Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 5:17

Now therefore, if [it seem] good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which [is] there at Babylon, whether it be [so], that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

17. if it seem good to the king ] A similar phrase in Ezr 7:18; Est 1:19.

in the king’s treasure house ] which apparently was the repository of important documents as well as of treasure. The expression occurs again in Est 3:9; Est 4:7. The word rendered ‘treasure’ (ginzayya) is rendered by ‘gaza’ ( ) in the LXX. Compare Ezr 1:8; (gizbar) ‘treasurer’; 1Ch 28:11 (ganzak) ‘treasure’; chap. Ezr 6:1 gives the full explanation of the present phrase. The Vulgate too narrowly renders ‘bibliotheca’.

at Babylon ] i.e. where would be kept the records of the Babylonian Empire.

his pleasure ] Same word as that in Ezr 7:18, ‘the will of God’. The LXX. by a mistake of similar letters renders ‘having learnt’ ( ).

concerning this matter] Same phrase as in Ezr 5:5 (where see note). The word ‘matter’ added here in the English for the sake of explicitness. Tattenai asks for instructions as to how he should proceed generally in dealing with the Jews and their Temple-building.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Let there be search made … at Babylon – They perhaps doubted whether proof of the decree of Cyrus remained in the archives. The Pseudo-Smerdis had had the records in his power for seven months; and, when he reversed the policy of his predecessors, might have been expected to destroy their edicts. The decree was not found at Babylon, the most natural place for it, but in the provincial capital of Ecbatana, which Tatnai and his friends had not asked Darius to have searched (see Ezr 6:2).

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 17. The – treasure house] ginzaiya. This is a Persian word, [Persian] gunji, a treasury.

There is a great deal of good sense and candour in this letter. Nothing of passion or prejudice appears in it. They laid before the king a fair statement without any attempt to prejudice his mind, and gave him those directions which were most likely to lead him to the truth, and to form a correct judgment on a business which, however it issued, must be of considerable importance to the state. God was in all this business; he was now giving an additional proof of his continued regard for a disobedient people, whom, though he had punished in his justice, he had spared in his mercy.

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

5-17. But the eye of their God wasupon the elders of the Jews, c.The unusual presence, theimposing suite, the authoritative enquiries of the satrap appearedformidable, and might have produced a paralyzing influence or led todisastrous consequences, if he had been a partial and corrupt judgeor actuated by unfriendly feelings towards the Jewish cause. Thehistorian, therefore, with characteristic piety, throws in thisparenthetical verse to intimate that God averted the threateningcloud and procured favor for the elders or leaders of the Jews, thatthey were not interrupted in their proceedings till communicationswith the court should be made and received. Not a word was uttered todispirit the Jews or afford cause of triumph to their opponents.Matters were to go on till contrary orders arrived from Babylon.After surveying the work in progress, he inquired: first, by whatauthority this national temple was undertaken and, secondly, thenames of the principal promoters and directors of the undertaking. Tothese two heads of enquiry the Jews returned ready and distinctreplies. Then having learned that it originated in a decree of Cyrus,who had not only released the Jewish exiles from captivity andpermitted them to return to their own land for the express purpose ofrebuilding the house of God, but, by an act of royal grace, hadrestored to them the sacred vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had carriedoff as trophies from the former temple, Tatnai transmitted all thisinformation in an official report to his imperial master,accompanying it with a recommendatory suggestion that search shouldbe made among the national archives at Babylon for the originaldecree of Cyrus, that the truth of the Jews’ statement might beverified. The whole conduct of Tatnai, as well as the general tone ofhis despatch, is marked by a sound discretion and prudent moderation,free from any party bias, and evincing a desire only to do his duty.In all respects he appears in favorable contrast with hispredecessor, Rehum (Ezr 4:9).

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

Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon,…. Where were the archives of the kingdom, where the laws, decrees, edicts, and proclamations, and other things relating to the state, were laid up, that recourse might be had to them upon occasion:

whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; which the Jews affirmed was made by him, and upon which they proceeded:

and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter; whether the Jews should be allowed to go on with the building of their temple, and finish it, or whether they should be restrained from it; signifying they were ready to do his will and pleasure either way, as he thought fit.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

After thus representing the state of affairs, the royal officials request Darius to cause a search to be made among the archives of the kingdom, as to whether a decree made by Cyrus for the erection of the temple at Jerusalem was to be found therein, and then to communicate to them his decision concerning the matter. “And if it seem good to the king, let search be made in the king’s treasure-house there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king.” , like the Hebrew , Est 1:19, for which in older Hebrew , Deu 23:17, or , Gen 19:8; Jdg 10:15, and elsewhere, is used. , house of the treasure, more definitely called, Ezr 6:1, house of the rolls, where also the royal treasures were deposited. Hence it is obvious that important documents and writings were preserved in the royal treasury. , there, is explained by ”which at Babylon.” , chald. voluntas, comp. Ezr 7:18. Concerning the behaviour of these officials Brentius well remarks: vides differentiam inter calumniatores et bonos ac probos viros. Una eademque causa erat aedificii templi, unus idemque populus Judaeorum; attamen hujus populi causa aliter refertur ab impiis calumniatoribus, aliter a bonis viris .

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament