mh_parser/vol_split/15 - Ezra/Chapter 5.xml

<div2 id="Ez.vi" n="vi" next="Ez.vii" prev="Ez.v" progress="90.50%" title="Chapter V">
<h2 id="Ez.vi-p0.1">E Z R A</h2>
<h3 id="Ez.vi-p0.2">CHAP. V.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ez.vi-p1">We left the temple-work at a full stop; but, being
God's work, it shall be revived, and here we have an account of the
reviving of it. It was hindered by might and power, but it was set
a-going again "by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts." Now here we are
told how that blessed Spirit, I. Warmed its cool-hearted friends
and excited them to build, <scripRef id="Ez.vi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.1-Ezra.5.2" parsed="|Ezra|5|1|5|2" passage="Ezr 5:1,2">ver. 1,
2</scripRef>. II. Cooled its hot-headed enemies, and brought them
to better tempers; for, though they secretly disliked the work as
much as those in the foregoing chapter, yet, 1. They were more mild
towards the builders, <scripRef id="Ez.vi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.3-Ezra.5.5" parsed="|Ezra|5|3|5|5" passage="Ezr 5:3-5">ver.
3-5</scripRef>. 2. They were more fair in their representation of
the matter to the king, of which we have here an account, <scripRef id="Ez.vi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.6-Ezra.5.17" parsed="|Ezra|5|6|5|17" passage="Ezr 5:6-17">ver. 6-17</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Ez.vi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5" parsed="|Ezra|5|0|0|0" passage="Ezr 5" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ez.vi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.1-Ezra.5.2" parsed="|Ezra|5|1|5|2" passage="Ezr 5:1-2" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ezra.5.1-Ezra.5.2">
<h4 id="Ez.vi-p1.6">The Jews Encouraged by Their
Prophets. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.vi-p1.7">b. c.</span> 520.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.vi-p2">1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and
Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that
<i>were</i> in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of
Israel, <i>even</i> 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 <i>is</i> at Jerusalem: and with them
<i>were</i> the prophets of God helping them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.vi-p3">Some reckon that the building of the temple
was suspended for only nine years; I am willing to believe that
fifteen years were the utmost. During this time they had an altar
and a tabernacle, which no doubt they made use of. When we cannot
do what we would we must do what we can in the service of God, and
be sorry we can do no better. But the counsellors that were hired
to hinder the work (<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.5" parsed="|Ezra|4|5|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:5"><i>ch.</i> iv.
5</scripRef>) told them, and perhaps with a pretence to
inspiration, that the time had not come for the building of the
temple (<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Hag.1.2" parsed="|Hag|1|2|0|0" passage="Hag 1:2">Hag. i. 2</scripRef>), urging
that it was long ere the time came for the building of Solomon's
temple; and thus the people were made easy in their own <i>ceiled
houses,</i> while <i>God's house lay waste.</i> Now here we are
told how life was put into that good cause which seemed to lie
dead.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.vi-p4">I. They had two good ministers, who, in
God's name, earnestly persuaded them to put the wheel of business
in motion again. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.vi-p5">1. Who these ministers were, namely, the
prophets Haggai and Zechariah, who both began to prophesy in the
second year of Darius, as appears, <scripRef id="Ez.vi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.1.1 Bible:Zech.1.1" parsed="|Hag|1|1|0|0;|Zech|1|1|0|0" passage="Hag 1:1,Zec 1:1">Hag. i. 1; Zech. i. 1</scripRef>. Note, (1.) The
temple of God among men is to be built by prophecy, not by secular
force (that often hinders it, but seldom furthers it), but by
<i>the word of God.</i> As the <i>weapons of our warfare,</i> so
the instruments of our building, <i>are not carnal,</i> but
<i>spiritual,</i> and they are the ministers of the gospel that are
the master-builders. (2.) It is the business of God's prophets to
stir up God's people to that which is good, and to help them in it,
to strengthen their hands, and, by suitable considerations fetched
from the word of God, to quicken them to their duty and encourage
them in it. (3.) It is a sign that God has mercy in store for a
people when he raises up prophets among them to be their helpers in
the way and work of God, their guides, overseers, and rulers.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.vi-p6">2. To whom they were sent. They prophesied
unto the <i>Jews</i> (for, as to them pertained the giving of the
law, so also the gift of prophecy, and therefore they are called
<i>the children of the prophets,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.vi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Acts.3.25" parsed="|Acts|3|25|0|0" passage="Ac 3:25">Acts iii. 25</scripRef>, because they were educated under
their tuition and instruction), <i>even unto them, upon them,</i>
even <i>upon them</i> (so it is in the original), as Ezekiel
prophesied <i>upon the dry bones,</i> that they might live,
<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.37.4" parsed="|Ezek|37|4|0|0" passage="Eze 37:4">Ezek. xxxvii. 4</scripRef>. They
prophesied <i>against</i> them (so bishop Patrick), for they
reproved them because they did not build the temple. The word of
God, if it be not 
received now as a testimony to us, will be received another day as
a testimony against us, and will judge us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.vi-p7">3. Who sent them. They prophesied in the
name, or (as some read it) <i>in the cause,</i> or for the sake,
<i>of the God of Israel;</i> they spoke by commission from him, and
argued from his authority over them, his interest in them, and the
concern of his glory among them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.vi-p8">II. They had two good magistrates, who were
forward and active in this work. Zerubbabel their chief prince, and
Jeshua their chief priest, <scripRef id="Ez.vi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.2" parsed="|Ezra|5|2|0|0" passage="Ezr 5:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. 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: thus it becomes those that preceded, and
those that preside, with an exemplary care and zeal to <i>fulfil
all righteousness</i> and to <i>go before in a good work.</i> These
great men thought it no disparagement to them, but a happiness, to
be taught and prescribed to by the prophets of the Lord, and were
glad of their help in reviving this good work. Read the <scripRef id="Ez.vi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.1-Ezra.5.2 Bible:Hag.1.1-Hag.1.15" parsed="|Ezra|5|1|5|2;|Hag|1|1|1|15" passage="Ezr 5:1,2,Hag 1:1-15">first chapter of the prophecy of
Haggai</scripRef> here (for that is the best comment on these two
verses) and see what great things God does by his word, which he
magnifies above all his name, and by his Spirit working with
it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ez.vi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.3-Ezra.5.17" parsed="|Ezra|5|3|5|17" passage="Ezr 5:3-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ezra.5.3-Ezra.5.17">
<h4 id="Ez.vi-p8.4">The Case Represented to
Darius. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.vi-p8.5">b. c.</span> 519.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.vi-p9">3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor
on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions,
and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this
house, and to make up this wall?   4 Then said we unto them
after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this
building?   5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of
the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter
came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning
this <i>matter.</i>   6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai,
governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his
companions the Apharsachites, which <i>were</i> on this side 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 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.   9 Then asked we
those elders, <i>and</i> said unto them thus, Who commanded you to
build this house, and to make up these walls?   10 We asked
their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of
the men that <i>were</i> the chief of them.   11 And thus they
returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of
heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many
years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.  
12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto
wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of
Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the
people away into Babylon.   13 But in the first year of Cyrus
the king of Babylon <i>the same</i> king Cyrus made a decree to
build this house of God.   14 And the vessels also of gold and
silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the
temple that <i>was</i> in Jerusalem, and brought them into the
temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple
of Babylon, and they were delivered unto <i>one,</i> whose name
<i>was</i> Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;   15 And
said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple
that <i>is</i> in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in
his place.   16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, <i>and</i>
laid the foundation of the house of God which <i>is</i> in
Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in
building, and <i>yet</i> it is not finished.   17 Now
therefore, if <i>it seem</i> good to the king, let there be search
made in the king's treasure house, which <i>is</i> there at
Babylon, whether it be <i>so,</i> 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.vi-p10">We have here, I. The cognizance which their
neighbours soon took of the reviving of this good work. A jealous
eye, it seems, they had upon them, and no sooner did the Spirit of
God stir up the friends of the temple to appear for it than the
evil spirit stirred up its enemies to appear against it. While the
people built and ceiled their own houses their enemies gave them no
molestation (<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Hag.1.4" parsed="|Hag|1|4|0|0" passage="Hag 1:4">Hag. i. 4</scripRef>),
though the king's order was to put a stop to the building of the
city (<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.21" parsed="|Ezra|4|21|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:21"><i>ch.</i> iv. 21</scripRef>);
but when they fell to work again at the temple then the alarm was
taken, and all heads were at work to hinder them, <scripRef id="Ez.vi-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.3-Ezra.5.4" parsed="|Ezra|5|3|5|4" passage="Ezr 5:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3, 4</scripRef>. The adversaries are
here named: <i>Tatnai</i> and <i>Shethar-boznai.</i> The governors
we read of (<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.1-Ezra.4.24" parsed="|Ezra|4|1|4|24" passage="Ezr 4:1-24"><i>ch.</i>
iv.</scripRef>) were, it is probable, displaced at the beginning of
this reign, as is usual. It is the policy of princes often to
change their deputies, proconsuls, and rulers of provinces. These,
though real enemies to the building of the temple, were men of
better temper than the other, and made some conscience of telling
truth. If <i>all men have not faith</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.2" parsed="|2Thess|3|2|0|0" passage="2Th 3:2">2 Thess. iii. 2</scripRef>), it is well some have, and a
sense of honour. The church's enemies are not all equally wicked
and unreasonable. The historian begins to relate what passed
between the builders and those inquisitors (<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.3-Ezra.5.4" parsed="|Ezra|5|3|5|4" passage="Ezr 5:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3, 4</scripRef>), but breaks off his account,
and refers to the ensuing copy of the letter they sent to the king,
where the same appears more fully and at large, which he began to
abridge (<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.4" parsed="|Ezra|5|4|0|0" passage="Ezr 5:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), or
make an extract out of, though, upon second thoughts, he inserted
the whole.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.vi-p11">II. The care which the divine Providence
took of this good work (<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.5" parsed="|Ezra|5|5|0|0" passage="Ezr 5:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>): <i>The eye of their God was upon the elders of the
Jews,</i> who were 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 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, 1. That baffled their enemies, infatuated and
enfeebled them, and 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 <scripRef id="Ez.vi-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Zech.3.9 Bible:Zech.4.10" parsed="|Zech|3|9|0|0;|Zech|4|10|0|0" passage="Zec 3:9,4:10">Zech.
iii. 9; iv. 10</scripRef>. 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>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.vi-p12">III. The account they sent to the king of
this matter, in which we may observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.vi-p13">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>" <scripRef id="Ez.vi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.58.12" parsed="|Isa|58|12|0|0" passage="Isa 58:12">Isa. lviii. 12</scripRef>. (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 (<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.12" parsed="|Ezra|5|12|0|0" passage="Ezr 5:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), 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 (<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.13" parsed="|Ezra|5|13|0|0" passage="Ezr 5:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>), and to build it in its place (<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.15" parsed="|Ezra|5|15|0|0" passage="Ezr 5:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), 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, <scripRef id="Ez.vi-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.14" parsed="|Ezra|5|14|0|0" passage="Ezr 5:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. 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, <scripRef id="Ez.vi-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.16" parsed="|Ezra|5|16|0|0" passage="Ezr 5:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. 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> (<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.3.15" parsed="|1Pet|3|15|0|0" passage="1Pe 3:15">1 Pet. iii. 15</scripRef>), rightly to understand, and
then readily to declare, what we do in God's service and why we do
it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.vi-p14">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> (<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.8" parsed="|Ezra|5|8|0|0" passage="Ezr 5:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>); 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,
<scripRef id="Ez.vi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.8" parsed="|Ezra|5|8|0|0" passage="Ezr 5:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. (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, <scripRef id="Ez.vi-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.5.17" parsed="|Ezra|5|17|0|0" passage="Ezr 5:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>. 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>
</div></div2>