Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all [them] whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which [is] in Jerusalem.
Ver. 5. Then rose up the chief of the fathers] Those, who are therefore crowned and chronicled in the next chapter. Those magnates magnites, that drew on others by their example. Those Viri gregis, he-goats before the flocks, men of public places and authority, active for reformation, who hearkened to that divine call, Jeremiah 50:8, "Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he-goats before the flocks." These nobles arose, being roused and raised by that noble spirit of God, Psalms 51:12, that kingly spirit, the Chaldee rendereth it; such as was found in Araunah, that famous Jebusite, 2Sa 24:23 Zechariah 9:7; and is a quickening spirit in every good soul, causing them to make riddance, as Baruch did, Nehemiah 3:20, and to take long strides toward heaven, as Jacob did toward Padanaram, Gen 28:5 for, Nescit tarda molimina spiritus sancti gratia, The spirit of grace knoweth no slow paces, but is quick of despatch (Ambrose). Up get these chieftains when once they hear, Surge, age, Summe Pater, as one said once to the bishop of Rome, exciting him to make war upon the Turk.
And the priests, and the Levites] Fit it was that these should be of the first and most forward at temple work; whose proper employment it was to teach Jacob God's judgments, and to put incense before him continually, Deuteronomy 33:10, to wait at the altar, and to be partakers with the altar, 1 Corinthians 9:13 .
With all them whose spirit God had raised up] Not of Judah and Benjamin only (those best of the tribes, and truest to their princes and principles), but also of Ephraim and Manasseh, 1 Chronicles 9:3, with Ezekiel 37:16,17; Ezekiel 37:21,22, even as many of the Israelites as were acted by God's spirit of judgment and of burning, Isaiah 4:4, firing them up to a holy contention in so noble and necessary a business, and leading them into the land of uprightness, Psalms 143:10. The fruit of this good spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, Ephesians 5:9; the work of it upon the sons of God who are led by it, Romans 8:14, is not only an external invitation by the word and sacraments, or a mere moral persuasion (Cyrus's proclamation here would have availed but little with this people, if God had not moved their hearts), but an effectual drawing of the heart, whereby operating irresistibly, the sinner is converted; and whereby co-operating infallibly, he persevereth in grace unto the very end, John 6:44. This conduct of the Holy Spirit we must both earnestly beg with David, Psalms 143:10, and as carefully observe and obey his motions as ever David did the out goings of God in the tops of the mulberry trees, 1 Chronicles 14:15, for these are the sound of his goings, and the footsteps of his anointed, Psalms 89:51 .
To build the house of the Lord] This was what they aimed at, rather than their own liberty. Choice and excellent spirits can easily drown all self respects in the glory of God. It was the care of those good people in Joel's days, that there might be a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord their God, whatever became of their own carcases, Joel 2:14. And when the daily sacrifice ceased by the tyranny of Antiochus, they looked upon it as an abomination of desolation, Daniel 9:27. The Jews at this day are very earnest to be rebuilding the destroyed temple at Jerusalem, out of their blind zeal; but they have neither any Cyrus to encourage them (Julian the apostate once did, in spite to the Christians, but it came to nothing) nor the Spirit of God to excite them to such an unwarrantable work.