Ezra 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].

that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be

fulfilled--(See

Jer 25:12; 29:10).

This reference is a parenthetic statement of the historian, and did

not form part of the proclamation.

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.

he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem--The phraseology

of this proclamation, independently of the express testimony of

JOSEPHUS,

affords indisputable evidence that Cyrus had seen (probably

through means of Daniel, his venerable prime minister and favorite)

those prophecies in which, two hundred years before he was born, his

name, his victorious career, and the important services he should

render to the Jews were distinctly foretold

(Isa 44:28; 46:1-4).

The existence of predictions so remarkable led him to acknowledge that

all his kingdoms were gifts bestowed on him by "the Lord God of

heaven," and prompted him to fulfil the duty which had been laid upon

him long before his birth. This was the source and origin of the great

favor he showed to the Jews. The proclamation, though issued "in the

first year of Cyrus"

[Ezr 1:1],

did not take effect till the year following.

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

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.

them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto

Jerusalem--All the Jewish exiles did not embrace the privilege which

the Persian king granted them. The great proportion, born in Babylon,

preferred continuing in their comfortable homes to undertaking a

distant, expensive, and hazardous journey to a desolate land. Nor did

the returning exiles all go at once. The first band went with

Zerubbabel, others afterwards with Ezra, and a large number with

Nehemiah at a still later period.