7 Also Cyrus H3566 the king H4428 brought forth H3318 the vessels H3627 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 which Nebuchadnezzar H5019 had brought forth H3318 out of Jerusalem, H3389 and had put H5414 them in the house H1004 of his gods; H430
And the pillars H5982 of brass H5178 that were in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and the bases, H4350 and the brasen H5178 sea H3220 that was in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 did the Chaldees H3778 break in pieces, H7665 and carried H5375 the brass H5178 of them to Babylon. H894 And the pots, H5518 and the shovels, H3257 and the snuffers, H4212 and the spoons, H3709 and all the vessels H3627 of brass H5178 wherewith they ministered, H8334 took they away. H3947 And the firepans, H4289 and the bowls, H4219 and such things as were of gold, H2091 in gold, H2091 and of silver, H3701 in silver, H3701 the captain H7227 of the guard H2876 took away. H3947 The two H8147 pillars, H5982 one H259 sea, H3220 and the bases H4350 which Solomon H8010 had made H6213 for the house H1004 of the LORD; H3068 the brass H5178 of all these vessels H3627 was without H3808 weight. H4948
Yea, thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel, H3478 concerning the vessels H3627 that remain H3498 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and in the house H1004 of the king H4428 of Judah H3063 and of Jerusalem; H3389 They shall be carried H935 to Babylon, H894 and there shall they be until the day H3117 that I visit H6485 them, saith H5002 the LORD; H3068 then will I bring H5927 them up, and restore H7725 them to this place. H4725
Within two full H3117 years H8141 will I bring again H7725 into this place H4725 all the vessels H3627 of the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 that Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 took away H3947 from this place, H4725 and carried H935 them to Babylon: H894 And I will bring again H7725 to this place H4725 Jeconiah H3204 the son H1121 of Jehoiakim H3079 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 with all the captives H1546 of Judah, H3063 that went H935 into Babylon, H894 saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 for I will break H7665 the yoke H5923 of the king H4428 of Babylon. H894 Then the prophet H5030 Jeremiah H3414 said H559 unto the prophet H5030 Hananiah H2608 in the presence H5869 of the priests, H3548 and in the presence H5869 of all the people H5971 that stood H5975 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 Even the prophet H5030 Jeremiah H3414 said, H559 Amen: H543 the LORD H3068 do H6213 so: the LORD H3068 perform H6965 thy words H1697 which thou hast prophesied, H5012 to bring again H7725 the vessels H3627 of the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 and all that is carried away captive, H1473 from Babylon H894 into this place. H4725
Belshazzar, H1113 whiles he tasted H2942 the wine, H2562 commanded H560 to bring H858 the golden H1722 and silver H3702 vessels H3984 which his father H2 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 had taken H5312 out of H4481 the temple H1965 which was in Jerusalem; H3390 that the king, H4430 and his princes, H7261 his wives, H7695 and his concubines, H3904 might drink H8355 therein. Then H116 they brought H858 the golden H1722 vessels H3984 that were taken H5312 out of H4481 the temple H1965 of the house H1005 of God H426 which was at Jerusalem; H3390 and the king, H4430 and his princes, H7261 his wives, H7695 and his concubines, H3904 drank H8355 in them.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezra 1
Commentary on Ezra 1 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 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 by multitudes of their captive countrymen, who, born in Babylonia or 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.