PREVIOUS CHAPTER - NEXT CHAPTER - HELP - GR VIDEOS - GR YOUTUBE - TWITTER - SD1 YOUTUBE CHAPTER 1 Ezr 1:1-6. PROCLAMATION OF CYRUS FOR BUILDING THE TEMPLE.
1. in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia--The Persian empire,
including Persia, Media, Babylonia, and Chaldea, with many smaller
dependencies, was founded by Cyrus, 536 B.C. [HALES].
2. The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the
earth--Though this is in the Oriental style of hyperbole (see also
Da 4:1),
it was literally true that the Persian empire was the greatest ruling
power in the world at that time.
3. Who is there among you of all his people--The purport of the edict was to grant full permission to those Jewish exiles, in every part of his kingdom, who chose, to return to their own country, as well as to recommend those of their countrymen who remained to aid the poor and feeble on their way, and contribute liberally towards the rebuilding of the temple. 5, 6. Then rose up the chief of the fathers, &c.--The paternal and ecclesiastical chiefs of the later captivity, those of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with some also from other tribes (1Ch 9:3), who retained their attachment to the pure worship of God, naturally took the lead in this movement. Their example was followed by all whose piety and patriotism were strong enough to brave the various discouragements attending the enterprise. They were liberally assisted by multitudes of their captive countrymen, who, born in Babylonia or comfortably established in it by family connections or the possession of property, chose to remain. It seems that their Assyrian friends and neighbors, too, either from a favorable disposition toward the Jewish faith, or from imitation of the court policy, displayed hearty good will and great liberality in aiding and promoting the views of the emigrants. Ezr 1:7-11. CYRUS RESTORES THE VESSELS. 7. Cyrus . . . brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord--Though it is said (2Ki 24:13) that these were cut in pieces, that would not be done to the large and magnificent vases; and, if they had been divided, the parts could be reunited. But it may be doubted whether the Hebrew word rendered cut in pieces, does not signify merely cut off, that is, from further use in the temple. 8. Shesh-bazzar, the prince of Judah--that is, Zerubbabel, son of Salathiel (compare Ezr 3:8; 5:16). He was born in Babylon, and called by his family Zerubbabel, that is, stranger or exile in Babylon. Shesh-bazzar, signifying "fire-worshipper," was the name given him at court, as other names were given to Daniel and his friends. He was recognized among the exiles as hereditary prince of Judah.
11. All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four
hundred--The vessels here specified amount only to the number of 2499.
Hence it is probable that the larger vases only are mentioned, while
the inventory of the whole, including great and small, came to the
gross sum stated in the text.
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