Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 5:2

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.

2. Zerubbabel Jeshua ] see notes on Ezr 3:1; Ezr 3:8, Ezr 4:3.

began to build ] The building had been begun in the second year of Cyrus, 537 6 (chap. Ezr 3:8; Ezr 3:10, Ezr 5:16). The work was now recommenced. The voice of the prophets supplied the needed encouragement. The effect of Haggai’s witness is described in Hag 1:12-14.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Began to build – i. e., made a second beginning – recommenced the uncompleted work.

Helping them – By infusing zeal into the people (see Hag 1:12).

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 2. Then rose up Zerubbabel] Here we find three classes of men joining in the sacred work: Zerubbabel the civil governor; Jeshua the high priest or ecclesiastical governor; and Haggai and Zechariah the prophets. How glorious it is when we see the civil government joining with the sacerdotal and prophetic for the establishment and extension of true religion!

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Encouraging the people to work by their presence, and assurance of success.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

2. Then rose up Zerubbabel . . . andJeshua . . . began to build the house of GodThe strong appealsand animating exhortations of these prophets gave a new impulse tothe building of the temple. It was in the second year of the reign ofDarius Hystaspes that the work, after a long interruption, wasresumed.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak,…. Whose spirits were stirred up and quickened by the ministry of the prophets, the Lord accompanying it by his Spirit, Hag 1:12,

and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; to go on with the building of it; for they had laid the foundation before, and perhaps had carried it up to some little height, at least, before they ceased from it, Ezr 3:10

and with them were the prophets of God helping them; with words of counsel, comfort, and exhortation, directing and encouraging them, and promising them protection and success: these are the prophets before named.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(2) Then rose up.This does not intimate that they had become indifferent. But the voice of prophecy inspirited them to go on without formal permission of Darius, who was known secretly to favour them already.

The prophets of God helping them.In these two prophets we can read the invigorating sayings that encouraged the people almost from day to day and from stage to stage of their work.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

2. Then rose up It seems from Hag 1:2, that the people had become discouraged at the opposition they met in rebuilding the temple, and after being hindered by royal authority, they concluded that the time for rebuilding the Lord’s house had not yet come. But when the Magian usurper was deposed, and Darius began to restore the Zoroastrian temples and worship, of which he speaks in his great Behistun inscription, the prophets discerned that things had changed, and the people should feel encouraged to resume their work again.

The prophets helping them Urging and inspiring them to action by such exhortations and appeals as are found in the first chapter of Haggai.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezr 5:2 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.

Ver. 2. Then rose up Zerubbabel ] Called before Sheshbazzar, the Tirshata. Philo calleth him Barachias. Men in those days had sundry names; which must be noted, or else confusion will not be avoided; according to the notation of Zerubbabel’s name, Alienus a confusione, ut quidam perhibent. It is said of him, that he brought back some of the people in the seventeenth year of his age; that he continued governor fifty-eight years (some say many more), and that he began to make use of the ministry of these prophets in the thirty-fourth year of his life. His rising up here implieth his forwardness, speed, and diligence in the work.

And Jeshua the son of Jozadak ] Colleague to Zerubbabel and , as Aaron was to Moses. This Johoshua or Jeshua began his office of high priest in 536 BC, and held it thirty-six years, eight whereof were spent in an embassage to Darius, king of Persia, say historians.

And began to build the house of God ] i. e. They went on with the building begun before, Ezr 3:10 , and not forbidden by the king of Persia to be finished; only he commanded them to desist from building the city, Ezr 4:12 ; Ezr 4:21 . It was therefore the people’s sloth and self-seeking that kept back the work. See the notes on Hag 1:2 ; Hag 1:4 . See Trapp on “ Hag 1:2 “ See Trapp on “ Hag 1:4 “

And with them were the prophets of God helping them ] Verbo et opere, saith Junius; both by word and deed. “The words of the wise are as goads,” Ecc 12:11 , pricking men forward to duty; and especially when themselves set sides and shoulders to the work, as haply these prophets did, for the people’s greater encouragement, Exemplis sciola hac aetate magis aedificant ministri, quam concionibus.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)