Ezra 5

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Ezra 5

1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even 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 is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai 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 matter.

6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and his companions the Apharsachites, which were 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, and 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 were 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 the same 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 was 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 one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;

15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.

16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.

17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, 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.

Notes

Cross Reference

Concordance

Commentary

Rashi

Verse 1

<html>Now Haggai the prophet…prophesied And now in the second year of Darius, there came a prophecy to Haggai and Zechariah, the prophets to the Jews who were in the land of Judea and in Jerusalem, in the Name of the God of Israel to them, to build the edifice of the Temple without the authorization of King Darius. to the Jews Aram. עָל יְהוּדָיֵא lit. On the Jews. to them Aram. עֲלֵיהוֹן, lit. on them.</html>

Verse 2

<html>Then [as translated,] then. and commenced They began to build the House of the Holy One, blessed be He, which is in Jerusalem, and with them were the prophets of the Holy One, blessed be He, helping and assisting them.</html>

Verse 3

<html>At that time, there came upon them At that time, there came upon them these adversaries of Judah and Benjamin to accuse and to slander them regarding the matter of the building. the governor of the other side of the river [as translated,] the governor of the other side of the river. and their companies [as translated,] and their companies. and so they said to them [as translated,] and so they said to them. Who issued to you Who ordered you, regarding the matter of building the Temple? and to found these walls Aram. וְאֻשַּׁרְנָא, and to found these walls, like (4:12): “and the walls (וְאֻשַּׁיָא) they have joined,” the building of walls of bricks (לְבֵנִים) so did Menahem (p. 36) associate it.</html>

Verse 4

<html>Then [as translated,] then. as we will say [as translated,] as we will say. they said to them Those adversaries of Judah and Benjamin said to them [i.e.,] to Israel. What are What are the names of the men? who…this who are building this building.</html>

Verse 5

<html>And the eye of their God And the eye of the Holy One, blessed be He, Who is their God, was on the elders of the Jews to upraise them (sic) in the work of the building. and they did not stop them And they did not stop the builders. until the matter came to Darius And the elders of the Jews answered a word to those adversaries that they should not stop the building until the matter would go to King Darius. and then they would answer And then the Jews would answer the writ of the letter concerning this, concerning Darius’ reply.</html>

Verse 6

<html>The interpretation the interpretation of the text of the letter. and his companies [as translated,] and his companies. the Apharsechites They are one nation that was in their companies. to King Darius Aram. עַל דָּרְיָוֶשּׁ מַלְכָּא, lit. on King Darius.</html>

Verse 7

<html>to him Aram. עֲלוֹהִי, lit. on him. and so was written in it and so was written in the letter. all peace All peace shall be his.</html>

Verse 8

<html>Let it be known to the king Let it be a known thing to the king. that we went that we went to the land of the province of Judea, to the House of the great God. and it is built And it, the House, is built. marble Aram. גְּלָּל (marmre in Old French), marble. and wood is laid in the walls And wood is placed in the walls to reinforce the building in order that it endure for a long time.was done quickly Aram. אָסְפַּרְנָא מִתְעַבְדָה, was done quickly. אָסְפַּרְנָא is (espleytosement in Old French), rapidly. and they succeeded at it Aram. וּמַצְלַח בְּיֶדְהם. And this work was successful in their hands.</html>

Verse 9

<html>Then When we saw the building, we asked these elders. as follows we said to them As we will say immediately following, we said to them. Who issued to you Who issued to you the authorization to build this house and to found these walls? and…wall the building of a wall of bricks.</html>

Verse 10

<html>also…their names We also asked them the names of the builders, the heads of the construction, in order to let you know. that we should write that we should write to you the names of the men. who are at their head in whose counsel and authorization they arose to build the House.</html>

Verse 11

<html>And as follows Aram. וּכְנֵמָא, as we shall state the matter. they gave us a reply They answered us a word. We are We are the servants of the God of the heavens and the earth. and we are building the House And we are building the House that was built many years ago. and a great king of Israel And a great king that Israel had, viz. King Solomon, built it and founded it.</html>

Verse 12

<html>But now But now, since our forefathers angered the God of the heavens, He delivered them into the hands of the Chaldean king of Babylon, and he destroyed this House and exiled the people to Babylon.</html>

Verse 13

<html>But But in the first year of Cyrus, king of Babylon, Cyrus issued a command to build the House.</html>

Verse 14

<html>And also the vessels the holy vessels of silver and gold, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the Temple that is in Jerusalem and brought to his temple that is in Babylon. Cyrus took them out of the temple of the king of Babylon and delivered them to the hand of Sheshbazzar—Daniel, who was called by that name. and brought them [as translated,] and brought them. had taken out [as translated,] had taken them out. whom he appointed governor for he was a prince and a governor and was called by the name governor.</html>

Verse 15

<html>And he said to him And so did Cyrus say to Sheshbazzar, “Take these vessels and bring them down into the Temple that is in Jerusalem, and the House of the Holy One, blessed be He, shall be built on its place.”</html>

Verse 16

<html>then [as translated,] then. this Sheshbazzar Aram. דֵּךְ, came and built the walls of the House of the Holy One, blessed be He, that is in Jerusalem, and from then until now, the House has been built, but the building has not been completed.</html>

Verse 17

<html>And now And now, if it pleases the king, let the matter be known and searched out in the king’s archives, which is located in Babylon. whether it is so whether this incident is so, that permission was issued by Cyrus to build this House, which is in Jerusalem. and the will of the king And the will of the king concerning this he shall send to us. to us Aram. עֲלֶינָא, lit. on us. Until here is the text of the letter that Tattenai and Shethar-bozenai sent.</html>

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Table of Contents

Ezra 5

Ezra 5

Notes

Cross Reference

Concordance

Commentary

Rashi

Verse 1

Verse 2

Verse 3

Verse 4

Verse 5

Verse 6

Verse 7

Verse 8

Verse 9

Verse 10

Verse 11

Verse 12

Verse 13

Verse 14

Verse 15

Verse 16

Verse 17