oured without resenting it, endeavouring to remove it, and labour ing to the utmost to promote his glory. 4. It is a great satisfaction to good men that the Lord reigneth; since the greatest of men are easily imposed upon, and liberty stands but on a weak foundation. This idle, false letter answered the end designed by if the king of Persia ordered the buildings to cease, because the city had an illname, and several hundred years before there had been mighty kings in it. Kings must often see with other men's eyes, and therefore are liable to judge wrong: false representations of things are often made to them, and therefore appear in a partial light. Let us therefore rejoice in God's universal government and influence over the spirits of princes; and seek to him for the cour tinuance of our liberties, civil and religious, and in the enjoyment of them endeavour to lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty. CHAP. V. In the last chapter the Jews were discouraged from building the tem ple, through the misrepresentations of their enemies; but here we find the work going on again. 'T HEN 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] 2 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; attending the building every day, assuring them of God's protection, and animating them by pious dis courses and predictions. Upon this it is probable the Samaritans renewed their complaints against them to Tatnai, who was governor of this province under the Persian king. 3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this 4 house, and to make up this wall? Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building? The meaning of this is, we told them not only of our commission, but of the persons who were employed, and gave them 5 a list of their names. But the eye of their God, his particular providence, was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they, Darius and his council, (ch. vi. 6.) returned answer by letter concerning this [matter.] Artaxerxes was dead, yet they neglected the building; upon which God smote them with barrenness in the land; the harvests and the vineyards failed; God sent his prophets Haggai and Zechariah to inform them of the cause of this calamity; and to quicken them to the work, they assured them of God's presence and favour, and of prosperity both in the build. ing and in the country. L 6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which [were] on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king. It contains no slander or misrepresentation, but plain information of a matter of fact, and an honest inquiry about their commission: 7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto 3 Darius the king, all peace. Be it known unto the king, that having heard complaints that the Jews were building and fortifying their city, 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 goeth fast on, and prospereth 9 in their hands. Then asked we those elders, [and] said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to fo make up these walls? We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that [were] 11 the chief of them. And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up; this was a particular and a modest answer, without any complaint of the oppositions and slan12 ders of their enemies. 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 de stroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon, 13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, [the same] 14 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 15 had made governor; And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that [is] in Jerusalem, and let 16 the house of God be builded in his place. Then came the same Sheshbazzar, in consequence of this decree, [and] laid the foundation of the house of God which [is] in Jerusalem. And since that time even until now hath it been in building, and [yet] it is 17 not finished. Now therefore, if [it seem] good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which [is] there at Babylon, whether it be [so,] that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.* 1. THE REFLECTIONS. HE prophets of God should be very solicitous to build his house, and animate others to it. Thus Zechariah and Haggai did. When the number of worshippers, especially of those Here it will be proper to read the whole prophecy of Haggai, and the beginning of Zeche ariab, which are the best comments on this part of the history. EZRA. V. who join themselves to the Lord in covenant, increases, when relig ion revives, and sinners are converted, and saints grow in knowledge and piety, then the building of the spiritual temple goes on and prospers. God's ministers should be greatly concerned about this themselves, and every one should join hand in hand to promote it those in private stations of life, by exhorting one another daily, and animating each other to every good word and work. 2. The zeal of one or two good men employed in the service of God, may be of extensive and lasting benefit; the zeal of these two prophets brought the work about. And this answers those objections generally made against such zealous attempts, that we are too few, and that it will signify nothing. It is our duty to exert ourselves; we know not what God may do for us or by us. The greater negligence there is in others, the greater zeal we ought to show. We shall probably be successful; but if not, we shall in no wise loose our reward; for God will remember all our works of faith, and labours of love. He 3. Success in all our undertakings, especially in those for the divine honour, must be ascribed to the eye of God upon us. restrains our enemies, turns their hearts, quickens our own spirits, and makes the work prosperous. If we thrive in business, if our fortune grows, it is to be ascribed to God; especially if religion increases in our souls, or families, or neighbourhood, divine grace is to be thankfully owned. Let us be sensible of our dependance upon God; abound in prayer, and seek assistance and success from him, who is the author of every good and perfect gift. 4. We are taught to speak of God in expressions of humble veneration, and never be ashamed of doing this before strangers or enemies. The Jews here did so, saying, The great God, the God of heaven and earth. It is a prevailing iniquity of the present day that the name of God is profaned, and used very lightly, or irreverently, even by some who would dread an oath. It is good to keep up a continual reverence of him, and to teach our children to use his name with awe and solemnity; for he is great, and greatly to be feared. 5. The servants of God should never be ashamed to own their relation to him. The Jews here acknowledged themselves to be so before these men. We have no reason to be ashamed of it; for it is indeed our greatest honour. Sinful shame is the greatest enemy to our own progress in religion, and the support of it in the world; and therefore should be diligently guarded against. When the honour of God is concerned, the righteous should be bold as a lion. 6. An humble sense of those sins which have brought afflictions upon us, should be retained when the afflictions are graciously removed, as the Jews did, v. 12. It is good to remember former follies and iniquities, in order to keep us humble, and thankful for divine goodness in removing our afflictions, and to teach us to be candid and compassionate to others. 7. Let us, as St. Peter exhorts, be willing to give a reason for our religious conduct and hope with meekness and fear. With meekness as opposed to resentment, and with fear as opposed to rashness and abuse, and thereby giving our enemies an handle against us. The Jews here give a particular account of their principles, their relation to God, the intent of their building, &c. and thus should we be ready to do, endeavouring to understand our religious principles, the reason of our faith and hope, and conduct, and give them with all meekness and charity, withont abusing and reviling others. This will be to the honour of our profession, and give those who differ from us a better opinion of our principles and practice. 8. We learn to report the principles and actions of others with great candour, however their religious sentiments may differ from ours. Thus Tatnai, though a heathen, was an equitable, generous man, and made a fair representation of the state and principles of the Jews; neither reviling, nor slandering, nor misrepresenting them. It is much to be wished that all christians were as careful not to misrepresent their differing brethren. The plague of the church, and the ruin of charity and good neighbourhood, has been occasioned in a great measure by misrepresenting those who differ from us, and ascribing to them principles or consequences which they do not hold. It is lamentable that the zealots of all parties have got such a trick of lying for the truth. Let us avoid and abhor this; speak the truth in love, and be always ready to do to others, as we would have them do to us. CHAP. VI. We had an account in the former chapter of Tatnai's letter to Darius, and have here the effect of it. 1 T HEN Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up 2 in Babylon. And there was found at Achmetha, or, Ecbatana, in the palace that [is] in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein [was] a record thus written. It was an instance of Darius' wisdom and goodness, that he did not presently issue a decrée against them, but, as the roll was not found at Babylon, he ordered 3 further inquiry to be made. In the first year of Cyrus the king, [the same] Cyrus the king made a decree [concerning] the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof three score cubits, [and] the ♦ breadth thereof three score cubits; [With] three rows of great stones, pillars to support the building, or the apartments adjoining, and a row of new timber; and let the expenses be given out of 5 the king's house :* And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of It appears from hence that Cyrus ordered it to be built at his own charge; but the Jews did not make use of his bounty, lest they should offend the Samaritans. It was carried on at their own cost till Darius renewed the grant out of the public revenue. 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 his place, and place [them] in the 6 house of God. Now [therefore,] Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which [are] beyond the river, be ye far from thence : 7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place; give the Jews no disturbance, but suffer, yea and assist them, to build the house on the old spot. Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews, whose names had been given in to the king, for the building of this house of God that of the king's goods, [even] of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they 9be not hindered; furnish them with materials and money. And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which [are] at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day withe 10 out fail: That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons, which no doubt they did; and it is remarkable that the reign of this king was a long one, thirty six years, and very pros11 perous; and the crown continued long in his family. Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this; whoever acted contrary to this decree, was to be hanged at his own 12 door, and his house destroyed and never rebuilt. And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people that shall put to their hand to alter [and] to destroy this house of God which [is] at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.* 13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboz nai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the 14 king had sent, so they did speedily. And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo; these prophets encouraged them by representing the wonderful goodness of God in exciting the king of Persia to shew them such favour. And they builded, and finished [it,] according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the coramandment of Cy15 rus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king, about four years after the decree; they were in all near twenty years about it, the work being retarded by the treachery of the Persian This is a very remarkable addition; he pronounces an imprecation on those kings and people that should obstruct the work, whom he could not restrain by his authority; and ag likewise bound his successors to observe his decree, and encourage these people. |