Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 6:4
[With] three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house:
4. a row of new timber ] R.V. marg. ‘According to the Sept. one row of timber.’ It has been much disputed what ‘the three rows of great stones and the row of timber’ can mean. (1) Some explain by three storeys of stones surmounted by one of wood, the elevation of the Temple. (2) Others by ‘three layers of stone followed by one of wood’, the material of the walls. (3) Others by ‘three courses of stone backed by a wainscote of wood’, the thickness of the walls. (4) But in all probability the verse should be explained by reference to 1Ki 6:36, where ‘three rows of hewn stone and a row of cedar beams’ are the construction of the walls of the inner court.
expences ] R.V. expenses.
out of the king’s house ] i.e. from the royal revenue. To be defrayed probably from the purse of the ‘Abhar Nahara’ satrapy. This payment had obviously ceased, or its existence would have been known to Tattenai and the other officials. During the disturbances which took place at the close of Cyrus’s reign, the officers of the provincial treasury probably found it convenient to stop this annual contribution. The voluntary subscriptions mentioned in Ezr 2:68-69 would therefore have been rendered necessary. Some have suspected that this part of the decree was never really carried out.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The word translated row occurs only in this passage. Some regard it as a course, and suppose that after every three courses of stone there followed a course of timber. Others understand three storeys of stone, with a fourth storey of woodwork on the summit (compare 1Ki 6:5-6). Others consider that Cyrus intended to limit the thickness of the walls, which were not to exceed a breadth of three rows of stone, with an inner wooden wainscotting.
Let the expenses be given out of the kings house – i. e., out of the Persian revenue, a portion of the decree which was probably not observed during the later years of Cyrus and during the reign of Cambyses, and hence the burthen fell upon the Jews themselves Ezr 2:68-69.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Ezr 6:4
And let the expenses be given out of the kings house.
A believers expenses
I.
1. Our release from the thraldom of sin involved enormous expenditure (1Pe 1:18-19).
2. The important steps of public profession of faith in Christ, and of union with His Church, need peculiar supplies of grace.
3. There is much new material to be built up in our habits and life.
4. Our bodies being temples of the Holy Ghost, every physical power and every mental faculty should be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the Masters use.
5. Our hearts are altars whereon should be offered the sacrifices of worship and praise.
II. Where shall we find means to meet these expenses?
1. The Word of Gods truth.
2. The throne of His grace.
3. The fellowship of His people.
4. The dispensation of His providence.
5. The opposition of His foes.
The Persian monarch was naturally Israels enemy, yet God arranges that he shall pay Israels expenses. Even the lions we may meet shall supply sweet honey for our nourishment and refreshment.
6. The work of Christ (Php 4:19).
III. How shall we act in the presence of such abundance?
1. We need not be afraid of exhausting Heavens treasures.
2. We dare not be slow in availing ourselves of these supplies.
3. We cannot help wondering at the goodness of the King.
4. We will not forget to express our gratitude to the King.
5. We must not be so selfish as to hide these glad tidings. (R. S. Latimer.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 4. Three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber] We have noticed this kind of building before, three courses of stones, and then a course of strong balk; and this continued to the square of the building.
And let the expenses be given] Cyrus had ordered wood to be cut at Libanus, and conveyed to Joppa at his expense; but it does not appear that he furnished the other expenses of the building, for we have already seen that the Jews contributed for the defraying of all others. But it appears that he provided at his own expense the sacrifices and offerings for the temple. See Ezr 6:9.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber; as Solomons temple was built, 1Ki 6:36; whereof Darius was informed by some of the Jews, who also desired that it might be done in this manner.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
With three rows of great stones,…. Which Jarchi interprets of the walls of it, and these stones of marble; and so Ben Melech:
and a row of new timber; of cedar wood upon the rows of stone, see 1Ki 6:36 or for the lining and wainscoting the walls:
and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house; treasury, or exchequer; but it does not appear that this part of the decree was observed, at least hitherto; but the Jews built at their own expense, and perhaps did not exactly observe the directions given as to the dimensions of the house.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
4. With three rows of stones There is no with in the Chaldee, and the passage has the appearance of a fragmentary excerpt. The language, however, reminds us of 1Ki 6:36, (see note there,) and may, perhaps, be best understood of the platform of the inner court, which, like that of the first temple, was to have three layers of stone and one of new timber.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ezr 6:4 [With] three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house:
Ver. 4. Out of the king’s house] i.e. Out of the royal revenue in those parts, Ezr 7:20 . Herodotus testifieth that Cyrus and Darius (who married his daughter Atossa, and made him his pattern for imitation) were highly honoured among the Persians for their kingly munificence; God hath threatened that the nation and kingdom that will not serve the Church shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted, Isa 60:12 Ezr 6:12 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
rows = layers or stories, as in 1Ki 6:36.
new timber. Should be “timber, one”: i.e. one row. In changing the ancient characters into the modern square characters the aleph (‘a) in had’a (“one”), in the ancient character, was mistaken for, Tau, the “th” in hadath (“new”), and so was transliterated. The Septuagint has preserved the original reading, and the Revised Version notes it in the margin. The two lines should read: “layers of great stones, three; and a layer of timber, one”.
house = treasury: “house” being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for the treasures in it.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
three rows: 1Ki 6:36
the expenses: Ezr 7:20-23, Psa 68:29, Psa 72:10, Isa 49:23, Isa 60:6-10, Rev 12:16
Reciprocal: 1Ki 6:2 – threescore Ezr 6:8 – the king’s Ezr 7:15 – the silver Hag 1:8 – to