Bible Commentaries
Ezra 1

Introduction

Overview

Ezra 1:1, The proclamation of Cyrus for the building of the temple; Ezra 1:5, The people provide for their return; Ezra 1:7, Cyrus restores the vessels of the temple to Sheshbazzar.

Verse 1

Now in the: 2 Chronicles 36:22, 2 Chronicles 36:23

Cyrus: Cyrus is said to have been the son of Cambyses, king of Persia, and Mandane, daughter of Astyages, king of Media: he was born about 600 years before Christ, and died at the age of 70, after a reign of 30 years. He was mentioned by name, and his conquests foretold, by the prophet Isaiah, about a century before his birth. Josephus states the partiality he evinced towards the Jews, arose from the circumstance of these prophecies being shown him, probably by Daniel.

by the mouth: Jeremiah 25:12-14, Jeremiah 29:10, Jeremiah 33:7-13

the Lord: Ezra 5:13-15, Ezra 6:22, Ezra 7:27, Psalms 106:46, Proverbs 21:1, Daniel 2:1

made a proclamation: Heb. caused a voice to pass, Matthew 3:1-3, John 1:23

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 30:3 - gather thee 1 Kings 8:34 - forgive the sin 1 Kings 11:23 - God 2 Chronicles 6:25 - forgive the sin 2 Chronicles 18:31 - God moved them 2 Chronicles 21:16 - the Lord 2 Chronicles 36:20 - until the reign Ezra 1:5 - whose spirit Ezra 4:3 - king Cyrus Ezra 6:3 - the first year Ezra 6:14 - Cyrus Ezra 9:9 - in the sight Ezra 10:7 - they made Nehemiah 1:11 - grant Psalms 102:13 - the set Psalms 126:1 - turned again Isaiah 13:3 - them that Isaiah 40:9 - General Isaiah 41:27 - I will give Isaiah 44:28 - saying Isaiah 45:1 - to subdue Jeremiah 27:22 - until Jeremiah 50:9 - I will raise Jeremiah 51:11 - the Lord hath Ezekiel 37:12 - and bring Daniel 6:25 - king Daniel 6:28 - and in Daniel 10:1 - Cyrus Micah 4:10 - there shalt Haggai 1:14 - stirred Matthew 1:22 - that Matthew 21:3 - straightway Acts 7:23 - it came Philippians 2:13 - to will

Verse 2

Lord God: 1 Kings 8:27, 2 Chronicles 2:12, Isaiah 66:1, Jeremiah 10:11, Daniel 2:21, Daniel 2:28, Daniel 5:23

hath given: Jeremiah 27:6, Jeremiah 27:7, Daniel 2:37, Daniel 2:38, Daniel 4:25, Daniel 4:32, Daniel 5:19-21

all the kingdoms: According to the testimony of ancient writers, Cyrus, at this time, reigned over the Medes, Persians, Hyrcanians, Syrians, Assyrians, Indians, etc., and all lesser Asia.

he hath charged: Isaiah 44:26-28, Isaiah 45:1, Isaiah 45:12, Isaiah 45:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:7 - Lord Deuteronomy 2:24 - behold Ezra 5:8 - the great God Ezra 5:15 - let the house Esther 1:3 - of Persia Psalms 145:6 - And men Isaiah 14:17 - opened not the house of his prisoners Isaiah 40:9 - General Isaiah 41:2 - gave Isaiah 41:25 - shall he call Isaiah 41:27 - I will give Isaiah 44:8 - ye are Isaiah 45:3 - that thou Isaiah 45:5 - I girded thee Isaiah 46:11 - the man Isaiah 49:23 - kings Jeremiah 25:12 - when Jeremiah 27:5 - and have Jeremiah 29:10 - after Jeremiah 50:9 - I will raise Daniel 6:25 - king Daniel 6:28 - and in Daniel 8:3 - one Daniel 10:1 - Cyrus Jonah 1:9 - the God Micah 4:10 - there shalt Revelation 16:11 - the God

Verse 3

his God: Joshua 1:9, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Matthew 28:20

he is the God: Deuteronomy 32:31, Psalms 83:18, Isaiah 45:5, Jeremiah 10:10, Daniel 2:47, Daniel 6:26, Acts 10:36

Reciprocal: Leviticus 25:10 - proclaim Ezra 5:3 - Who hath commanded you Ezra 5:8 - the great God Ezra 7:13 - minded Ezra 7:14 - thy God Esther 3:4 - he had told Isaiah 41:25 - shall he call Isaiah 45:13 - he shall build Jeremiah 51:50 - remember Daniel 3:28 - Blessed

Verse 4

let the men: Ezra 7:16-18, Acts 24:17, 3 John 1:6-8

help him: Heb. lift him up, Ecclesiastes 4:9, Ecclesiastes 4:10, Galatians 6:2

the freewill: Ezra 2:68-70, 1 Chronicles 29:3, 1 Chronicles 29:9, 1 Chronicles 29:17

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 29:5 - General 2 Chronicles 29:31 - and as many 2 Chronicles 31:14 - the freewill Ezra 1:6 - willingly offered Psalms 28:9 - lift Ezekiel 46:12 - a voluntary

Verse 5

whose spirit: Ezra 1:1, 2 Chronicles 36:22, Nehemiah 2:12, Proverbs 16:1, 2 Corinthians 8:16, Philippians 2:13, James 1:16, James 1:17, 3 John 1:11

Reciprocal: Exodus 35:21 - General 1 Samuel 10:26 - whose hearts 1 Chronicles 5:26 - stirred up 2 Chronicles 21:16 - the Lord Ezra 4:2 - Zerubbabel Ezra 8:1 - the chief Psalms 102:14 - General Isaiah 49:17 - children Isaiah 51:14 - captive Jeremiah 31:6 - Arise Jeremiah 31:16 - they Ezekiel 45:17 - the prince's Haggai 1:14 - stirred Matthew 21:3 - straightway Acts 7:23 - it came

Verse 6

strengthened their hands: that is, helped them, Ezra 7:15, Ezra 7:16, Ezra 8:25-28, Ezra 8:33

willingly offered: Ezra 1:4, Psalms 110:3, 2 Corinthians 9:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:53 - precious Exodus 25:2 - willingly Exodus 35:21 - General 2 Kings 12:4 - and all the money 2 Chronicles 35:8 - his princes Ecclesiastes 10:19 - but Acts 18:23 - strengthening 2 Timothy 2:20 - vessels

Verse 7

Also Cyrus: Ezra 5:14, Ezra 6:5

Nebuchadnezzar: 2 Kings 24:13, 2 Kings 25:13-16, 2 Chronicles 36:7, 2 Chronicles 36:10, 2 Chronicles 36:18, Jeremiah 27:21, Jeremiah 27:22, Jeremiah 28:3-6, Daniel 1:2, Daniel 5:2, Daniel 5:3, Daniel 5:23

Reciprocal: Judges 17:5 - an house of gods 2 Chronicles 4:19 - all the vessels Ezra 8:28 - the vessels Ezra 9:9 - in the sight Isaiah 52:11 - be Jeremiah 50:2 - her idols Jeremiah 51:44 - I will bring Daniel 10:1 - Cyrus

Verse 8

Sheshbazzar: Ezra 1:11, Ezra 5:14, Ezra 5:16, Haggai 1:1, Haggai 1:14, Haggai 2:2-4, Zechariah 4:6-10

Reciprocal: Ezra 6:5 - the golden Ezra 8:25 - weighed Daniel 10:1 - Cyrus

Verse 9

chargers of gold: Numbers 7:13, Numbers 7:19-89, 1 Kings 7:50, 2 Chronicles 4:8, 2 Chronicles 4:11, 2 Chronicles 4:21, 2 Chronicles 4:22, 2 Chronicles 24:14, Matthew 14:8

nine: Matthew 10:29-31

Reciprocal: Exodus 25:29 - the 2 Kings 12:13 - bowls 2 Kings 25:15 - and such things

Verse 10

Reciprocal: Numbers 7:13 - charger Jeremiah 52:18 - bowls

Verse 11

the vessels: Romans 9:23, 2 Timothy 2:19-21

five thousand: Instead of 5,400, the enumeration of the articles in 2 Timothy 2:9, 2 Timothy 2:10, only amounts to 2,499; but in the account, Esdras 2 Timothy 2:13, 2 Timothy 2:14, the amount is 5,469, as will be evident from the following statements:

In Ezra In Esdras

Gold chargers 30 Gold cups 1,000

Silver chargers 1,000 Silver cups 1,000

Knives 29 Silver censers 29

Gold basons 30 Gold vials 30

Silver basons 410 Silver vials 2,410

Other vessels 1,000 Other vessels 1,000

Said to be 5,400 Total 5,469

But only 2,499

Deficiency 2,901 Surplus 69

It is supposed that they actually amounted to 5,400, but that only the chief of there specified, the spoons, etc. being omitted.

captivity: Heb. transportation, Matthew 1:11, Matthew 1:12

Reciprocal: Ezra 1:8 - Sheshbazzar Ezra 2:2 - Zerubbabel Ezra 4:1 - children of the captivity Ezra 5:14 - Sheshbazzar Psalms 85:1 - thou hast Jeremiah 27:22 - then