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1 Esdras v.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1.
Addo was grand-father of the prophet, whose writings are extant. (Calmet) --- Both prophesied in the second
year of Darius. (Menochius)
Ver. 2.
Them. Aggeus had rebuked the people for building houses for themselves, while they neglected the temple. The work was
hereupon resumed without any fresh order from the king; as the edicts of the usurper, Oropastes, were considered as null,
and the Jews only answer the governor, that they had been authorized by Cyrus, ver. 13, 17. Josephus, and 3 Esdras iii., and
iv. 47., assert that Darius had given leave. (Calmet) (Menochius)
Ver. 3.
River, over all Syria, &c. This man had not been bribed, but acted with great moderation, and in compliance with
his duty. (Calmet) --- Counsel. Chaldean, "order....to make up this wall."
Ver. 4.
In. Septuagint, "Then I (or they; eipon. The Syriac and Arabic declare for the latter) said thus to them:
What," &c. --- We gave. Chaldean, "what are the names?" (Haydock) --- It seems Thathanai asked this question, ver.
10. The Jews might give in the names of Zorobabel, Josue, Aggeus, &c. (Calmet)
Ver. 5.
Ancients. Septuagint, "captivity of Juda." (Haydock) --- Divine Providence favoured the undertaking. (Delrio adag.
216.) (Menochius) (Psalm xxxii. 18.) --- His eye sometimes threatens ruin, Amos ix. 8. (Calmet) --- God did both on
this occasion. (Worthington) --- Hinder. Chaldean, "cause them to leave off, till the matter came to Darius, (Haydock)
and his decision was brought back;" (Calmet) or Protestants, "and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter."
Septuagint, "and they did not molest them, till the sentence should be brought to (or from) Darius; and then it (word) was
sent to the tax-gatherer, concerning this affair."
Ver. 8.
Unpolished. Protestants, "great." (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "to be rolled." See Vitruv. x. 6. Septuagint, "choice stones."
Kimchi, &c., "marble." (Calmet) --- 3 Esdras, "polished and precious stones." (Haydock) --- Yet the Vulgate seems more
conformable to chap. vi. 4., and Aggeus ii. 2. (Menochius) (Ribera) --- Walls, every fourth course, 3 Kings vi. 36.
(Calmet)
Ver. 13.
Built. It did not appear that this edict had been revoked; (Calmet) nor could it be changed, if it had been passed
by the advice of the Lord. (Haydock)
Ver. 14.
Governor. Septuagint, "over the treasury."
Ver. 16.
In building, being pretty far advanced, though for some time past it had been at a stand. (Haydock) --- It is not probable
that Zorobabel said this, but the author of the letter added it, as he supposed the Jews continued to do some little. (Calmet)
--- He desired to favour their cause, yet so as not to irritate the Samaritans. (Menochius)
Ver. 17.
Library. Septuagint, "treasury-house." Arabic, "for the archives." It is called "the house of books," chap. vi. 1.
(Calmet)
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Bible Text & Cross-references:
By the exhortation of Aggeus, and Zacharias, the people proceed
in building the temple: which their enemies strive in vain to hinder.
1 Now *Aggeus, the prophet, and Zacharias, the son of Addo, prophesied
to the Jews that were in Judea and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel.
2 Then rose up Zorobabel, the son of Salathiel, and Josue, the son of Josedec,
and began to build the temple of God in Jerusalem, and with them were the prophets of God helping them.
3 And at the same time came to them, Thathanai, who was governor beyond
the river, and Stharbuzanai, and their counsellors: and said thus to them: Who hath given you counsel to build this house,
and to repair the walls thereof?
4 In answer to which we gave them the names of the men who were the promoters
of that building.
5 But the eye of their God was upon the ancients of the Jews, and they
could not hinder them. And it was agreed, that the matter should be referred to Darius, and then they should give satisfaction
concerning that accusation.
6 The copy of the letter that Thathanai, governor of the country beyond
the river, and Stharbuzanai, and his counsellors, the Arphasachites, who dwelt beyond the river, sent to Darius, the king.
7 The letter which they sent him, was written thus: To Darius, the king,
all peace.
8 Be it known to the king, that we went to the province of Judea, to the
house of the great God, which they are building with unpolished stones; and timber is laid in the walls: and this work is
carried on diligently, and advanceth in their hands.
9 And we asked those ancients, and said to them thus: Who hath given you
authority to build this house, and to repair these walls?
10 We asked also of them their names, that we might give thee notice: and
we have written the names of the men that are the chief among them.
11 And they answered us in these words, saying: We are the servants of
the God of heaven and earth, and we are building a temple that was built these many years ago, and which a great king of Israel
built and set up.
12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath,
he delivered them into the hands of Nabuchodonosor, the king of Babylon, the Chaldean: and he destroyed this house, and carried
away the people to Babylon.
13 But in the first year of Cyrus, the king of Babylon, king Cyrus set
forth a decree, that this house of God should be built.
14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the temple of God, which
Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the temple, that was in Jerusalem, and had brought them to the temple of Babylon, king Cyrus
brought out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one Sassabasar, whom also he appointed governor,
15 And said to him: Take these vessels, and go, and put them in the temple
that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place.
16 Then came this same Sassabasar, and laid the foundations of the temple
of God in Jerusalem, and from that time, until now, it is in building, and is not yet finished.
17 Now, therefore, if it seem good to the king, let him search in the king's
library, which is in Babylon, whether it hath been decreed by Cyrus, the king, that the house of God, in Jerusalem, should
be built, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
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*
1: Year of the World 3485.
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