Ezra 6:1-12 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

The King's Reply according his Permission tor the Building to be Continued.

Ezra 6:1. a decree: the actual decree does not begin until Ezra 6:8.

Ezra 6:2. Achmetha: cf. Tob_3:7; i.e. Ecbatana, in Media, the summer residence of the Persian kings. a roll: in this case more probably a cylindrical clay tablet inscribed with cuneiform characters; but the fact that a roll is mentioned shows that the Jews of Ezra's time were unfamiliar with that form of writing.

Ezra 6:3-5. This purports to be a copy of Cyrus-' decree (cf. Ezra 1:1-11); it is, however, not a transcript of this, but contains the gist of the original coloured by the Chronicler; the text is not in good order.

Ezra 6:6 f. The formal injunction to the governor to permit the building to proceed. The abrupt commencement Now therefore suggests that some intervening matter in Darius-' reply has been left out, presumably because the Chronicler did not consider it important. be ye far from thence: i.e. keep away from there, namely, where the building was going on; there was to be no interference with the Jews; the more friendly feeling which had sprung up would not be known of in Persia.

Ezra 6:8-12. The decree of Darius. Here again it is abundantly clear that this is no transcript, but merely the general drift of the decree embellished according to the Chronicler's ideas.

Related Commentaries of Ezra 6:1

Ezra 6:1-12

1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls,a where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.

2 And there was found at Achmetha,b in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:

3 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 threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:

5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought againc unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.

6 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.

8 Moreover I maked a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews 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 be not hindered.

9 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 without fail:

10 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.

11 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.

12 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.