Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezra 6
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Ezra 6
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Ezra 6
"Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon." — Ezra 6:1 (ASV)
Made a decree. —Rather, gave an order.
Were laid up. —In the original, laid down, in a chamber for the storing of documents and other treasures.
"And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a roll, and therein was thus written for a record:" — Ezra 6:2 (ASV)
At Achmetha. —That is, Ecbatana, the Median capital of Cyrus. It is probable that the original roll of parchment had been destroyed at Babylon by Smerdis, but a copy of it was found here, probably in a Chaldean transcript.
"In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be builded, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;" — Ezra 6:3 (ASV)
Strongly laid. — Thy foundation shall be laid (Isaiah 44:28). The decree adds a word that signifies "with sufficient support."
"And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to its place; and thou shalt put them in the house of God." — Ezra 6:5 (ASV)
And also let the golden and silver vessels ... be restored. — The desecration of these vessels by Belshazzar (Daniel 5:2–3) was thus to be expiated. Every word, including the twice repeated “house of God,” is most emphatic.
"Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, be ye far from thence:" — Ezra 6:6 (ASV)
Now therefore, Tatnai. —Here there is an abrupt transition to the decree of Darius itself, the terms of which were either drawn up by Jewish help, or are freely rendered into the national phraseology by the historian.
Be ye far from thence. —That is, keep aloof from any kind of interference.
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