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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Ezra, Chapter VI].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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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. VI.</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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How solemnly the foundation of the temple was laid we read in
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+3:1-13"><I>ch.</I> iii.</A>
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How slowly the building went on, and with how much difficulty, we found
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in
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:1-5:17"><I>ch.</I> iv. and v.</A>
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But how gloriously the topstone was at length brought forth with
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shoutings we find in this chapter; and even we, at this distance of
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time, when we read of it, may cry, "Grace, grace to it." As for God,
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his work is perfect; it may be slow work, but it will be sure work. We
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have here,
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I. A recital of the decree of Cyrus for the building of the temple,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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II. The enforcing of that decree by a new order from Darius for the
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perfecting of that work,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:6-12">ver. 6-12</A>.
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III. The finishing of it thereupon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:13-15">ver. 13-15</A>.
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IV. The solemn dedication of it when it was built
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:16-18">ver. 16-18</A>),
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and the handselling of it (as I may say) with the celebration of the
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passover,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:19-22">ver. 19-22</A>.
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And now we may say that in Judah and Jerusalem things went well, very
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well.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_12"> </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 Favourable Decree of 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>1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in
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the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in
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Babylon.
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2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that <I>is</I> in
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the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein <I>was</I> a record
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thus written:
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3 In the first year of Cyrus the king <I>the same</I> Cyrus the king
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made a decree <I>concerning</I> the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the
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house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and
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let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof
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threescore cubits, <I>and</I> the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
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4 <I>With</I> three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber:
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and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:
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5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of
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God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which <I>is</I>
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at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought
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again unto the temple which <I>is</I> at Jerusalem, <I>every one</I> to his
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place, and place <I>them</I> in the house of God.
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6 Now <I>therefore,</I> Tatnai, governor beyond the river,
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Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which <I>are</I>
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beyond the river, be ye far from thence:
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7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of
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the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in
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his place.
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8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of
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these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the
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king's goods, <I>even</I> of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith
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expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.
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9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and
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rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven,
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wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the
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priests which <I>are</I> at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day
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without fail:
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10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God
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of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
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11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this
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word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up,
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let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill
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for this.
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12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy
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all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter <I>and</I>
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to destroy this house of God which <I>is</I> at Jerusalem. I Darius
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have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here,
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I. The decree of Cyrus for the building of the temple repeated. To this
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the Samaritans referred because the Jews pleaded it, and perhaps hoped
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it would not be found, and then their plea would be over-ruled and a
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stop put to their work. Search was ordered to be made for it among the
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records; for, it seems, the tribes had not taken care to provide
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themselves with an authentic copy of it, which might have stood them in
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good stead, but they must appeal to the original. It was looked for in
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Babylon
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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where Cyrus was when he signed it. But, when it was not found there,
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Darius did not make that a pretence to conclude that therefore there
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was no such decree, and thereupon to give judgment against the Jews;
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but it is probable, having himself heard that such a decree was
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certainly made, he ordered the rolls in other places to be searched,
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and at length it was found at Achmetha, in the province of the Medes,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Perhaps some that durst not destroy it, yet hid it there, out of ill
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will to the Jews, that they might lose the benefit of it. But
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Providence so ordered that it came to light; and it is here inserted,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:3-5"><I>v.</I> 3-5</A>.
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1. Here is a warrant for the building of the temple: <I>Let the house
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of God at Jerusalem,</I> yea, <I>let that house be built</I> (so it may
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be read), within such and such dimensions, and with such and such
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materials.
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2. A warrant for the taking of the expenses of the building out of the
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king's revenue,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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We do not find that they had received what was here ordered them, the
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face of things at court being soon changed.
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3. A warrant for the restoring of the vessels and utensils of the
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temple, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken away
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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with an order that the priests, the Lord's ministers, should return
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them all to their places in the house of God.</P>
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<P>
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II. The confirmation of it by a decree of Darius, grounded upon it and
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in pursuance of it.</P>
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<P>
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1. The decree of Darius is very explicit and satisfactory.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) He forbids his officers to do any thing in opposition to the
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building of the temple. The manner of expression intimates that he knew
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they had a mind to hinder it: <I>Be you far hence</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>);
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<I>let the work of this house of God alone,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Thus was the wrath of the enemy <I>made to praise God</I> and the
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remainder thereof did he restrain.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) He orders them out of his own revenue to assist the builders with
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money,
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[1.] For carrying on the building,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Herein he pursues the example of Cyrus,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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[2.] For maintaining the sacrifices there when it was built,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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He ordered that they should be supplied with every thing they wanted
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both for burnt-offerings and meat-offerings. He was content it should
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be a rent-charge upon his revenue, and ordered it to be paid every day,
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and this without fail, that they might offer sacrifices and prayers
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with them (for the patriarchs, when they offered sacrifice, <I>called
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on the name of the Lord,</I> so did Samuel, Elijah, and others) for the
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life (that is, the happiness and prosperity) of the king and his sons,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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See here how he gives honour, <I>First,</I> To Israel's God, whom he
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calls once and again the <I>God of heaven. Secondly,</I> To his
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ministers, in ordering his commissioners to give out supplies for the
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temple service at the appointment of the priests. Those that thought
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to control them must now be, in this matter, at their command. It was
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a new thing for God's priests to have such an interest in the public
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money. <I>Thirdly,</I> To prayer: <I>That they may pray for the life of
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the king.</I> He knew they were a praying people, and had heard that
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God was nigh to them in all that which they called upon him for. He
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was sensible he needed their prayers and might receive benefit by them,
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and was kind to them in order that he might have an interest in their
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prayers. It is the duty of God's people to pray for those that are in
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authority over them, not only for the good and gentle, but also for the
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forward; but they are particularly bound in gratitude to pray for their
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protectors and benefactors; and it is the wisdom of princes to desire
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their prayers, and to engage them. Let not the greatest princes despise
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the prayers of the meanest saints; it is desirable to have them for us,
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and dreadful to have them against us.</P>
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<P>
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(3.) He enforces his decree with a penalty
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
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"Let none either oppose the work and service of the temple or withhold
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the supports granted to it by the crown upon pain of death. If any
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alter this decree, let him be (<I>hanged before his own door</I> as we
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say), hanged upon a beam of his own house, and, as an execrable man,
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<I>let his house be made a dunghill.</I>"</P>
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<P>
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(4.) He entails a divine curse upon all those kings and people that
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should ever have any hand in the destruction of this house,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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What he would not do himself for the protection of the temple he
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desired that God, <I>to whom vengeance belongs,</I> would do. This
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bespeaks him zealous in the cause; and though this temple was, at
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length, most justly destroyed by the righteous hand of God, yet perhaps
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the Romans, who were the instruments of that destruction, felt the
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effects of this curse, for that empire sensibly declined ever
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after.</P>
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<P>
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2. From all this we learn,
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(1.) That the heart of kings is in the hand of God, and he turns it
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which way soever he pleases; what they are he makes them to be, for he
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is <I>King of kings.</I>
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(2.) That when God's time has come for the accomplishing of his
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gracious purposes concerning his church he will raise up instruments to
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promote them from whom such good service was not expected. <I>The earth
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sometimes helps the woman</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+12:16">Rev. xii. 16</A>),
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and those are made use of for the defence of religion who have little
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religion themselves.
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(3.) That what is intended for the prejudice of the church has often,
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by the overruling providence of God, been made serviceable to it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+1:12">Phil. i. 12</A>.
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The enemies of the Jews, in appealing to Darius, hoped to get an order
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to suppress them, but, instead of that, they got an order to supply
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them. Thus <I>out of the eater comes forth meat.</I> The apocryphal
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Esdras (or Ezra), <U>Book I. <I>ch.</I> iii. and iv.</U>, gives another
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account of this decree in favour of the Jews, that Darius had vowed
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that if ever he came to the kingdom he would build the temple at
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Jerusalem, and that Zerubbabel, who was one of his attendants (whereas
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it is plain here that he was now at Jerusalem), for making an ingenious
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discourse before him on that subject (<I>Great is the truth and will
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prevail</I>), was told to ask what recompence he would, and asked only
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for this order, in pursuance of the king's vow.</P>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ezr6_22"> </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>Completion of the Second Temple.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 516.</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>13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai,
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and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had
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sent, so they did speedily.
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14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered
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through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the
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son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished <I>it,</I> according to
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the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the
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commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
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15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month
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Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the
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king.
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16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites,
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and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the
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dedication of this house of God with joy,
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17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God an
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hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a
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sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the
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number of the tribes of Israel.
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18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites
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in their courses, for the service of God, which <I>is</I> at
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Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
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19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the
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fourteenth <I>day</I> of the first month.
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20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all
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of them <I>were</I> pure, and killed the passover for all the children
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of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for
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themselves.
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21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of
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captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them
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from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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God of Israel, did eat,
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22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy:
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for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the
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king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work
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of the house of God, the God of Israel.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we have,
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I. The Jews' enemies made their friends. When they received this order
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from the king they came with as much haste to encourage and assist the
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work as their predecessors had done to put a stop to it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+4:23"><I>ch.</I> iv. 23</A>.
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What the king ordered they did, and, because they would not be thought
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to do it with reluctance, they <I>did it speedily,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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The king's moderation made them, contrary to their own inclination,
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moderate too.</P>
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<P>
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II. The building of the temple carried on, and finished in a little
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time,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:14,15"><I>v.</I> 14, 15</A>.
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Now the <I>elders of the Jews built</I> with cheerfulness. For aught I
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know, the elders themselves laboured at it <I>with their own hands;</I>
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and, if they did, it was no disparagement to their eldership, but an
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encouragement to the other workmen.
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1. They found themselves bound to it <I>by the commandment of the God
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of Israel,</I> who had given them power that they might use it in his
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service.
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2. They found themselves shamed into it by the commandment of the
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heathen kings, Cyrus formerly, Darius now, and Artaxerxes some time
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after. Can the elders of the Jews be remiss in this good work when
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these foreign princes appear so warm in it? Shall native Israelites
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grudge their pains and care about this building when strangers grudge
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not to be at the expense of it?
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3. They found themselves encouraged in it by the prophesying of Haggai
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|
and Zechariah, who, it is likely, represented to them (as bishop
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|
Patrick suggests) the wonderful goodness of God in inclining the heart
|
|
of the king of Persia to favour them thus. And now the work went on so
|
|
prosperously that, in four hears' time, it was brought to perfection.
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|
<I>As for God, his work is perfect.</I> The gospel church, that
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|
spiritual temple, is long in the building, but it will be finished at
|
|
last, when the mystical body is completed. Every believer is a
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|
<I>living temple, building up himself in his most holy faith.</I> Much
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|
opposition is given to this work by Satan and our own corruptions. We
|
|
trifle, and proceed in it with many stops and pauses; but he that has
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|
<I>begun the good work</I> will see it performed, and will <I>bring
|
|
forth judgment unto victory. Spirits of just men</I> will be <I>made
|
|
perfect.</I></P>
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<P>
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III. The dedication of the temple. When it was built, being designed
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|
only for sacred uses, <I>they showed by an example how it should be
|
|
used,</I> which (says bishop Patrick) is the proper sense of the word
|
|
<I>dedicate.</I> They entered upon it with solemnity and probably with
|
|
a public declaration of the separating of it from common uses and the
|
|
surrender of it to the honour of God, to be employed in his worship.
|
|
|
|
1. The persons employed in this service were not only <I>the priests
|
|
and Levites</I> who officiated, but <I>the children of Israel,</I> some
|
|
of each of the <I>twelve tribes,</I> though Judah and Benjamin were the
|
|
chief, and <I>the rest of the children of the captivity</I> or
|
|
<I>transportation,</I> which intimates that there were many besides the
|
|
children of Israel, of other nations, who transported themselves with
|
|
them, and became proselytes to their religion, unless we read it,
|
|
<I>even the remnant of the children of the captivity,</I> and then, we
|
|
may suppose, notice is hereby taken of their mean and afflicted
|
|
condition, because the consideration of that helped to make them devout
|
|
and serious in this and other religious exercises. A sad change! The
|
|
<I>children of Israel</I> have become <I>children of the captivity,</I>
|
|
and there appears but a remnant of <I>them,</I> according to that
|
|
prediction
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+7:3">Isa. vii. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Shear-jashub--The remnant shall return.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. The sacrifices that were offered upon this occasion were
|
|
<I>bullocks, rams, and lambs</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
for burnt-offerings and peace-offerings; not to be compared, in number,
|
|
with what had been offered at the dedication of Solomon's temple, but,
|
|
being according to their present ability, they were accepted, for,
|
|
<I>after a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy, and
|
|
their deep poverty, abounded to the riches of their liberality,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+8:2">2 Cor. viii. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
These hundreds were more to them than Solomon's thousands were to him.
|
|
But, besides these, they offered twelve he-goats for sin-offerings, one
|
|
for every tribe, to make atonement for their sins, which they looked
|
|
upon as necessary in order to the acceptance of their services. Thus,
|
|
by getting iniquity taken away, they would free themselves from that
|
|
which had been the sting of their late troubles, and which, if not
|
|
removed, would be a worm at the root of their present comforts.
|
|
|
|
3. This service was performed with joy. They were all glad to see the
|
|
temple built and the concerns of it in so good a posture. Let us learn
|
|
to welcome holy ordinances with joy and attend on them with pleasure.
|
|
Let us serve the Lord with gladness. Whatever we dedicate to God, let
|
|
it be done with joy that he will please to accept of it.
|
|
|
|
4. When they dedicated the house they settled the household. Small
|
|
comfort could they have in the temple without the temple service, and
|
|
therefore they <I>set the priests in their divisions</I> and <I>the
|
|
Levites in their courses,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
Having set up the worship of God in this dedication, they took care to
|
|
keep it up, and made <I>the book of Moses</I> their rule, to which they
|
|
had an eye in this establishment. Though the temple service could not
|
|
now be performed with so much pomp and plenty as formerly, because of
|
|
their poverty, yet perhaps it was performed with as much purity and
|
|
close adherence to the divine institution as ever, which was the true
|
|
glory of it. No beauty like the beauty of holiness.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The celebration of the passover in the newly-erected temple. Now
|
|
that they were newly delivered out of their bondage in Babylon it was
|
|
seasonable to commemorate their deliverance out of their bondage in
|
|
Egypt. Fresh mercies should put us in mind of former mercies. We may
|
|
suppose that they had kept the passover, after a sort, every year since
|
|
their return, for they had an altar and a tabernacle. But they were
|
|
liable to frequent disturbances from their enemies, were straitened for
|
|
room, and had not conveniences about them, so that they could not do it
|
|
with due solemnity till the temple was built; and now they made a
|
|
joyful festival of it, it falling out in the next month after the
|
|
temple was finished and dedicated,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
Notice is here taken,
|
|
|
|
1. Of the purity of the priests and Levites that <I>killed the
|
|
passover,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
In Hezekiah's time the priests were many of them under blame for not
|
|
purifying themselves. But now it is observed, to their praise, that
|
|
<I>they were purified together, as one man</I> (so the word is); they
|
|
were unanimous both in their resolutions and in their endeavours to
|
|
make and keep themselves ceremonially clean for this solemnity; they
|
|
joined together in their preparations, that they might help one
|
|
another, so that all of them were pure, to a man. The purity of
|
|
ministers adds much to the beauty of their ministrations; so does their
|
|
unity.
|
|
|
|
2. Of the proselytes that communicated with them in this ordinance:
|
|
<I>All such as had separated themselves unto them,</I> had left their
|
|
country and the superstitions of it and cast in their lot with the
|
|
Israel of God, and had <I>turned from the filthiness of the heathen of
|
|
the land,</I> both their idolatries and immoralities, <I>to seek the
|
|
Lord God of Israel</I> as their God, did eat the passover. See how the
|
|
proselytes, the converts, are described. They separated themselves from
|
|
the filthiness of sin and fellowship with sinners, joined themselves
|
|
with the Israel of God in conformity and communion, and set themselves
|
|
to seek the God of Israel; and those that do so in sincerity, though
|
|
strangers and foreigners, are welcome to eat of the gospel feast, as
|
|
<I>fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God.</I>
|
|
|
|
3. Of the great pleasure and satisfaction wherewith they <I>kept the
|
|
feast of unleavened bread,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+6:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>The Lord had made them joyful,</I> had given them both cause to
|
|
rejoice and hearts to rejoice. It was now about twenty years since the
|
|
foundation of this temple was laid, and we may suppose the old men that
|
|
then wept at the remembrance of the first temple were most of them dead
|
|
by this time, so that now there were no tears mingled with their joys.
|
|
Those that are, upon good grounds, joyful, have therefore reason to be
|
|
thankful, because it is God that <I>makes them to rejoice.</I> He is
|
|
the fountain whence all the streams of our joy flow. God has promised
|
|
to all those who take hold of his covenant that <I>he will make them
|
|
joyful in his house of prayer.</I> The particular occasion they had for
|
|
joy at this time was that God had <I>turned the heart</I> of the
|
|
emperor to them, to <I>strengthen their hands.</I> If those that have
|
|
been, or who we feared would have been, against us, prove to be for us,
|
|
we may rejoice in it as a token for good, that <I>our ways please the
|
|
Lord</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+16:7">Prov. xvi. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
and he must have the glory of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
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