Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Ezra 5:2

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Ezra 5:2. Then rose up Zerubbabel — Here we find three classes of men joining in the sacred work: Zerubbabel the civil governor; Jeshua the high priest or ecclesiastical governor; and Haggai and Zechariah the prophets. How glorious it is when we see the civil government joining with the sacerdotal and prophetic for the establishment and extension of true religion!

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

The temple completed (5:1-6:22)

Having given examples of anti-Jewish activity from another era, the writer returns to the time of Zerubbabel. Because of opposition from their enemies, the Jews did no work on the temple for about sixteen years. Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah began to stir up the people to get them working on the building once more (5:1-2).
Some local people must have objected to the renewed activity, and soon a group of officials arrived at the scene to question the legality of the building program (3-5). But the provincial governor investigated the matter fairly. He noted the Jews’ claim that they had received royal permission, and sent a full report to King Darius to see whether the Jews’ story was true (6-17).
A search of the official records showed that the Jews’ claim was true (6:1-5). Darius therefore had no hesitation in giving permission for the work to continue. In addition he guaranteed protection for the workers, and ordered the provincial officials to provide the Jews with money and materials at the government’s expense. He wanted to ensure that the building was completed according to plan, and that the Jews had enough animals and produce to reestablish the temple rituals satisfactorily (6-12).
Four years later the temple was completed and dedicated. The offerings that the people made were on behalf of all twelve tribes of Israel, for the pre-exilic division between north and south no longer existed (13-18).
A few weeks after the dedication ceremony, the people celebrated the first of the annual festivals in their new temple. This was the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread. Among those who gathered for the festival were local Jews who had not been part of the Babylonian exile and who had mixed with other people of the region. They were allowed to join in the festival provided they separated themselves from the mixed religion of the surrounding people (19-22).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

WORK ON THE TEMPLE RESUMED

"Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel, prophesied they unto them. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God helping them."

"Now the prophets" The record here does not mention what the prophets prophesied; but it is clear that they demanded that the Jews resume work on their temple. (See Vol. 3 of our Commentaries on the Minor Prophets (Haggai), pp. 187-197, for a discussion of just how urgent the message of the prophets was.) At any rate, Israel heeded it, and began to build the temple.

"Haggai… and Zechariah" "The work on the temple was renewed only three weeks after Haggai began preaching, which was Sept. 20, 520 B.C."Wycliffe Old Testament Commentary, p. 428. "Zerubbabel is highly honored in Haggai and in Zechariah 4; Jeshua is honored in Zechariah 3 and Zechariah 6."Ibid.

"And began to build the house of God" This supports our view that the first laying of the foundation was a very elementary thing. Haggai complained that the house of God "lay in waste" (Haggai 1:4); and that is the same terminology that was used after Nebuchadnezzar destroyed it. Furthermore, as Hamrick pointed out, "Haggai 1:12-15 does not mention any previous attempt to build the temple; and this probably means that Sheshbazzar's beginnings had been so meager that the project had to be started anew."Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 3, p. 449.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Began to build - i. e., “made a second beginning” - recommenced the uncompleted work.

Helping them - By infusing zeal into the people (see Haggai 1:12).

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 5

So it tells us here in chapter five,

The prophet Haggai, and the prophet Zechariah, they prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, and they began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them ( Ezra 5:1-2 ).

Now in the first effort, it was, there were the priests that were doing the work. And now Haggai and Zechariah, the prophets have pitched in and they are helping them to rebuild the house of God.

And at the same time there came to them Tatnai, who was the governor on that side of the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and they said unto them, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make this wall? And they said or they said to them, What are the names of you men that are making this building? ( Ezra 5:3-4 )

So the guys came up like building inspectors, a lot of thread, "Who commanded you to build it? What are your names, fellows?" And started giving them a bad time.

But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and so they returned answer by letter concerning this matter. The copy of the letter that Tatnai, the governor sent to Darius the king: they sent a letter unto him, wherein was written; Unto Darius the king, all peace ( Ezra 5:5-7 ).

Now remember, this is the Darius who loved Daniel. Daniel sat with him many times. Had long conversations about God and the power of God. And Daniel, a man of such wisdom and such fellowship with God, no doubt Darius was. Well, he was, scripture tells us, extremely impressed by Daniel. Loved him. So Darius gets this letter; God moved Ahasuerus out of the way and put Darius on the throne now. And it said,

Be it known unto the king, we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work is going on fast, and it is prospering in their hands. Then asked we those elders, and said unto them, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? We asked their names also, in order that we could certify to you, that we might write the names of the men that were chief among them. And thus they returned us an answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we build the house that was builded these many years ago, which the great king of Israel builded and set up. But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; and said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place ( Ezra 5:8-15 ).

It says, "Now if it seems good to the king, search and see if Cyrus did made such an order. And let us know quickly so that we can put a stop to what's going on or let us know the king's pleasure in this matter." "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

The resumption of work 5:1-2

The Book of Haggai contains four messages that Haggai delivered to the returned exiles in 520 B.C. We know from what he said that the people had turned from their commitment to rebuild the temple, to constructing comfortable houses for themselves (Haggai 1:2-11). The prophet Zechariah joined Haggai in encouraging the people to give God’s interests priority over their own (Ezra 5:1).

"There is always an effective answer to discouragement in the bold proclamation of the word of God." [Note: McConville, p. 32.]

In response to the ministries of these prophets, the people began to rebuild the temple again (Ezra 5:2; Haggai 1:12-14) in 520 B.C. (Ezra 4:24).

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak,.... Whose spirits were stirred up and quickened by the ministry of the prophets, the Lord accompanying it by his Spirit, Haggai 1:12,

and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; to go on with the building of it; for they had laid the foundation before, and perhaps had carried it up to some little height, at least, before they ceased from it, Ezra 3:10

and with them were the prophets of God helping them; with words of counsel, comfort, and exhortation, directing and encouraging them, and promising them protection and success: these are the prophets before named.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.   2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

      Some reckon that the building of the temple was suspended for only nine years; I am willing to believe that fifteen years were the utmost. During this time they had an altar and a tabernacle, which no doubt they made use of. When we cannot do what we would we must do what we can in the service of God, and be sorry we can do no better. But the counsellors that were hired to hinder the work (Ezra 4:5; Ezra 4:5) told them, and perhaps with a pretence to inspiration, that the time had not come for the building of the temple (Haggai 1:2), urging that it was long ere the time came for the building of Solomon's temple; and thus the people were made easy in their own ceiled houses, while God's house lay waste. Now here we are told how life was put into that good cause which seemed to lie dead.

      I. They had two good ministers, who, in God's name, earnestly persuaded them to put the wheel of business in motion again. Observe,

      1. Who these ministers were, namely, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, who both began to prophesy in the second year of Darius, as appears, Haggai 1:1; Zechariah 1:1. Note, (1.) The temple of God among men is to be built by prophecy, not by secular force (that often hinders it, but seldom furthers it), but by the word of God. As the weapons of our warfare, so the instruments of our building, are not carnal, but spiritual, and they are the ministers of the gospel that are the master-builders. (2.) It is the business of God's prophets to stir up God's people to that which is good, and to help them in it, to strengthen their hands, and, by suitable considerations fetched from the word of God, to quicken them to their duty and encourage them in it. (3.) It is a sign that God has mercy in store for a people when he raises up prophets among them to be their helpers in the way and work of God, their guides, overseers, and rulers.

      2. To whom they were sent. They prophesied unto the Jews (for, as to them pertained the giving of the law, so also the gift of prophecy, and therefore they are called the children of the prophets,Acts 3:25, because they were educated under their tuition and instruction), even unto them, upon them, even upon them (so it is in the original), as Ezekiel prophesied upon the dry bones, that they might live, Ezekiel 37:4. They prophesied against them (so bishop Patrick), for they reproved them because they did not build the temple. The word of God, if it be not received now as a testimony to us, will be received now as a testimony to us, will be received another day as a testimony against us, and will judge us.

      3. Who sent them. They prophesied in the name, or (as some read it) in the cause, or for the sake, of the God of Israel; they spoke by commission from him, and argued from his authority over them, his interest in them, and the concern of his glory among them.

      II. They had two good magistrates, who were forward and active in this work. Zerubbabel their chief prince, and Jeshua their chief priest, Ezra 5:2; Ezra 5:2. Those that are in places of dignity and power ought with their dignity to put honour upon and with their power to put life into every good work: thus it becomes those that preceded, and those that preside, with an exemplary care and zeal to fulfil all righteousness and to go before in a good work. These great men thought it no disparagement to them, but a happiness, to be taught and prescribed to by the prophets of the Lord, and were glad of their help in reviving this good work. Read the Ezra 5:1; Ezra 5:2; Haggai 1:1-15 here (for that is the best comment on these two verses) and see what great things God does by his word, which he magnifies above all his name, and by his Spirit working with it.