5 T Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. h 6 And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered. 7 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods; 8 Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. 9 And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives, 10 Thirty basins of gold, silver basins of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand. m 11 All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem. CHAPTER II. An account of those who returned from Babylon, 1-35. The children of the priests Of the Nethinim and the children of Solomon's servants, 43--53. Others who could not find out their registers, 59-62. The number of the whole congregation, 63, 64. who returned, 36-39. Of the Levites, 40. Of the singers, 41. Of the porters, 42. Of their servants, maids, and singers, 65. Their horses and mules, 66. Their camels and asses, 67. The offerings of the chief men when they came to Jerusalem, 63, 69. The priests, Levites, singers, porters and Nethinim, betake themselves to their respective cities, 70. Ol. LXI. 1. Condita 218. n these are the children of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city; 2 Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, P Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3 The children of Parosh, two thousand a hundred seventy and two. 4 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. 5 The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five. 6 The children of "Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve. 7 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five. 9 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore. 10 The children of ▾ Bani, six hundred forty and two. 11 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three. 12 The children of Azgad, a thousound two hundred twenty and two. 13 The children of Adonikam, six hundred Sixty and six. 14 The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six. 15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty Nthe province that went up out of and four. g Phil. 2 13-h That is, helped them-- Chap. 5. 14. & 6. 5.-k 2 Kings 24. 13. 2 Chron. 35. 7.-1 See Chap. 3. 14.-m Heb. the transportation.-n Neh. 7. 6, &c. 1 Esdras 5. 7, &c. Verse 6. Vessels of silver] Articles of silver, gold, &c. Verse 7. The king brought forth the vessels] See on verses 9-11. Verse 8. Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah] This was probably the Chaldean name of him who was originally called Zerubbabel: the former signifies joy in affliction; the latter, a stranger in Babylon. The latter may be designed to refer to his captive state, the former to the prospect of release. Some think this was quite a different person; a Persian, or Chaldean, sent by Cyrus to superintend whatever officers or men Cyrus might have sent to assist the Jews on their return: and to procure them help in the Chaldean provinces, through which they might be obliged to travel. Verse 11. All the vessels-were five thousand and four hundred] This place is without doubt corrupted: here it is said the sum of all the vessels, of every quality and kind, was five thousand four hundred; but the enumeration of the articles, as given in verse 9 and 10, gives the sum of two thousand four hundred and ninety-nine only. But we can correct this account from 1 Esdras ii. 13, 14. I shall set both accounts down, that they may be compared together. Ezra, chap. i. 9-11. Silver ditto, second sort Other vessels 30 1000 29 30 410 1000 o 2 Kings 24. 14, 15, 16. & 25. 11. 2 Chron. 36. 29.-p Or, Azariah, Neh 7.7. 9 Or, Raamiah-r Or, Mispereth. Or, Nehum.-t See Neb. 7. 10.- Neh. 7. IL- Or, Binnui, Neh. 7. 15. NOTES ON CHAPTER II. Verse 1. These are the children of the province] That is, of Judea; once a kingdom and a flourishing nation, now a province subdued, tributary, and ruined! Behold the goodness and severity of God! Some think Babylon is meant by the province; and that the children of the province mean those Jews who were born in Babylon. But the first is most likely to be the meaning: for thus we find Judea styled, ch. v. 8. Besides, the province is contradistinguished from Babylon even in this 1st verse, The children of the province that had been carried away unto Babylon. Verse 2. Which came with Zerubbabel] There are many difficulties in this table of names; but, as we have no less than three copies of it, (that contained here from ver. 1-67. a second in Nehem. vii. 6-69. and a third in 1 Esdras v. 7-43.) on a careful examination they will be found to correct each other. The versions also, and the Varia Lectiones of Kennicott and De Rossi, do much toward harmonizing the names. Though the sum total at the end of each of these enumerations is equal, namely 42,360; yet the particulars reckoned up make in Ezra only 29,818, and in Nehemiah 31,089. We find that Nehemiah mentions 1765 persons which are not in Ezra, and Ezra has 494 not mentioned by Nehemiah. Mr. Alting thinks that this circumstance, which appears to render all hope of reconciling them impossible, is precisely the very point by which they can be reconciled: for, if we add Ezra's surplus to the sum in Nehemiah, and the surplus of Nehemiah to the number in Ezra, the numbers will be equal. According, therefore, to the sum total in Ezra, the sum total in Esdras is only 69 different. See the next chapter. It may be said, that the vessels did actually amount to 5400, and that the chief of them only were intended to be specified; and these happen to amount to 2499; but that it was not the design of Ezra to insert the whole; and that the ninth verse should be considered as stating, And of the chief of them, that is, the gold and silver articles, this is the number. But the expression in verse 10, other vessels, sets this conjecture aside: the place is most manifestly corrupted. I 31,583 If we subtract this sum, 31,583 from 42,360, we shall have a deficiency of 10,777, from the numbers as summed up in the text; and these are not named here, either because their registers were not found, or they were not of Judah and Benjamin, the tribes particularly concerned, but of the other Israelitish tribes: see ver. 36. Verse 3. The children of Parosh] Where the word children is found in this table, prefixed to the name of a man, it signifies the descendants of that person: as from this verse to ver. 21. Where it is found prefixed to a place, town, &c. it signifies the inhabitants of that place; as from ver. 21. to 35. 16 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. 17 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three. W 18 The children of Jorah, a hundred and twelve. 19 The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three. 20 The children of Gibbar, ninety and five. 21 The children of Beth-lehem, a hundred twenty and three. 22 The men of Netophah, fifty and six. 23 The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty and eight. 24 The children of Azmaveth, forty and two. 25 The children of Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three. 26 The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one. 27 The men of Michmas, a hundred twenty and two. 28 The men of Beth-el and Ai, two hundred twenty and three. 29 The children of Nebo, fifty and two. 30 The children of Magbish, a hundred fifty and six. 31 The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 32 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty. a 33 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five. 34 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five. 35 The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty. 36 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. 37 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. 38 The children of a Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. e 39 The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. 40 T The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children off Hodaviah, seventy and four. 41 The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight. 42 The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all a hundred thirty and nine. 43 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 44 The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon, 45 The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub, 46 The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan, 47 The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah, w Or, Hariph, Neh. 7. 24.x Or, Gibeon, Neh. 7. 25.-y Or, Bethazmaveth, Neh. 7. 23-2 See Ver. 7-a Or, Harid, as it is in some copies-b 1 Chron. 24. 7. el Chron. 21. 14- 1 Chron. 9. 12. 1 Chron. 21. 8-f Or, Judah, Chap. 3 9. called also Hodevah, Neh. 7. 43.-g 1 Chron. 9. 2-h Or, Sia-i Or, Shamiai. Or, Nephishesim. Or, Bazlith, Neh. 7. 51-m 1 Kings 9. 21. Verse 21. The children of Beth-lehem] The inhabitants;-see before. Verse 33. The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono] These were cities in the tribe of Benjamin: see on 1 Chron. viii. 12. Verse 36. The priests] The preceding list takes in the census of Judah and Benjamin. Verse 55. The children of Solomon's servants] The Nethinim, and others appointed to do the meaner services of the holy house. Verse 63. The Tirshatha] This is generally supposed to be Nehemiah, or the person who was the commandant; (see chapter viii. 9. and x. 1.) for the word appears to be the name of an office. The Vulgate and Septuagint write it Atershatha; the Syriac and Arabic render it the princes of Judah. Some suppose 48 The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, 49 The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, 50 The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim, 51 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 52 The children of 1 Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 53 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah, 54 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 55 The children of m Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda, 56 The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 57 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami. 58 All the Nethinims, and the children of q Solomon's servants were three hundred ninety and two. 59 And these were they which went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not show their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel; 60 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two. 61 ¶ And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai: which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name: 62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: "therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. 63 And the w Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim. 64 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and three 66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five; 67 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty. 68 ¶f a And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place: 69 They gave after their ability unto the n Or, Perida, Neh. 7. 57.0 Or, Amon, Neh. 7. 59p Josh. 9. 21, 27. 1 Chron. 92-91 Kings 9. 21-r Or, Addon, Neh. 7. 61. Or, pedigree. 2 Sam. 17. 27. u Numb. 3. 10v Heb. they were polluted from the priesthood.-w Or, governor: See Neh. 8. 9.-x Lev. 22. 2, 10, 15, 16.-y Exod 28. 30. Numb. 27. 21.-z Neh. 7. 67-a Neh. 7. 70. the word to be Persian; but nothing like it of the same import occurs in that language at present. If, as Castel supposed, it signifies austerity, or that fear which is impressed by the authority of a governor; it may come from ters, FEAR, or tersh, ACID; the former from s tarsidan, to FEAR or DREAD. Should not eat of the most holy things] There was a high priest then, but no Urim and Thummim, these having been lost in the captivity. Verse 66. Their horses-seven hundred, &c.] They went into captivity stripped of every thing: they now return from it, abounding in the most substantial riches; viz. horses, 736, or, according to Esdras, 7036; mules, 245; camels, 435; asses, 6720; besides gold, and silver, and rich stuffs. See below. treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests' garments. 70 So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities. CHAPTER III. The altar of burnt-offerings is set up, 1-3 They keep the feast of tabernacles, 4-6. ND when the seventh month was AND e were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burntofferings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. 3 And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt-offerings thereon unto the LORD, even i burnt-offerings morning and evening. 4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and m offered the daily burnt-offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required: 5 And afterward offered the continual burntoffering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill-offering unto the LORD. 6 From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt-offerings unto the LORD. But P the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. 7 They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of b 1 Chron. 26. 20-c Chap. 6. 16, 17. Neh. 7. 73.-d 1 Es Iras 5. 47, &c.-e Or, Joshua, Hag. 1. 1. & 2. 2. Zech 3. 4-f Called Zorobabel, Matt. 1. 12. Luke 3. 27. Matt 1. 12 & Luke 3. 7. called Salathiel -h Dent. 12. 5-1 Numb. 28, 3, 4. Neh. 8. 14, 17. Zech, 14. 16, 17.-1 Exod 23. 16m Numb. 29. 12, &c.-n Heb. the matter of the day in his day-o Exod. 29. 38. Numb. 28. 3, 11, 19, 26. & 29. 2, 8, 13.-p Heb. the temple of the Lord was not yet founded. Verse 69. Threescore and one thousand drams of gold] darkemonim, drakmons, or darics; a Persian coin, always of gold, and worth about 11. 5s: not less than 76,2501. sterling in gold. Five thousand pounds of silver] o manim, manehs or minas. As a weight, the manch was 100 shekels: as a coin, 60 shekels in value, or about 91.: 5000 of these manehs, therefore, will amount to 45,000l. making in the whole a sum of about 120,000l.; and in this is not included the 100 garments for priests. Thus we find God, in the midst of judgment, remembered mercy and gave them favour in the land of their captivity. Verse 70. Dwelt in their cities] They all went to those cities which belonged originally to their respective families. NOTES ON CHAPTER III. Verse 1. When the seventh month was come] The month Tisri, which answers to the latter part of our September, and beginning of October. It seems that the Israelites had left Babylon about the spring of the year; that on their arrival at Jerusalem they constructed themselves huts and sheds to lodge in among the ruins, in which they must have spent some months. After this, they rebuilt the altar of burnt-offerings, and kept the feast of tabernacles, which happened about this time; and continued to offer sacrifices regularly, as if the temple were standing. Verse 2. Jeshua, the son of Jozadak] He was grandson of Seraiah the high priest, who was put to death by Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kings xxxv. 18, 21. This Jeshua, or Joshua, was the first high priest after the captivity. Verse 3. They set the altar upon his bases] Rebuilt it on the same spot on which it had formerly stood. As it was necessary to keep up the divine worship during the time they should be employed in re-edifying the temple, they first reared this altar of burnt-offerings; and all this they did, "though fear was upon them," because of the unfriendly disposition of their surrounding neighbours. Verse 4. They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it 2 11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites, and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. q Or, workmen.r 1 Kings 5. 6, 9. 2 Chron. 2. 10. Acts 12. 20. 2Chron 2 16 Acis 9. 36. Ch. 6. 3.--u 1 Chron. 23. 24, 27. Ch. 2. 40-w Or, Hodaci-k, Ch 2 40x Heb as one-y 1 Chron 16. 5, 6, 42-2 1 Chroo 6 31. & 16. 4 & 5 L a Exod. 15. 21. 2 Chron. 7. 3. Neh 12 24.-b 1 Chron. 16. 31. Faa 15. L e 1 Chron. 16. 41. Jer. 33. 11.-d See Hag. 2 3. is written] This began on the fifteenth day of the seventh month; but they had begun the regular offerings from the first day of this month, ver. 6. And these were religiously continued all the time they were building the temple. Verse 7. They gave money also] They copied the conduct of Solomon while he was building his temple; see 1 Kings v. 11. He employed the Tyrians, gave them meat and drink, &c.; and this permission they now had from Cyrus. Verse 8. In the second year] The previous time had been employed in clearing the ground, felling timber, hewing stones, and transporting them to the place, and making other necessary preparations for the commencement of the building. Verse 10. After the ordinance of David] With psalms which he had composed; acting in the manner which he had directed. Verse 12. Wept with a loud voice] They saw that the glory had departed from Israel: in their circumstances it was impossible to build such a house as the first temple was; and had this been even possible, still it would have been greatly inferior, because it wanted the ark of the covenant, the heavenly fire, the mercy-seat, the heavenly manna, Aaron's rod that budded, the divine shekina, the spirit of prophecy, and most probably the Urim and Thummim. Many shouted for joy] Finding they were now restored to their own land, and to the worship of their God in his own peculiar city: these, in general, had not seen the original temple; and, therefore, could not feel affected in that way which the elderly people did. The sight must have been very affecting: a whole people, one part crying aloud with sorrow, the other shouting aloud for joy; and on the same occasion too, in which both sides felt an equal interest! The prophet Haggai comforted them on this occasion, by assuring them that the glory of this latter house should exceed that of the former, because the Lord (Jesus Christ) was to come to this temple, and fill it with his glory. See Haggai, chap. ii. 1-9. CHAPTER IV. the writing of the letter was written in the The Samaritans endeavour to prevent the rebuilding of the temple, 1-5. They send Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian letters to Artaxerxes against the Jews, 6–9. copy of the fetter, 10-16. He comman is the Jews to cease from building the temple, which they do; nor was any thing farther done in the work till the second year of Darius, 17--21. A. M. 3169 BC 535. OL LXI. 2. NOW OW when the adversaries of An. Urbis Conditæ 219. Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; 2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. A. M. 3470-3475. 1 3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build a house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. 4 Then the people of the land An. Ol. LXI. 3 weakened the hands of the people of -LXII 4. Judah, and troubled them in building, 5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. B. C. 531-529. A. M. 3175. Ol. LXII. 4. Jerusalem. A. M. 3482 B. C. 522 OL. LXIV. 3. Anno Urbis Conditze 22. 6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and m 7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and e See Ver. 7, 8, 9.--- Heb. The sons of the transportation.—g 2 Kings 17. 24, 32, 83. & 19. 37. Ver. 10h Neh. 2. 20.-1 Ch. 1. 1, 2, 3.---k Ch. 3. 3-1 feb. Ahash verosh.---m Or, in peace-n Heb. societies.-o Or, secretary.-p Chald. societies. NOTES ON CHAPTER IV. Verse 1. Now when the adversaries] These were the Samaritans, and the different nations with which the kings of Assyria had peopled Israel, when they had carried the original inhabitants away into captivity. See ver. 9. Verse 2. Let us build with you] We acknowledge the same God, are solicitous for his glory, and will gladly assist you in this work. But that they came with no friendly intention, the context proves. Verse 3. Ye have nothing to do with us] We cannot acknowledge you as worshippers of the true God; and cannot participate with you in any thing that relates to his worship. Verse 4. Weakened the hands] Discouraged and opposed them by every possible means. Verse 5. Hired counsellors] They found means to corrupt some of the principal officers of the Persian court, so that the orders of Cyrus were not executed; or at least so slowly, as to make them nearly ineffectual. Until the reign of Darius] This was probably Darius the son of Hystaspes. Verse 6. In the reign of Ahasuerus] This is the person who is called Cambyses by the Greeks. He reigned seven years and five months; and during the whole of that time the building of the temple was interrupted. Verse 7. In the days of Artaxerxes] After the death of Cambyses, one of the Magi named Oropastus by Trogus Pompeius, Smerdis by Herodotus, Mardus by Eschylus, and Sphendatates by Ctesias, usurped the empire, feigning himself to be Smerdis, the brother of Cambyses, who had been put to death. This is the person named Artaxerxes in the text: or, following the Hebrews, Artachshasta. It is generally believed, that from the time of Cyrus the Great, Xerxes and Artaxerxes were names assumed by the Persian sovereigns, whatever their names had been before. Written in the Syrian tongue] That is, the Syriac or Chaldean character was used; not the Hebrew. Interpreted in the Syrian tongue] That is, the language, as well as the character, was the Syrian or Chal daic. Verse 8. Rehum the chancellor] With this verse the Chaldee part of this chapter begins; and the same language continues to the end of verse 18 of chapter vi. These men wrote to Darius in their own language; and the king in the same dialect returns an answer, chap. v. This circumstance adds authenticity to what is written: so scrupulous | tongue. 8 Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: 9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their P companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, 10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time. 11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time. 12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. V 13 Be it known now unto the king, that if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. 14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; 15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city q2 Kings 17, 30, 31-r Ver. 18 So Ver. 11, 17. & Chap. 7. 12.-t Chald. Chesneth. --u Ör, finished-v Chald. sewed together. Chald. give-x Chap. 7. 24. y Or, strength.-2 Chald. we are walted with the salt of the palace. was the inspired penman, that he not only gave the words which each spoke and wrote; but he gave them also in the very language in which they were conceived, and in the character peculiar to that language. Verse 10. The great and noble Asnapper] Whether this was Shalmanaser, or Esarhaddon, or some other person, learned men and chronologists are not agreed. The Syriac terms him Asphid; but of this person we know no more than we do of Asnapper. He might have been the military officer who was appointed to escort this people to Judea. Verse 11. And at such a time] The word may u-ceêneth, has greatly perplexed all commentators and critics. The versions give us no light; and the Vulgate translates et dicunt salutem: "and they wish prosperity." Some translate it, and so forth; and our translators supposed that it referred to the date, which, however, is not specified; and might have been as easily entered as the words, and at such a time. In our first translation of the Bible, that by Coverdale, in 1535, the passage stands thus: "And other on this syde the water, and in Canaan." In that by Beck, 1549, it is thus: "And other on this syde the water, and in Ceneeth:" and in the margin he enters, or peace, or health." 33 66 In Cardmarden's Bible, printed at Rouen, 1566, it stands thus: "And other that are nowe on thys syde the water." In that printed by Barker, 1615, we find the text thus: "AND OTHER that are beyond the river, and Cheeneth;" on which is the following marginal note:-"To wit, Euphrates: and he meaneth in respect of Babel, that they dwelt beyond it." And the note on Cheeneth is, "Which were a certain people that envied the Jews." All this is merely guessing, in the midst of obscurity: most of these having considered the original word, ny Ceeneth, as the name of a people; and in this they follow the Syriac, which uses the word Acâneth. Calmet thinks we should read nyau-baeth, "and at this time;" as if they had said, "We wish thee to enjoy the same health and prosperity at all future times, which thou dost at present." This is not remote from the meaning of the Chaldee original. Verse 13. Toll, tribute, and custom] The first term is supposed to imply the capitation tar; the second an erriss on commodities and merchandise; the third, a sort of land tar. Others suppose the first means a property tar; the second, a poll tax; and the third, what was paid on im is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have a moved sedition bwithin the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. 16 We certify the king, that if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river. CHAPTER V. Haggal and Zechariah the prophets encourage Zerubbabel and Jeshua to proceed with the building of the temple, 1,2. Tainai, the governor of the provinces on this unde the Euphrates, and his companions, inquire by what authority they do this, 3-5 They write to Darius; a copy of the letter, 6-16. They request to know how they are to proceed, 17. Olymp THEN the prophets," Haggai the LXV. L prophet, and Zechariah the son Anno Cr of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that Condur 234. 17 ¶ Then sent the king an answer unto Re-were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the hum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, God of Israel, even unto them. and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. 18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. 19 And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. 20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have 'ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. 21h Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from ports and exports. In a word, if you permit these people to rebuild and fortify their city, they will soon set you at nought, and pay you no kind of tribute. Verse 14. Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace] More literally; Now, because at all times we are salted with the salt of the palace. Salt was used as the emblem of an incorruptible covenant; and those who ate bread and salt together were considered as having entered into a very solemn covenant. These hypocrites intimated that they felt their conscience bound by the league between them and the king; and therefore, could not, conscientiously, see any thing going on that was likely to turn to the king's damage. They were probably also persons in the pay of the Persian king. Verse 15. The books of the records of thy fathers] That is, the records of the Chaldeans, to whom the Persians succeeded. Verse 17. Peace, and at such a time.] The word ny u-ceêth, is like that which we have already considered on ver. 10. and probably has the same meaning. Verse 19. Hath made insurrection against kings] How true is the proverb, "It is an easy thing to find a staff to beat a dog." The struggles of the Israelites to preserve or regain their independency, which they had from God, are termed insurrection, rebellion, and sedition; because at last they fell under the power of their oppressors. Had they been successful in these struggles, such offensive words had never been used. In 1688 the people of England struggled to throw off an oppressive government, that was changing the times and the seasons, and overthrowing the religion of the country, and setting up in its place the spurious offspring of the pope and the devil. They were successful; and it is called the revolution: had they failed, it would have been called rebellion; and the parties principally concerned would have been put to death. Verse 20. Beyond the river] That is, the Euphrates. Both David and Solomon carried their conquests beyond this river. See 2 Sam. viii. 3, &c. and 1 Kings iv. 21. where it is said, Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river (Euphrates) unto the land of the Philistines; and unto the borders of Egypt. Verse 21. Until another commandment shall be given from me.] The rebuilding was only provisionally suspended. 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. 31 At the same time came to them P 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. A. M. 3455. B. C. 519. Anno Urbis Comlite 235. 6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, o LXV. 2 and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharaschites, 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 11 Esdras 6. 1, &c.-m Hag. 1. 1.-n Zech. 1. 1-0 Ch. 3 2-p Ver. 6. Ch. 66 q Ver. 9.- Ver. 10.- Chald. that build this building ?-t See Ch. 7. 6, 2. Ps. 33. 18.-u Ch. 6, 6.7 Ch. 4. 9.-w Chald. in the midst whereof.-x Chaid stones of rolling. The decree was, Let it cease for the present: nor let it proceed at any time without an order express from me. Verse 23. Made them to cease by force and power] Commanded them, on pain of the king's displeasure, not to proceed, obliging all to remit their labours, and probably bringing an armed force to prevent them from going forward. Verse 24. So it ceased unto the second year of-Darius] They had begun in the first year of Cyrus, B. C. 536, to go up to Jerusalem, and they were obliged to desist from the building, B. C. 522; and thus they continued till the second year of Darius, B. C. 519. See the chronology in the margin, and the following chapter. NOTES ON CHAPTER V. Verse 1. Haggai—and Zechariah] These are the same whose writings we have among the twelve minor prophets. The son of Iddo] That is, the grandson of Iddo; for Zechariah was the son of Barachiah, the son of Iddo. See his prophecy, ch. i. ver. 1. Verse 2. Then rose up Zerubbabel] Here we find three classes of men joining in the sacred work: Zerubbabel the civil governor; Jeshua the high priest, or ecclesiastical governor; and Haggai and Zechariah the prophets. How glorious it is when we see the civil government joining with the sacerdotal and prophetic, for the establishment and extension of true religion! Verse 3. Tatnai, governor] He was governor of the provinces which belonged to the Persian empire on their side the Euphrates, comprehending Syria, Arabia Deserta, Phoenicia, and Samaria. He seems to have been a mild and judicious man; and to have acted with great prudence and caution, and without any kind of prejudice. The manner in which he represented this to the king, is a full proof of this disposition. Verse 4. What are the names] It is most evident that this is the answer of the Jews to the inquiry of Tatnai, ves. 3; and the verse should be read thus: Then said we unto them after this manner: THESE are the names of the men who make this building. Verse 5. The eye of their God was upon the elders] The watchful care of God was upon the elders. They were assured of his favour; and they found his especial providence working in their behalf. |