Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 6:12

And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter [and] to destroy this house of God which [is] at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.

12. And the God that hath caused his name, &c.] A Hebrew phrase (see Deu 12:11 ; 1Ki 8:29; Neh 1:9; Jer 7:12) introduced by the Jewish Compiler into his paraphrase of Darius’s decree.

destroy all kings and people ] R.V. overthrow all kings and peoples. The word rendered ‘destroy’ here by the A.V. differs in the Aramaic from that rendered ‘destroy’ at the close of the verse. It is used in the Targum of 2Ki 9:33 for the words ‘throw her down’, of Psa 119:139 ‘my zeal hath consumed me’.

that shall put to their hand ] R.V. put forth their hand.

to alter and to destroy this house ] R.V. to alter the same, to destroy this house; i.e. alter the decree and to destroy the Temple. These words illustrate the latitude that should be given to the expression ‘alter’

with speed ] R.V. with all diligence, cf. Ezr 6:8, and Ezr 5:8.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Destroy all – A similar malediction is found at the end of the great inscription of this same king Darius at Behistun: If anyone injures the tablet which he has set up, he prays that Ormazd will be their enemy, and that they may have no offspring, and that whatever they do, Ormazd may curse it for them.

To alter and to destroy this house – i. e., to alter the decree, and then proceed to destroy the house.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there,…. Whose name is not only called upon there, and that called by his name; but who grants his presence, and causes his Shechinah, or divine Majesty, to dwell there, as in Solomon’s temple, which Darius had some knowledge of:

destroy all kings and people; let them be who they will, high or low:

that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God, which is at Jerusalem; this he said to deter from hindering the building of it now, and from attempting to destroy it hereafter:

I Darius have made a decree, let it be done with speed; be carried immediately into execution, especially with respect to the disbursement for the building of the temple, and for the sacrifices of it.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

12. God destroy all kings Compare the similar execrations in Darius’s Behistun inscription, especially the following: “if seeing this tablet, and these images, thou injurest them, and preservest them not as long as my seed endures, may Ormazd be thy enemy, and mayest thou have no offspring, and whatever thou doest may Ormazd curse it for thee.”

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

Ezr 6:12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter [and] to destroy this house of God which [is] at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.

Ver. 12. And the God that hath caused his name ] i. e. His word and true worship, Act 9:15 Psa 138:2 Mic 4:5 1Ki 5:3 ; 1Ki 5:5 .

Destroy all kings and people ] A dreadful curse, and such as God saith Amen to. Let all persecutors and church robbers look to themselves. God’s hand hath ever been very heavy upon such and their posterity. See Pro 20:25 , with the note.

Let it be done with speed ] It hath been too much retarded and delayed already; let it now be expedited. David made haste, and delayed not to keep God’s commandments, Psa 119:60 . And Austin crieth out, Nimis sere te amavi, Domine. Too late I loved you, God. It was a great burden to his good soul that he began no sooner to love God. He resolveth therefore to redeem time, and to redouble his diligence; not leaving till his soul was turned into a lump of love. Morus novissime omnium germinat; et tamen parit inter primas; the mulberry tree buds last, but fruits with the first.

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

alter. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6): “alter [this decree]”.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

caused: Exo 20:24, Deu 12:5, Deu 12:11, Deu 16:2, 1Ki 9:3, 2Ch 7:16, Psa 132:13, Psa 132:14

destroy: Psa 5:10, Psa 21:8-10, Psa 137:8, Psa 137:9, Isa 60:12, Oba 1:10, Zec 12:2-4, Act 5:38, Act 5:39, Act 9:5, Rev 19:14-21

I Darius: Est 3:14, Est 3:15, Est 8:14

speed: Ezr 6:13, Ecc 9:10

Reciprocal: Deu 12:21 – to put 1Ch 22:7 – unto the name Ezr 7:14 – thy God Ezr 7:15 – whose habitation Neh 1:9 – the place

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezr 6:12. The God that hath caused his name to dwell there Who hath willed that a temple should be built there, called the temple or house of Jehovah. Destroy all kings and people that shall put to their hand to alter, &c. Darius was touched with such a sense of the greatness of the God of the Jews, that he prays, that He who had all power in heaven and earth, and was King of kings, would not only punish all those kings who went about to obstruct this work, but destroy both them and their people. Though this temple was at length most justly destroyed by the righteous hand of God, yet perhaps the Romans, who were the instruments of that destruction, felt the effects of this curse. For that empire sensibly declined ever after, till it was wholly destroyed.

Here let us admire, how the divine providence overruleth every thing according to its purpose, to bring about all its wise designs. The great men, we here find, stood up against the poor and shattered remnant of Judah; they took counsel together how to oppress them, and keep them down. They laid their plans, exhibited their complaints against them, and thought to overturn them: but, quite contrary to their thoughts, the steps they took for this purpose operated the contrary way, and proved the means of exalting and raising those whom they intended to ruin to a higher pitch of power and pre-eminence. The king, whose governors these men were, and to whom, undoubtedly, they represented how much it was for his interest to put a stop to the rise of Judah, instead of hearkening to their complaints, as was natural, and acting accordingly, sent back a decree, not only forbidding them to molest the Jews in any way, but also granting them the most extraordinary privileges and encouragements, as to the greatest favourites. To what can we attribute this extraordinary behaviour in the king: but to an overruling providence? which ruleth even the hearts of kings, and turneth them as it seemeth best to his sovereign wisdom.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

6:12 And the God that hath caused his name {e} to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter [and] to destroy this house of God which [is] at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.

(e) Who has appointed that place to have his Name called on there.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes