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Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied to them in the name of the God of Israel.
Verse 1. Addo was grand-father of the prophet, whose writings are extant. Calmet.—Both prophesied in the second year of Darius. Menochius.
Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build God’s house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
Verse 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, verse 13. 17. Josephus, and 3 Ezra 3 and 4:47. assert that Darius had given leave. Calmet. Menochius.
At the same time Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, came to them, with Shetharbozenai and their companions, and asked them, “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this wall?”
Verse 3. River, over all Syria, and so forth This man had not been bribed, but acted with great moderation, and in compliance with his duty. Calmet.—Counsel. Chal. “order … to make up this wall.”
They also asked for the names of the men who were making this building.
Verse 4. In. Septuagint “Then I (or they; ειπον. The Syr. and Arab. declare for the latter) said thus to them: What,” and so forth—We gave. Chal. “what are the names?” Bible.—It seems Thathanai asked this question, verse 10. The Jews might give in the names of Zorobabel, Josue, Aggeus, and so forth Calmet.
But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they didn’t make them cease until the matter should come to Darius, and an answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
Verse 5. Ancients. Septuagint “captivity of Juda.” Bible.—Divine Providence favoured the undertaking. Delrio adag. 216. Menochius. Psalms 32:18.—His eye sometimes threatens ruin. Amos 9:8. Calmet.—God did both on this occasion. Worthington.—Hinder. Chal. “cause them to leave off, till the matter came to Darius, ( Bible.) and his decision was brought back;” ( Calmet.) or Prot. “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.”
The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king follows.
They sent a letter to him, in which was written: To Darius the king, all peace.
Be it known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is being built with great stones and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.
Verse 8. Unpolished. Prot. “great.” Bible.—Hebrew “to be rolled.” See Vitruv. x. 6. Septuagint “choice stones.” Kimchi, and so forth “marble.” Calmet.—3 Esd. “polished and precious stones.” Bible.—Yet the Vulg. seems more conformable to Calmet. 6:4 and Agg. 2:2. Menochius. Ribera.—Walls, every fourth course. 3 Kennicott. 6:36. Calmet.
Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, “Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?”
We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.
Thus they returned us answer, saying, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.
But after our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon.
But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
Verse 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. Bible.
The gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king also took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.
Verse 14. Governor. Septuagint “over the treasury.”
He said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let God’s house be built in its place.’
Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of God’s house which is in Jerusalem. Since that time even until now it has been being built, and yet it is not completed.
Verse 16. In building, being pretty far advanced, though for some time past it had been at a stand. Bible.—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.
Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”
Verse 17. Library. Septuagint “treasury-house.” Arab. “for the archives.” It is called “the house of books.” Calmet. 6:1. Calmet.