Ezra 5

Ezra 5:1

F. Haggai and Zechariah’s Encouragement to Rebuild (5:1, 2)From Haggai Hag_1:1 and Zechariah Zec_1:1 we learn that this chapter belongs to the second year of Darius’s reign (v. 1, cf. Ezr_4:24). These two prophets urged the Israelites to resume work on the temple instead of building expensive houses for themselves (Hag_1:4). Zerubbabel . . . and Jeshua obeyed the Lord and ordered construction to begin immediately. Notice here that it was not by the power of the king’s decree that the work was resumed, but by the power of the Holy Spirit speaking through the prophets of God (cf. Zec_4:6).

Ezra 5:3

G. Opposition During the Reign of Darius (5:3-17)5:3-5 Opposition arose quickly. The Persian governor and his associates came to Jerusalem and asked what authority the Jews had to start building and what the names of the men were (see vv. 9, 10). They were given the names of the Jewish leaders. These Persian officials were more reasonable than those mentioned in chapter 4. They did not stop the work, but sent a letter . . . to Darius to determine its legality. Because the Jews had started to obey God’s word, His eye . . . was upon them to fulfill it. 5:6-17 In their letter . . . to Darius, Tattenai . . . and Shethar-Boznai told of their conversation with the Jews and the latter’s reply. The elders of the people first of all gave their divine authority. They were servants of the one true God, but they had been delivered up to the Babylonians because of their sins. Now that Jehovah had brought them back to their land, they were to rebuild His temple. As to human authority, they had the decree of Cyrus which gave them permission to rebuild the temple. Cyrus himself had contributed generously to the project. The governor requested that a search be made to determine if King Cyrus had made such a decree and asked Darius to notify him what action should be taken concerning this matter.