5:2 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
a helping them.
(a) Who encouraged them to go forward, and cursed them
because they were more careful to build their own
houses, than zealous to build the temple of God.
5:4b Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the
names of the men that make this building?
(b) That is, the enemies asked this, as in (Ezr 5:10).
5:5 But the c 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].
(c) His favour and the spirit of strength.
5:11 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 d
great king of Israel builded and set up.
(d) That is, Solomon.
5:13 But in the e first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon [the
same] king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
5:14 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] f
Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
5:17 Now therefore, if [it seem] good to the king, let there be
search made in the king's g 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.
(g) Meaning in the library or places where lay the register
or record of times.
