Albert Barnes Commentary Ezra 1
Albert Barnes Commentary
Ezra 1
Albert Barnes Commentary
Ezra 1
"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying," — Ezra 1:1 (ASV)
By the first year of Cyrus is to be understood the first year of his sovereignty over the Jews, or 538 B.C.
"Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath Jehovah, the God of heaven, given me; and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah." — Ezra 1:2 (ASV)
The Lord God of heaven — Or, “Yahweh, the God of heaven.” In the original Persian, the document probably read: “Ormazd, the God of heaven.” The Hebrew transcript took “Yahweh” as the equivalent of “Ormazd.” The Persian notion of a single Supreme Being—Ahura-Mazda, “the much-knowing, or much-bestowing Spirit”—did, in fact, closely approach the Jewish conception of Yahweh.
Hath given me all the kingdoms ... — There is a similar formula at the beginning of the great majority of Persian inscriptions.
He hath charged me to build him an house — It is a reasonable conjecture that, on the capture of Babylon, Cyrus was brought into contact with Daniel, who drew his attention to the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 44:28); and that Cyrus accepted this prophecy as a “charge” to rebuild the temple.
"And whosoever is left, in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, besides the freewill-offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem." — Ezra 1:4 (ASV)
Let the men of his place help him — that is, “Let the pagan population help him” .
The freewill offering — Probably that made by Cyrus himself (Ezra 1:7–11).
"Then rose up the heads of fathers` [houses] of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go up to build the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem." — Ezra 1:5 (ASV)
Only a portion of the Israelites took advantage of the permission of Cyrus. Many remained in Babylon, since they were disinclined to relinquish their property. Those who returned were persons whom God had especially stirred up to make sacrifices for His glory.
"Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of Jehovah, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods;" — Ezra 1:7 (ASV)
The house of his gods - Rather, “of his god” (Daniel 1:2), that is, Merodach, “his lord” (see 2 Chronicles 36:7 note).
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