
|
had had the Jews' cause as fairly represented to him as it was here to
|
||
|
|
Darius, he would not have ordered the work to be hindered. God's people
|
||
|
|
could not be persecuted if they were not belied, could not be baited if
|
||
|
|
they were not dressed up in bears' skins. Let but the cause of God and
|
||
|
|
truth be fairly stated, and fairly heard, and it will keep its
|
||
|
|
ground.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC15006.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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