Bible Commentaries
Ezra 6

Introduction

Overview

Ezra 6:1, Darius, finding the decree of Cyrus, makes a new decree for the advancement of the building; Ezra 6:13, By the help of Tatnai and Shethar-boznai, according to the decree, the temple is finished; Ezra 6:16, The feast of the dedication is kept; Ezra 6:19, and the passover.

Verse 1

and search: Ezra 4:15, Ezra 4:19, Ezra 5:17, Job 29:16, Proverbs 25:2

rolls: Chal, books, Psalms 40:7, Jeremiah 36:2-4, Jeremiah 36:20-23, Jeremiah 36:29, Jeremiah 36:32, Ezekiel 2:9, Ezekiel 3:1, Revelation 5:1

laid up: Chal, made to descend

Reciprocal: Ezra 4:5 - Darius Ezra 4:24 - Darius Ezra 7:13 - I make Ezra 9:9 - in the sight Isaiah 13:3 - them that Daniel 9:25 - from

Verse 2

at Achmetha: or, at Ecbatana, or, in a coffer, אחמתא [Strong's H712], probably from the Persian Mx, kham, "a house for a summer residence," with a prefix, א, aleph, and the Chaldee termination )t, tha, most likely denotes Ecbatana, as the Vulgate and Josephus read, the summer residence of the Persian monarchs. It was situated in a mountainous region at the foot of mount Orontes, or Jasonius, according to Ammianus, on the southern confines of Media and Persia, and according to Pliny, 750 miles from Seleucia the Great, 20 miles from the Caspian passes, 450 miles from Susa, and the same from Gaze Atropatene, and in lat. 37 degrees 45 min., long. 88 degrees, according to Ptolemy. The building of the city is ascribed to Semiramis by Diodorus, but to Deioces by Eusebius (in Chron. Ezra 1:1), and Herodotus, who states that it was surrounded by seven walls, strong and ample, built in circles one within another, rising each above each by the height of their respective battlements; each being distinguished by a different colour, the first white, the second black, the third purple, the fourth blue, the fifth orange, the sixth plated with silver, and the seventh with gold. The largest of these was nearly the extent of Athens, i.e., 200 furlongs, according to Dion Chrysostom; but Diodorus Siculus states the circumference of Ecbatana to be 250 furlongs. Within the inner circle stood the king's palace and the royal treasury, so much celebrated for its splendour and riches by Polybius. It is highly probable, as D'Anville and Major Rennel suppose, that the present Hamadan, whose ruins attest its former splendour, occupies the site of Ecbatana. It is situated in Al Gebal, at the foot of the lofty mountain Alwend, about 80 leagues from Ispahan, and also from Bagdad.

Reciprocal: Ezra 2:1 - the children Ezra 4:19 - search Ezra 5:17 - let there be Nehemiah 7:6 - the children Jeremiah 36:2 - a roll Acts 2:9 - Medes

Verse 3

the first year: Ezra 1:1-4, Ezra 5:13-15, 2 Chronicles 36:22, 2 Chronicles 36:23

the place: Deuteronomy 12:5, Deuteronomy 12:6, Deuteronomy 12:11-14, 2 Chronicles 2:6, Psalms 122:4

the height: 1 Kings 6:2, 1 Kings 6:3, 2 Chronicles 3:3, 2 Chronicles 3:4, Ezekiel 41:13-15, Revelation 21:16

Reciprocal: Ezra 3:7 - according Ezra 4:3 - king Cyrus Ezra 5:15 - let the house Ezra 5:17 - a decree Isaiah 44:28 - saying Isaiah 60:10 - their kings Jeremiah 30:18 - the palace Daniel 10:1 - Cyrus

Verse 4

three rows: 1 Kings 6:36

the expenses: Ezra 7:20-23, Psalms 68:29, Psalms 72:10, Isaiah 49:23, Isaiah 60:6-10, Revelation 12:16

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 6:2 - threescore Ezra 6:8 - the king's Ezra 7:15 - the silver Haggai 1:8 - to

Verse 5

the golden: Ezra 1:7, Ezra 1:8, Ezra 5:14, Jeremiah 27:16, Jeremiah 27:18-22, Daniel 1:2, Daniel 5:2

which Nebuchadnezzar: 2 Kings 24:13, 2 Kings 25:14, 2 Kings 25:15, 2 Chronicles 36:6, 2 Chronicles 36:7, 2 Chronicles 36:10, 2 Chronicles 36:18, Jeremiah 52:19

brought: Chal, go

Reciprocal: 2 Timothy 2:20 - vessels

Verse 6

Tatnai: Ezra 5:3

your companions: Chal, their societies, Ezra 5:6

be ye far: Genesis 32:28, Genesis 43:14, Nehemiah 1:11, Psalms 76:10, Proverbs 21:1, Proverbs 21:30, Isaiah 27:8, Acts 4:26-28, Romans 8:31

Reciprocal: Ezra 4:9 - Apharsathchites Ezra 5:5 - then they returned Ezra 6:22 - the king Ezra 7:21 - beyond the river Ezra 7:25 - beyond the river Nehemiah 2:7 - let letters

Verse 7

Let the work: Acts 5:38, Acts 5:39

Reciprocal: Isaiah 49:23 - kings

Verse 8

I make a decree: Chal, by me a decree is made

the king's: Ezra 6:4, Ezra 4:16, Ezra 4:20, Ezra 7:15-22, Psalms 68:29-31, Haggai 2:8

hindered: Chal, made to cease, Ezra 4:21, Ezra 4:23, Ezra 5:5

Reciprocal: Leviticus 22:25 - a stranger's 2 Chronicles 30:5 - established Ezra 7:20 - bestow it Nehemiah 9:37 - it yieldeth Nehemiah 11:23 - the king's Ezekiel 45:17 - the prince's Daniel 6:26 - make Romans 13:6 - pay 2 Corinthians 9:14 - by

Verse 9

young bullocks: Leviticus 1:3-5, Leviticus 1:10, Leviticus 9:2, Psalms 50:9-13

lambs: Exodus 29:38-42, Numbers 28:1 - Numbers 29:40

wheat: Leviticus 2:1-16, Numbers 15:4-31, 1 Chronicles 9:29

salt: Leviticus 2:13, Mark 9:49

let it be given: Isaiah 49:23

Reciprocal: Exodus 34:15 - whoring Deuteronomy 32:31 - General Ezra 7:17 - buy speedily Nehemiah 11:23 - the king's Ezekiel 45:17 - the prince's

Verse 10

sweet savours: Chal, rest, Genesis 8:21, Leviticus 1:9, Leviticus 1:13, Ephesians 5:2

pray: Ezra 7:23, Jeremiah 29:7, 1 Timothy 2:1, 1 Timothy 2:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 20:17 - General Exodus 8:28 - entreat Leviticus 4:31 - a sweet 1 Kings 1:47 - bless Ezra 5:8 - the great God Ezra 7:17 - buy speedily Daniel 2:46 - and sweet Zechariah 7:2 - they Acts 8:24 - Pray Revelation 16:11 - the God

Verse 11

whosoever: Ezra 7:26

timber: Esther 5:4, Esther 7:10

hanged: Chal, destroyed

his house: 2 Kings 9:37, 2 Kings 10:27, Daniel 2:5, Daniel 3:29

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 21:6 - hang Daniel 3:28 - and have

Verse 12

caused: Exodus 20:24, Deuteronomy 12:5, Deuteronomy 12:11, Deuteronomy 16:2, 1 Kings 9:3, 2 Chronicles 7:16, Psalms 132:13, Psalms 132:14

destroy: Psalms 5:10, Psalms 21:8-10, Psalms 137:8, Psalms 137:9, Isaiah 60:12, Obadiah 1:10, Zechariah 12:2-4, Acts 5:38, Acts 5:39, Acts 9:5, Revelation 19:14-21

I Darius: Esther 3:14, Esther 3:15, Esther 8:14

speed: Ezra 6:13, Ecclesiastes 9:10

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 12:21 - to put 1 Chronicles 22:7 - unto the name Ezra 7:14 - thy God Ezra 7:15 - whose habitation Nehemiah 1:9 - the place

Verse 13

Tatnai: Ezra 4:9, Ezra 4:23, Ezra 5:6

so they did: Esther 6:11, Job 5:12, Job 5:13, Proverbs 29:26

Reciprocal: Ezra 5:3 - Tatnai Ezra 6:12 - speed Ezra 6:14 - Cyrus Ezra 8:36 - they furthered

Verse 14

And the elders: Ezra 3:8, Ezra 4:3

through: Ezra 5:1, Ezra 5:2, Haggai 1:12-14, Haggai 2:2-15, Zechariah 2:1 - Zechariah 4:14, Zechariah 6:1-15

finished it: Zechariah 4:9

according: Isaiah 44:28, Haggai 1:8

commandment: Chal, decree

Cyrus: Ezra 6:13, Ezra 1:1-4, Ezra 4:24, Ezra 5:13

Artaxerxes: This was Artaxerxes, the third son and successor of Xerxes, surnamed בךסןקויס, or Longimanus, or in Persian, Ardsheer deeraz dest, "Ardsheer the long-handed;" so called, according to the Greeks, from the extra-ordinary length of his hands, but according to the Easterners, from the extent of his dominions. He ascended the Persian throne, am 3540, bc 464, and reigned forty-one years. He is said to have been the most handsome person of his age, and to have been a prince of a very mild and generous disposition. Ezra 7:1

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 6:38 - finished Ezra 7:7 - Artaxerxes Ezra 9:9 - to set up Esther 1:1 - Ahasuerus Ecclesiastes 9:10 - thy hand Daniel 10:1 - Cyrus Zechariah 1:16 - my house Zechariah 7:1 - the fourth

Verse 15

am 3489, bc 515

Adar: Esther 3:7, Esther 3:13, Esther 8:12, Esther 9:1, Esther 9:15, Esther 9:17, Esther 9:19, Esther 9:21

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 6:38 - finished 1 Kings 7:51 - was ended Ezra 5:16 - it is not finished Ezra 9:9 - to set up Nehemiah 6:15 - wall Ecclesiastes 9:10 - thy hand Zechariah 1:1 - the eighth Zechariah 1:16 - my house Zechariah 4:7 - shoutings Zechariah 4:9 - his hands Zechariah 7:1 - the fourth

Verse 16

the children: 1 Chronicles 9:2, Nehemiah 7:73

children of the captivity: Chal, sons of the transportation, Ezra 4:1

the dedication: 1 Kings 8:63, 2 Chronicles 7:5, 2 Chronicles 7:9, John 10:22

with joy: Ezra 6:22, Ezra 3:11, Ezra 3:12, Deuteronomy 12:7, 1 Chronicles 15:28, 2 Chronicles 7:10, 2 Chronicles 30:23, 2 Chronicles 30:26, Nehemiah 8:10, Nehemiah 12:43, Psalms 122:1, Philippians 4:4, Having set up the worship of God in this dedication, they took care to keep it up, and made the book of Moses their rule, to which they had an eye in this establishment. Though the temple service could not now be performed with so much pomp and plenty as formerly, because of their poverty, yet no doubt it was performed with as much purity and close adherence to the Divine institutions as ever. No beauty is like the beauty of holiness.

Reciprocal: Numbers 7:10 - dedicating 2 Samuel 6:17 - offered 1 Chronicles 15:25 - with joy 1 Chronicles 16:1 - they offered Ezra 2:70 - General Ezra 6:19 - the children Nehemiah 12:27 - gladness Daniel 5:13 - the children

Verse 17

offered: Ezra 8:35, Numbers 7:2-89, 1 Kings 8:63, 1 Kings 8:64, 1 Chronicles 16:1-3, 2 Chronicles 7:5, 2 Chronicles 29:31-35

a sin offering: Leviticus 4:3, Leviticus 4:13, Leviticus 4:14, Leviticus 4:22, Leviticus 4:23, Leviticus 4:28, 2 Chronicles 29:21-23

according to: Though the tribes of Benjamin and Judah, with the priests and Levites, formed the bulk of the people, yet many from the other tribes had returned with them from captivity. 1 Kings 18:31, Luke 22:30, Revelation 7:4-8, Revelation 21:12

Reciprocal: Exodus 24:4 - according Leviticus 9:3 - Take ye Leviticus 16:5 - General Numbers 7:10 - dedicating Numbers 15:24 - one kid 2 Samuel 6:17 - offered 1 Chronicles 29:21 - sacrificed 2 Chronicles 29:32 - the number Ezra 2:70 - General Ezekiel 46:12 - a voluntary Matthew 19:28 - the twelve Acts 26:7 - our James 1:1 - to

Verse 18

the priests: 1 Chronicles 23:1 - 1 Chronicles 26:32, 2 Chronicles 35:4, 2 Chronicles 35:5

as it is written: Chal, according to the writing, Numbers 3:6, Numbers 8:9-26

Reciprocal: Joshua 8:31 - as it is 1 Chronicles 6:32 - and then 1 Chronicles 23:6 - divided 2 Chronicles 8:14 - the Levites 2 Chronicles 29:35 - so the 2 Chronicles 31:2 - the courses 2 Chronicles 35:2 - charges 2 Chronicles 35:10 - the priests Luke 1:8 - in

Verse 19

the children: Ezra 6:16

kept: Exodus 12:6-36, Joshua 5:10, 2 Chronicles 30:1 - 2 Chronicles 35:27

Reciprocal: Numbers 9:2 - his appointed 2 Chronicles 35:1 - the fourteenth Ezra 4:1 - children of the captivity Daniel 5:13 - the children

Verse 20

purified together: 2 Chronicles 29:34, 2 Chronicles 30:15-17

killed: Exodus 12:21, 2 Chronicles 35:11, Hebrews 7:27

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 35:6 - So kill Ezra 4:1 - children of the captivity Daniel 5:13 - the children

Verse 21

all such: Ezra 9:11, Numbers 9:6, Numbers 9:7, Numbers 9:10-14, Isaiah 52:11, Ezekiel 36:25, 2 Corinthians 6:17, 2 Corinthians 7:1

did eat: Exodus 12:47-49, Psalms 93:5

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 35:6 - So kill Nehemiah 12:30 - themselves Matthew 18:17 - a heathen

Verse 22

the feast: Exodus 12:15-20, Exodus 13:6, Exodus 13:7, 2 Chronicles 30:21, 2 Chronicles 35:17, Matthew 26:17, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Corinthians 5:8

turned: Ezra 7:27, Proverbs 16:7, Proverbs 21:1, John 19:11

the king: Darius, as reigning over the country of Assyria, is here called "the king of Assyria." Ezra 6:6-12, Ezra 1:1, 2 Kings 23:29, 2 Chronicles 33:11, Zechariah 10:10, Zechariah 10:11

Reciprocal: Judges 7:11 - thine hands 2 Chronicles 29:36 - Hezekiah rejoiced Ezra 6:16 - with joy Ezra 7:6 - according to Ezra 9:1 - have not separated Nehemiah 2:8 - the king Nehemiah 2:18 - So they strengthened Job 4:3 - and thou hast Jeremiah 30:19 - out Jeremiah 31:13 - for Jeremiah 33:11 - the voice of them Ezekiel 23:23 - the Assyrians