Bible Commentaries

Verse 1

Haggai. The prophet of that name. In the second year of Darius (Haggai 1:1 ), "sixth month".

Zechariah. The prophet of that name. In the second year of Darius, "eighth month" (Zechariah 1:1 ).

GOD. Chaldee. 'elah (sing). Same as Eloah. App-4 .

of Israel. Still "Israel", because representative of the whole nation. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .

even unto them: or "[which was] over them".

Verse 3

governor. Chaldee. pechah (modern "Pasha"). Tatnai was governor in Syria, Zerubbabel was governor in Judah. Compare verses: Ezra 5:6 , Ezra 5:14 , Ezra 5:6 , Ezra 7:13 ; Ezra 8:36 . Daniel 3:2 , Daniel 3:3 , Daniel 3:27 ; Daniel 6:7 ; and Haggai 1:1 , Haggai 1:14 ; Haggai 2:2 , Haggai 2:21 .

companions = colleagues or associates.

commanded you = made a decree to you; given a firman.

make up = build. So the wall had already been built by Nehemiah. See the Chronological Structure, p. 617, and notes on p. 618; and App-58 .

Verse 4

said = told. Chaldee. 'amar, which must be followed by the words spoken (which are given in next clause).

we. Note this pronoun (first person sing, and plural), Here, and Ezra 7:27 , Ezra 9:15 , and Nehemiah 1:1 Nehemiah 7:73 ; Nehemiah 12:27-43 ; Nehemiah 13:4-31 . Septuagint, Syriac, and Arab, read "they".

after this manner. Ezra 5:4 should be rendered "we told them what the names were, accordingly the names of the men", &c. It is not a question.

men. As in Ezra 4:21 .

make this building. Hebrew "build this building". Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

Verse 5

the eye. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . elders. Chaldee. sib = grey, hoary. Used only of Ezra here and Ezra 6:7 , Ezra 6:8 , Ezra 6:14 .

Darius. See note on Ezra 4:5 .

answer. See note on Ezra 4:17 .

Verse 6

Tatnai. His name has been recently found in a contract.

Apharsachites. See note on Ezra 4:9 .

Verse 8

province. Compare Nehemiah 1:3 .

great = rolling: i.e. too heavy to be moved without rolling.

Verse 10

chief = head.

Verse 11

the GOD of heaven. See note on 2 Chronicles 36:23 . GOD. Chaldee. 'elah. Same as Eloah. App-4 .

these many years ago. Neh 500 years.

and set up. Compare 1 Kings 6:1 .

Verse 12

gave them. Compare 2 Kings 24:2 ; 2 Kings 25:8-11 .

Verse 13

Cyrus. Compare Ezra 1:1 .

Babylon. Included now with Persia. Compare Ezra 6:1 .Nehemiah 13:6 .

Verse 14

the vessels. Compare Ezra 1:7 , Ezra 1:8 ; Ezra 6:5 .

Sheshbazzar. See note on Ezra 1:8 . This was Nehemiah, who was present, though the stone was actually laid by Zeruhbabel (Zechariah 4:9 ).

Verse 15

carry them into = set them down, or deposit them in.

is = is to be.