Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Ezra » Chapter 6 » Verse 9

Ezra 6:9 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

9 And that which H4101 they have need of, H2818 both young H1123 bullocks, H8450 and rams, H1798 and lambs, H563 for the burnt offerings H5928 of the God H426 of heaven, H8065 wheat, H2591 salt, H4416 wine, H2562 and oil, H4887 according to the appointment H3983 of the priests H3549 which are at Jerusalem, H3390 let it be H1934 given H3052 them day H3118 by day H3118 without H3809 fail: H7960

Cross Reference

Leviticus 1:10 STRONG

And if his offering H7133 be of the flocks, H6629 namely, of the sheep, H3775 or of the goats, H5795 for a burnt sacrifice; H5930 he shall bring H7126 it a male H2145 without blemish. H8549

Exodus 29:38-42 STRONG

Now this is that which thou shalt offer H6213 upon the altar; H4196 two H8147 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 day H3117 by day H3117 continually. H8548 The one H259 lamb H3532 thou shalt offer H6213 in the morning; H1242 and the other H8145 lamb H3532 thou shalt offer H6213 at even: H6153 And with the one H259 lamb H3532 a tenth H6241 deal of flour H5560 mingled H1101 with the fourth part H7253 of an hin H1969 of beaten H3795 oil; H8081 and the fourth part H7243 of an hin H1969 of wine H3196 for a drink offering. H5262 And the other H8145 lamb H3532 thou shalt offer H6213 at even, H6153 and shalt do H6213 thereto according to the meat offering H4503 of the morning, H1242 and according to the drink offering H5262 thereof, for a sweet H5207 savour, H7381 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068 This shall be a continual H8548 burnt offering H5930 throughout your generations H1755 at the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation H4150 before H6440 the LORD: H3068 where I will meet H3259 you, to speak H1696 there unto thee.

Leviticus 1:3-5 STRONG

If his offering H7133 be a burnt sacrifice H5930 of the herd, H1241 let him offer H7126 a male H2145 without blemish: H8549 he shall offer H7126 it of his own voluntary will H7522 at the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation H4150 before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And he shall put H5564 his hand H3027 upon the head H7218 of the burnt offering; H5930 and it shall be accepted H7521 for him to make atonement H3722 for him. And he shall kill H7819 the bullock H1121 H1241 before H6440 the LORD: H3068 and the priests, H3548 Aaron's H175 sons, H1121 shall bring H7126 the blood, H1818 and sprinkle H2236 the blood H1818 round about H5439 upon the altar H4196 that is by the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation. H4150

Leviticus 2:1-16 STRONG

And when any H5315 will offer H7126 a meat H4503 offering H7133 unto the LORD, H3068 his offering H7133 shall be of fine flour; H5560 and he shall pour H3332 oil H8081 upon it, and put H5414 frankincense H3828 thereon: And he shall bring H935 it to Aaron's H175 sons H1121 the priests: H3548 and he shall take H7061 thereout H8033 his handful H7062 H4393 of the flour H5560 thereof, and of the oil H8081 thereof, with all the frankincense H3828 thereof; and the priest H3548 shall burn H6999 the memorial H234 of it upon the altar, H4196 to be an offering made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD: H3068 And the remnant H3498 of the meat offering H4503 shall be Aaron's H175 and his sons': H1121 it is a thing most H6944 holy H6944 of the offerings H801 of the LORD H3068 made by fire. H801 And if thou bring H7126 an oblation H7133 of a meat offering H4503 baken H3989 in the oven, H8574 it shall be unleavened H4682 cakes H2471 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 or unleavened H4682 wafers H7550 anointed H4886 with oil. H8081 And if thy oblation H7133 be a meat offering H4503 baken in a pan, H4227 it shall be of fine flour H5560 unleavened, H4682 mingled H1101 with oil. H8081 Thou shalt part H6626 it in pieces, H6595 and pour H3332 oil H8081 thereon: it is a meat offering. H4503 And if thy oblation H7133 be a meat offering H4503 baken in the fryingpan, H4802 it shall be made H6213 of fine flour H5560 with oil. H8081 And thou shalt bring H935 the meat offering H4503 that is made H6213 of these things unto the LORD: H3068 and when it is presented H7126 unto the priest, H3548 he shall bring H5066 it unto the altar. H4196 And the priest H3548 shall take H7311 from the meat offering H4503 a memorial H234 thereof, and shall burn H6999 it upon the altar: H4196 it is an offering made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068 And that which is left H3498 of the meat offering H4503 shall be Aaron's H175 and his sons': H1121 it is a thing most H6944 holy H6944 of the offerings H801 of the LORD H3068 made by fire. H801 No meat offering, H4503 which ye shall bring H7126 unto the LORD, H3068 shall be made H6213 with leaven: H2557 for ye shall burn H6999 no leaven, H7603 nor any honey, H1706 in any offering H801 of the LORD H3068 made by fire. H801 As for the oblation H7133 of the firstfruits, H7225 ye shall offer H7126 them unto the LORD: H3068 but they shall not be burnt H5927 on the altar H4196 for a sweet H5207 savour. H7381 And every oblation H7133 of thy meat offering H4503 shalt thou season H4414 with salt; H4417 neither shalt thou suffer the salt H4417 of the covenant H1285 of thy God H430 to be lacking H7673 from thy meat offering: H4503 with all thine offerings H7133 thou shalt offer H7126 salt. H4417 And if thou offer H7126 a meat offering H4503 of thy firstfruits H1061 unto the LORD, H3068 thou shalt offer H7126 for the meat offering H4503 of thy firstfruits H1061 green ears H24 of corn dried H7033 by the fire, H784 even corn beaten H1643 out of full ears. H3759 And thou shalt put H5414 oil H8081 upon it, and lay H7760 frankincense H3828 thereon: it is a meat offering. H4503 And the priest H3548 shall burn H6999 the memorial H234 of it, part of the beaten corn H1643 thereof, and part of the oil H8081 thereof, with all the frankincense H3828 thereof: it is an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068

Leviticus 9:2 STRONG

And he said H559 unto Aaron, H175 Take H3947 thee a young H1241 H1121 calf H5695 for a sin offering, H2403 and a ram H352 for a burnt offering, H5930 without blemish, H8549 and offer H7126 them before H6440 the LORD. H3068

Numbers 15:4-31 STRONG

Then shall he that offereth H7126 his offering H7133 unto the LORD H3068 bring H7126 a meat offering H4503 of a tenth deal H6241 of flour H5560 mingled H1101 with the fourth H7243 part of an hin H1969 of oil. H8081 And the fourth H7243 part of an hin H1969 of wine H3196 for a drink offering H5262 shalt thou prepare H6213 with the burnt offering H5930 or sacrifice, H2077 for one H259 lamb. H3532 Or for a ram, H352 thou shalt prepare H6213 for a meat offering H4503 two H8147 tenth deals H6241 of flour H5560 mingled H1101 with the third H7992 part of an hin H1969 of oil. H8081 And for a drink offering H5262 thou shalt offer H7126 the third H7992 part of an hin H1969 of wine, H3196 for a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068 And when thou preparest H6213 a bullock H1121 H1241 for a burnt offering, H5930 or for a sacrifice H2077 in performing H6381 a vow, H5088 or peace offerings H8002 unto the LORD: H3068 Then shall he bring H7126 with a bullock H1241 H1121 a meat offering H4503 of three H7969 tenth deals H6241 of flour H5560 mingled H1101 with half H2677 an hin H1969 of oil. H8081 And thou shalt bring H7126 for a drink offering H5262 half H2677 an hin H1969 of wine, H3196 for an offering made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068 Thus shall it be done H6213 for one H259 bullock, H7794 or for one H259 ram, H352 or for a lamb, H3532 H7716 or a kid. H5795 According to the number H4557 that ye shall prepare, H6213 so H3602 shall ye do H6213 to every one H259 according to their number. H4557 All that are born of the country H249 shall do H6213 these things after this manner, in offering H7126 an offering made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068 And if a stranger H1616 sojourn H1481 with you, or whosoever be among H8432 you in your generations, H1755 and will offer H6213 an offering made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD; H3068 as ye do, H6213 so he shall do. H6213 One H259 ordinance H2708 shall be both for you of the congregation, H6951 and also for the stranger H1616 that sojourneth H1481 with you, an ordinance H2708 for ever H5769 in your generations: H1755 as ye are, so shall the stranger H1616 be before H6440 the LORD. H3068 One H259 law H8451 and one H259 manner H4941 shall be for you, and for the stranger H1616 that sojourneth H1481 with you. And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto them, When ye come H935 into the land H776 whither I bring H935 you, Then it shall be, that, when ye eat H398 of the bread H3899 of the land, H776 ye shall offer up H7311 an heave offering H8641 unto the LORD. H3068 Ye shall offer up H7311 a cake H2471 of the first H7225 of your dough H6182 for an heave offering: H8641 as ye do the heave offering H8641 of the threshingfloor, H1637 so shall ye heave H7311 it. Of the first H7225 of your dough H6182 ye shall give H5414 unto the LORD H3068 an heave offering H8641 in your generations. H1755 And if ye have erred, H7686 and not observed H6213 all these commandments, H4687 which the LORD H3068 hath spoken H1696 unto Moses, H4872 Even all that the LORD H3068 hath commanded H6680 you by the hand H3027 of Moses, H4872 from the day H3117 that the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses, and henceforward H1973 among your generations; H1755 Then it shall be, if ought be committed H6213 by ignorance H7684 without the knowledge H5869 of the congregation, H5712 that all the congregation H5712 shall offer H6213 one H259 young H1121 H1241 bullock H6499 for a burnt offering, H5930 for a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD, H3068 with his meat offering, H4503 and his drink offering, H5262 according to the manner, H4941 and one H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering. H2403 And the priest H3548 shall make an atonement H3722 for all the congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and it shall be forgiven H5545 them; for it is ignorance: H7684 and they shall bring H935 their offering, H7133 a sacrifice made by fire H801 unto the LORD, H3068 and their sin offering H2403 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 for their ignorance: H7684 And it shall be forgiven H5545 all the congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and the stranger H1616 that sojourneth H1481 among H8432 them; seeing all the people H5971 were in ignorance. H7684 And if any H259 soul H5315 sin H2398 through ignorance, H7684 then he shall bring H7126 a she goat H5795 of the first H1323 year H8141 for a sin offering. H2403 And the priest H3548 shall make an atonement H3722 for the soul H5315 that sinneth ignorantly, H7683 when he sinneth H2398 by ignorance H7684 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 to make an atonement H3722 for him; and it shall be forgiven H5545 him. Ye shall have one H259 law H8451 for him that sinneth H6213 through ignorance, H7684 both for him that is born H249 among the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and for the stranger H1616 that sojourneth H1481 among H8432 them. But the soul H5315 that doeth H6213 ought presumptuously, H7311 H3027 whether he be born in the land, H249 or a stranger, H4480 H1616 the same reproacheth H1442 the LORD; H3068 and that soul H5315 shall be cut off H3772 from among H7130 his people. H5971 Because he hath despised H959 the word H1697 of the LORD, H3068 and hath broken H6565 his commandment, H4687 that soul H5315 shall utterly H3772 be cut off; H3772 his iniquity H5771 shall be upon him.

Numbers 28:1-29 STRONG

And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559 Command H6680 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto them, My offering, H7133 and my bread H3899 for my sacrifices made by fire, H801 for a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto me, shall ye observe H8104 to offer H7126 unto me in their due season. H4150 And thou shalt say H559 unto them, This is the offering made by fire H801 which ye shall offer H7126 unto the LORD; H3068 two H8147 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 without spot H8549 day by day, H3117 for a continual H8548 burnt offering. H5930 The one H259 lamb H3532 shalt thou offer H6213 in the morning, H1242 and the other H8145 lamb H3532 shalt thou offer H6213 at even; H6153 And a tenth H6224 part of an ephah H374 of flour H5560 for a meat offering, H4503 mingled H1101 with the fourth H7243 part of an hin H1969 of beaten H3795 oil. H8081 It is a continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 which was ordained H6213 in mount H2022 Sinai H5514 for a sweet H5207 savour, H7381 a sacrifice made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068 And the drink offering H5262 thereof shall be the fourth H7243 part of an hin H1969 for the one H259 lamb: H3532 in the holy H6944 place shalt thou cause the strong wine H7941 to be poured H5258 unto the LORD H3068 for a drink offering. H5262 And the other H8145 lamb H3532 shalt thou offer H6213 at even: H6153 as the meat offering H4503 of the morning, H1242 and as the drink offering H5262 thereof, thou shalt offer H6213 it, a sacrifice made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068 And on the sabbath H7676 day H3117 two H8147 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 without spot, H8549 and two H8147 tenth H6241 deals of flour H5560 for a meat offering, H4503 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 and the drink offering H5262 thereof: This is the burnt offering H5930 of every sabbath, H7676 beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 and his drink offering. H5262 And in the beginnings H7218 of your months H2320 ye shall offer H7126 a burnt offering H5930 unto the LORD; H3068 two H8147 young H1241 bullocks, H6499 and one H259 ram, H352 seven H7651 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 without spot; H8549 And three H7969 tenth deals H6241 of flour H5560 for a meat offering, H4503 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 for one H259 bullock; H6499 and two H8147 tenth H6241 deals of flour H5560 for a meat offering, H4503 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 for one H259 ram; H352 And a several tenth deal H6241 of flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering H4503 unto one H259 lamb; H3532 for a burnt offering H5930 of a sweet H5207 savour, H7381 a sacrifice made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068 And their drink offerings H5262 shall be half H2677 an hin H1969 of wine H3196 unto a bullock, H6499 and the third H7992 part of an hin H1969 unto a ram, H352 and a fourth H7243 part of an hin H1969 unto a lamb: H3532 this is the burnt offering H5930 of every month H2320 throughout the months H2320 of the year. H8141 And one H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering H2403 unto the LORD H3068 shall be offered, H6213 beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 and his drink offering. H5262 And in the fourteenth H702 H6240 day H3117 of the first H7223 month H2320 is the passover H6453 of the LORD. H3068 And in the fifteenth H2568 H6240 day H3117 of this month H2320 is the feast: H2282 seven H7651 days H3117 shall unleavened bread H4682 be eaten. H398 In the first H7223 day H3117 shall be an holy H6944 convocation; H4744 ye shall do H6213 no manner of servile H5656 work H4399 therein: But ye shall offer H7126 a sacrifice made by fire H801 for a burnt offering H5930 unto the LORD; H3068 two H8147 young H1241 bullocks, H6499 and one H259 ram, H352 and seven H7651 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year: H8141 they shall be unto you without blemish: H8549 And their meat offering H4503 shall be of flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil: H8081 three H7969 tenth deals H6241 shall ye offer H6213 for a bullock, H6499 and two H8147 tenth deals H6241 for a ram; H352 A several tenth deal H6241 shalt thou offer H6213 for every H259 lamb, H3532 throughout the seven H7651 lambs: H3532 And one H259 goat H8163 for a sin offering, H2403 to make an atonement H3722 for you. Ye shall offer H6213 these beside the burnt offering H5930 in the morning, H1242 which is for a continual H8548 burnt offering. H5930 After this manner ye shall offer H6213 daily, H3117 throughout the seven H7651 days, H3117 the meat H3899 of the sacrifice made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD: H3068 it shall be offered H6213 beside the continual H8548 burnt offering, H5930 and his drink offering. H5262 And on the seventh H7637 day H3117 ye shall have an holy H6944 convocation; H4744 ye shall do H6213 no servile H5656 work. H4399 Also in the day H3117 of the firstfruits, H1061 when ye bring H7126 a new H2319 meat offering H4503 unto the LORD, H3068 after your weeks H7620 be out, ye shall have an holy H6944 convocation; H4744 ye shall do H6213 no servile H5656 work: H4399 But ye shall offer H7126 the burnt offering H5930 for a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD; H3068 two H8147 young H1241 bullocks, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 seven H7651 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year; H8141 And their meat offering H4503 of flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 three H7969 tenth deals H6241 unto one H259 bullock, H6499 two H8147 tenth deals H6241 unto one H259 ram, H352 A several tenth deal H6241 unto one H259 lamb, H3532 throughout the seven H7651 lambs; H3532

1 Chronicles 9:29 STRONG

Some of them also were appointed H4487 to oversee the vessels, H3627 and all the instruments H3627 of the sanctuary, H6944 and the fine flour, H5560 and the wine, H3196 and the oil, H8081 and the frankincense, H3828 and the spices. H1314

Psalms 50:9-13 STRONG

I will take H3947 no bullock H6499 out of thy house, H1004 nor he goats H6260 out of thy folds. H4356 For every beast H2416 of the forest H3293 is mine, and the cattle H929 upon a thousand H505 hills. H2042 I know H3045 all the fowls H5775 of the mountains: H2022 and the wild beasts H2123 of the field H7704 are mine. H5978 If I were hungry, H7456 I would not tell H559 thee: for the world H8398 is mine, and the fulness H4393 thereof. Will I eat H398 the flesh H1320 of bulls, H47 or drink H8354 the blood H1818 of goats? H6260

Isaiah 49:23 STRONG

And kings H4428 shall be thy nursing fathers, H539 and their queens H8282 thy nursing mothers: H3243 they shall bow down H7812 to thee with their face H639 toward the earth, H776 and lick up H3897 the dust H6083 of thy feet; H7272 and thou shalt know H3045 that I am the LORD: H3068 for they shall not be ashamed H954 that wait H6960 for me.

Mark 9:49 STRONG

For G1063 every one G3956 shall be salted G233 with fire, G4442 and G2532 every G3956 sacrifice G2378 shall be salted G233 with salt. G251

Commentary on Ezra 6 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible


Introduction

INTRODUCTION TO EZRA 6

Darius, on receiving the letter from his officers in Samaria, searched for the decree of Cyrus, and found it, and which he confirmed, Ezra 6:1 and made a fresh decree, and ordered expenses to be given out of his tribute for the building of the temple, and for the sacrifices of it; and that whosoever altered it should be hanged on the timber of his own house, and imprecated a curse on those that should destroy the house of God, Ezra 6:8 upon which the building went on, and was finished, Ezra 6:13 and the temple was dedicated to God in a solemn manner, Ezra 6:16, and the passover was kept by all the people, Ezra 6:19.


Verse 1

Then Darius the king made a decree,.... To make inquiry after the edict of Cyrus, to search the public records for it:

and search was made in the house of the rolls; or "books"F18בבית ספריא, εν ταις βιβλιοθηκαις, Sept. "in bibliotheca", V. L. "in bibliotheca librorum", Tigurine version; "in domo librorum", Pagninus, Montanus. , in a public library or museum:

where the treasures were laid up in Babylon; where things of worth and value were reposited; not only gold, silver, jewels, and precious stones, and things rare and curious, but all sorts of writings relating to the monarchy, and the dominions belonging to it; but it seems it could not be found here, and therefore the king ordered search to be made elsewhere.


Verse 2

And there was found at Achmetha,.... Which Jarchi and Aben Ezra take to be the name of a vessel in which letters and writings were put for safety; but it was no doubt the name of a place; the Vulgate Latin version has it Ecbatana; and so JosephusF19Antiqu. l. 11. c. 4. sect. 6. ; which was the name of a city in Media, where the kings of that country had their residence in the summer timeF20Curtius, l. 5. c. 8. Vid. Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 3. c. 6. ; for it has its name from heatF21Hiller. Onomastic. Sacr. p. 618. ; the Persian kings dwelt at Shushan in the winter, and at Ecbatana in the summerF23Athen. Deipnosophist, l. 12. c. 1. ; hence they are compared by AelianF24De Animal. l. 3. c. 13. to cranes, birds of passage, because of their going to and from the above places:

in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, here was found

a roll; which was the decree of Cyrus, which perhaps he took with him when he went thither:

and therein was a record thus written; as follows.


Verse 3

In the first year of Cyrus the king; the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be builded,.... See Ezra 1:1,

the place where they offered sacrifices; to God in times past, ever since it was built by Solomon:

and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; so as to bear and support the building erected on them, as the word signifies:

the height thereof sixty cubits; which were thirty more than the height of Solomon's temple, 1 Kings 6:2 though sixty less than the height of the porch, which was one hundred and twenty, 2 Chronicles 3:4 and which some take to be the height of the whole house; and hence it may be observed what Herod saidF25Apud Joseph. Antiqu. l. 15. c. 11. sect. 1. , that the temple then in being wanted sixty cubits in height of that of Solomon's:

and the breadth thereof sixty cubits; whereas the breadth of Solomon's temple was but twenty, 1 Kings 6:2, but since it cannot reasonably be thought that the breadth should be equal to the height, and so very disproportionate to Solomon's temple; many learned men understand this of the extension of it as to length, which exactly agrees with the length of the former temple, 1 Kings 6:2.


Verse 4

With three rows of great stones,.... Which Jarchi interprets of the walls of it, and these stones of marble; and so Ben Melech:

and a row of new timber; of cedar wood upon the rows of stone, see 1 Kings 6:36 or for the lining and wainscoting the walls:

and let the expenses be given out of the king's house; treasury, or exchequer; but it does not appear that this part of the decree was observed, at least hitherto; but the Jews built at their own expense, and perhaps did not exactly observe the directions given as to the dimensions of the house.


Verse 5

And also let the golden and silver vessels,.... See Ezra 1:7 and which confirms what the Jews said to Tatnai, Ezra 5:14.


Verse 6

Now therefore Tatnai, governor beyond the river,.... The river Euphrates, that side of it towards the land of Israel; JosephusF26Ibid. (Antiqu.) l. 11. c. 4. sect. 7. calls this man master of the horse:

Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence; keep at a distance from the Jews, and give them no disturbance, nor interrupt them in their work of building of the temple, but mind your own business and government.


Verse 7

Let the work of this house of God alone,.... Suffer them to go on with it, and do not hinder them; it looks, by these expressions, as if he had some suspicion or hint given him that they were inclined to molest them, or that there were some that stirred them up to it, and were desirous of it:

let the governor of the Jews, and the elders of the Jews, build this house of God in his place; where it formerly stood; that is, go on with the building of it.


Verse 8

Moreover, I make a decree, what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews, for the building of this house of God,.... This must be considered as an additional decree of Darius, which was peculiarly made by him, in which more was granted in favour of the Jews, and as an encouragement to them to go on with the building of the temple; though JosephusF1Antiqu. l. 11. c. 4. sect. 6. says this is no other than a confirmation of the decree of Cyrus; for, according to him, all that is here granted to them, or threatened to others, from hence to the end of Ezra 6:10, was contained in the decree:

that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river; what was collected out of his dominions on that side the river Euphrates, towards the land of Israel: according to HerodotusF2Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 89-95. , this Darius was the first of the kings of Persia that exacted tribute; under Cyrus and Cambyses only presents were brought; but he imposed a tribute, and was therefore called καπηλος, an huckster, as Cambyses had the name of lord, and Cyrus that of father: the same writer gives an account of the several nations he received it from, and the particular sums, which in all amounted to 14,560 Euboic talents of gold; among whom are mentioned all Phoenicia and Syria, called Palestine, the tribute of which parts is the tribute beyond the river he referred to: and this king was well disposed to the Jewish nation, temple, and worship, before he was king, if what JosephusF3Antiqu. l. 11. c. 3. sect. 1. says is true, that, while a private man, he vowed to God that, if he should be king, he would send all the sacred vessels that were in Babylon to the temple at Jerusalem: and out of the above tribute it is ordered:

that forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered; from going on with the building, for want of money to buy materials, and pay the workmen.


Verse 9

And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven,.... All which were used for burnt offerings, see Leviticus 1:2

wheat, salt, wine, and oil; "wheat", or "fine flour", for the "minchah" or meat offering; "salt", for every offering; "wine", for the drink offerings; and "oil", to be put upon the meat offerings, see Leviticus 2:1,

according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail; for the daily sacrifice, and the meat and drink offerings which attended it, Exodus 29:38.


Verse 10

That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven,.... Such as will be acceptable to him, Genesis 8:21

and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons; prayer being wont to be made at the time of the morning and evening incense; and the Jews used to pray for other people besides themselves, and especially when desired, and particularly for kings and civil magistrates, to whom they were subject, see Jeremiah 29:7, the sons of Darius Hystaspis, for whose life, as well as his own, he would have prayer made, were, according to HerodotusF4Polymnia, sive, l. 7. c. 2. , three by his first wife, the daughter of Gobryas, before he began to reign, the eldest of which was Artobazanes; which sons must be here meant, since this was towards the beginning of his reign; he had afterwards four more by Atossa the daughter of Cyrus, the eldest of which was Xerxes, who succeeded him: many of the Heathens had an high opinion of the God of the Jews, and of their prayers to him for them; even the Emperor JulianF5Opera, par. 2. ep. 25. p. 153. styles him the best of all the gods, and desired the Jews to pray to him for the welfare of his kingdom; nor need it seem strange that Darius should desire the same, since he was a devout prince; his father Hystaspes is supposed by some to be the same that was one of the most famous among the Persian Magi, or ministers in sacred things; and Darius himself had so great a veneration for the men of that sacred order, that he commanded that it should be put upon his sepulchral monument, that he was master of the MagiF6Porphyr. de abstinentia, l. 4, c. 16. ; and by his familiarity with the priests of Egypt, and learning their divinity, had the honour, while alive, to have deity ascribed to himF7Diodor. Sic. l. 1. p. 85. .


Verse 11

Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word,.... Act contrary to this command, will not obey it, but as much as in him lies changes and revokes it:

let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him, be hanged thereon; that is, let a beam be taken from it, and a gallows or gibbet made of it, and hang him on it:

and let his house be made a dunghill for this; be pulled down, and never rebuilt more; see Gill on Daniel 2:2; see Gill on Daniel 2:9.


Verse 12

And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there,.... Whose name is not only called upon there, and that called by his name; but who grants his presence, and causes his Shechinah, or divine Majesty, to dwell there, as in Solomon's temple, which Darius had some knowledge of:

destroy all kings and people; let them be who they will, high or low:

that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God, which is at Jerusalem; this he said to deter from hindering the building of it now, and from attempting to destroy it hereafter:

I Darius have made a decree, let it be done with speed; be carried immediately into execution, especially with respect to the disbursement for the building of the temple, and for the sacrifices of it.


Verse 13

Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions,.... Having received and read the above letter:

according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily; acquainted the Jews with what the king had written; were so far from hindering the work going forward, that they encouraged it; and made disbursements to them out of the king's tribute, and furnished them with everything necessary for sacrifice: and this they did immediately, without delay.


Verse 14

And the elders of the Jews builded,.... Went on with the building of the temple:

and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo; or grandson, as before; being animated and encouraged by them; and as they foretold and promised it would, be, so it was; they had success in their work, the Lord overruling the heart of Darius the king and his council in their favour:

and they builded and finished it; that is, the temple:

according to the commandment of the God of Israel; by the above prophets, who spoke to them, and prophesied in his name:

and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia; the commandment of Cyrus is in Ezra 1:1 that of Darius in this, Ezra 6:8, but who Artaxerxes is, and his commandment, is not easy to say; he cannot be the Artaxerxes between Cyrus and Darius, but one that followed the latter; besides, he was a hinderer of the building, Ezra 4:21, some think this was Xerxes the son and successor of Darius, and who might be partner with his father in the empire at this time, and so is joined with him in this commandment; which is more probable than that he should be his grandson Artaxerxes Longimamus, in whose reign the temple, it is supposed, was beautified and ornamented, though the exterior building of it was before finished; and so he is spoken of by anticipation; and still more plausible than that he should be, with others, Artaxerxes Mnemon, the son of Darius Nothus; but, after all, I am most inclined to think, with Aben Ezra, that he is Darius himself; and the words to be read, Darius, that is, Artaxerxes, king of Persia; Artaxerxes being, as he observes, a common name of the kings of Persia, as Pharaoh was of the kings of Egypt; though this is by some rejectedF8Vid. Rainold de Lib. Apocryph. praelect. 31. p. 271. ; and who goes by this name in the continuance of this history, in whose seventh year, the year after this, Ezra went up to Jerusalem, and, in the twentieth of his reign, Nehemiah, Ezra 7:1, and I find Dr. LightfootF9Works, vol. 1. p. 139. was of the same mind; and, according to Diodorus SiculusF11Bibliothec. l. 15. p. 400. , the kings of Persia were called by the name of Artaxerxes after Mnemon; and so they might before; Cambyses is so called in Ezra 4:7. HerodotusF12Erato, sive, l. 6. c. 98. says the name signifies "a mighty warrior".


Verse 15

And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar,.... The twelfth month of the year with the Jews, and answers to part of our February and part of March:

which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king; four years after the decree came forth.


Verse 16

And the children of Israel,.... Those of the ten tribes that remained after the body of the people were carried captive, or came with the Jews at their return:

the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity; those of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin:

kept the dedication of this house of God with joy; they set it apart for sacred use and service, with feasting and other expressions of joy and gladness, as follows.


Verse 17

And offered, at the dedication of this house of God, an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs,.... Hecatombs of various sorts, which were always reckoned grand sacrifices, even among Heathens, of which Homer sometimes speaks; some of these were for burnt offerings, and others peace offerings, by way of thankfulness to God for the finishing of the temple; part of which belonging to the offerers, they feasted upon it with great gladness of heart:

and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel; for though the ten tribes were carried captive by Shalmaneser, yet, as before observed, there were some of them that remained in the land, and others that went and returned with the two tribes; and therefore a sin offering was made for them all, for the typical expiation of guilt contracted since they had been in an Heathen land, and, temple service had ceased.


Verse 18

And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God which is at Jerusalem,.... All in their proper classes and courses, to do the work of the temple at Jerusalem in their turns:

as it is written in the book of Moses; see Numbers 3:6, from hence it is plain the Pentateuch was not written by Ezra, as suspected by SpinosaF13Tract. Theolog. Polit. c. 8. p. 163. , but by Moses; see the argument of the book of Genesis. See Gill on Genesis 1:1.


Verse 19

And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. The month Nisan or Abib, which was the month following that in which the temple was finished, Ezra 6:15, this passover was kept at the exact time the law commanded, Exodus 12:2.


Verse 20

For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure,.... They were all to a man pure, and all purified as one man; all were of one mind to purify themselves, and took care to do it, and did it with as much dispatch as if only one man was purified; so that they were more generally prepared for service now than in the times of Hezekiah, 2 Chronicles 29:34

and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests and for themselves; which seems to have been done by the Levites, for themselves and for the priests, and for all the people, who were not so pure as the priests and Levites; or otherwise they might have killed it themselves, Exodus 12:6, as BochartF14Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 2. c. 50. col. 576. thinks.


Verse 21

And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity,.... The tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with some of the ten tribes mixed with them:

and all such as had separated themselves unto them, from the filthiness of the Heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel, did eat; such of the Gentiles in the dominions of Babylon, and came with the Jews from thence, who were enlightened into the knowledge and worship of the true God, and not only renounced their idolatry, here called filthiness, but were circumcised, and embraced the religion of the Jews, and so were proselytes of righteousness, as they call them; or otherwise they would not have been allowed to eat of the passover, as they did, Exodus 12:48.


Verse 22

And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy,.... Which immediately followed upon the passover, Exodus 12:18,

for the Lord had made them joyful; the building of the temple being finished, and the service of it restored to its original purity:

and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel; by giving them leave to go on in building the temple, and by encouraging and assisting them in it till they had finished it; this was Darius Artaxerxes, who, though called king of Persia, was also king of Assyria, being possessed of the Assyrian monarchy, as his predecessors were upon the taking of Babylon, and the same is therefore called also the king of Babylon, Nehemiah 13:6. God, the God of Israel, who has the hearts of all men in his hands, and so the hearts of kings, and can turn them at his pleasure, inclined his heart to do them good, which was matter of joy unto them, see Ezra 7:27.