Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 6:3
In the first year of Cyrus the king [the same] Cyrus the king made a decree [concerning] the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
3. the same Cyrus the king ] R.V. Cyrus the king. See Ezr 5:13.
made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let &c. ] R.V. made a decree; concerning &c., let &c. The words ‘concerning the house of God at Jerusalem’ form a kind of heading to the memorandum, of which what follows is a transcript.
where they offered sacrifices ] R.V. where they offer sacrifices.
and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid ] The meaning of these words in the original is very uncertain They have been variously rendered, (1) ‘and let them set up its foundations’ (active), (2) ‘And let its foundations be set up’ (passive): but neither rendering gives any fresh idea to the preceding clause. (3) The rendering of the A.V. and R.V. ‘let the foundations thereof be strongly laid’ (whether passive, i.e. heavily weighted, or active, i.e. capable of bearing heavy weights), gives a fair sense, the emphasis resting upon the substantial character of the building. It may be doubted whether the text is correct. The transition from this clause to the description of the height and breadth of the building (the length being omitted) is abrupt and awkward.
The rendering of the versions shows the difficulty which the words occasioned and possibly the uncertainty of the text at a very early period. LXX. . Vulg. ‘ponant fundamenta supportantia’. 1Es 6:24 ‘With continual fire’ .
the height thereof, &c.] In view of the uncertainty of the text, it is doubtful whether we can rely upon these statements of dimensions, especially as the length is not specified. Solomon’s temple is described in 1Ki 6:2 as 60 cubits long, 20 broad, and 30 high. Here the temple is to be 60 cubits high and 60 broad. Josephus who, speaking of Zerubbabel’s temple, describes its height as 60 cubits less than that of Solomon’s temple, is clearly comparing the passage in 2Ch 3:4, where the porch of Solomon’s temple is said to be 120 cubits in height, with the statement of our verse. If the dimensions here given are correct, the second temple in breadth and height was much larger than the first. The comparison in respect of size could hardly account for the disparaging criticism of certain Jews alluded to in Zec 4:10; Hag 2:3. The view that the present verse does not give the actual dimensions but only the extreme limits to which the plan might be followed is too obviously an attempt to escape the difficulty to be at all a probable explanation.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
It is difficult to reconcile the dimentions here with expressions in Zechariah Zec 4:10, Haggai Hag 2:3, and even Ezra Ezr 3:12, which imply that the second temple was smaller than the first (compare 1Ki 6:2). Perhaps the dimensions here are those which Cyrus required the Jews not to exceed.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. The height thereof threescore cubits] This was much larger than the temple of Solomon. This was sixty cubits high, and sixty cubits broad; whereas Solomon’s was only twenty cubits broad, and thirty cubits high.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He did not command them to make it so large, for he left the ordering of the proportions of the building to their skill and choice; but he restrained them that they should make it no larger, lest they should hereafter make use of it to other purposes against himself: but those proportions differ much from those of Solomons temple, which was but thirty cubits high, only the porch was one hundred and twenty cubits high, and but twenty cubits in breadth. Either therefore Solomons cubits were sacred cubits, which were larger than the other, and these were but common cubits; or the sixty cubits of height are meant only of the porch, which he would not have to be so high and magnificent as that of Solomons was, lest they should be puffed up with it, and by degrees arrive at their former height and insolence. And the word rendered
breadth, may be, and is by some, rendered more generally, the extension, or amplitude, or the length of it; it being improbable that the king should give orders about the breadth, and none about the length of it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
In the first year of Cyrus the king; the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be builded,…. See Ezr 1:1,
the place where they offered sacrifices; to God in times past, ever since it was built by Solomon:
and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; so as to bear and support the building erected on them, as the word signifies:
the height thereof sixty cubits; which were thirty more than the height of Solomon’s temple, 1Ki 6:2 though sixty less than the height of the porch, which was one hundred and twenty, 2Ch 3:4 and which some take to be the height of the whole house; and hence it may be observed what Herod said y, that the temple then in being wanted sixty cubits in height of that of Solomon’s:
and the breadth thereof sixty cubits; whereas the breadth of Solomon’s temple was but twenty, 1Ki 6:2, but since it cannot reasonably be thought that the breadth should be equal to the height, and so very disproportionate to Solomon’s temple; many learned men understand this of the extension of it as to length, which exactly agrees with the length of the former temple, 1Ki 6:2.
y Apud Joseph. Antiqu. l. 15. c. 11. sect. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) Strongly laid.Thy foundation shall be laid (Isa. 44:28). The decree adds a word that signifies with sufficient support.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Be strongly laid Gesenius and Furst render, be erected, or set up.
Height breadth threescore cubits These proportions differ from those of Solomon’s temple, the height of which was thirty cubits, and its breadth twenty, while only its length was threescore, or sixty cubits. See 1Ki 6:2. But we need not suppose that this record of Cyrus contained the exact measures which were followed in the rebuilding of the temple. Even had he commanded that the building be made of this size, it does not follow that the Jews were careful to observe this part of his orders. Or it may be these numbers are faulty, having been taken down from the indistinct remembrance or careless copying of some Persian scribe, for this record has the appearance of being not a copy of Cyrus’s proclamation to the Jews, but a document prepared by the royal scribe or recorder as a part of the chronicles or annals of Cyrus, to be deposited among the archives of the empire. At any rate, these numbers are not an authoritative guide to estimate the size of the second temple.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ezr 6:3 In the first year of Cyrus the king [the same] Cyrus the king made a decree [concerning] the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
Ver. 3. The height thereof threescore cubits ] Yet was it less than Solomon’s temple, Hag 2:3 Ezr 3:12 . Solomon’s cubits therefore were longer (likely) than these here mentioned.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
first. year of Cyrus. Compare Ezr 1:1.
offered. Chaldee. deba’h. Same as Hebrew. zebach. App-43.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the first year: Ezr 1:1-4, Ezr 5:13-15, 2Ch 36:22, 2Ch 36:23
the place: Deu 12:5, Deu 12:6, Deu 12:11-14, 2Ch 2:6, Psa 122:4
the height: 1Ki 6:2, 1Ki 6:3, 2Ch 3:3, 2Ch 3:4, Eze 41:13-15, Rev 21:16
Reciprocal: Ezr 3:7 – according Ezr 4:3 – king Cyrus Ezr 5:15 – let the house Ezr 5:17 – a decree Isa 44:28 – saying Isa 60:10 – their kings Jer 30:18 – the palace Dan 10:1 – Cyrus
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ezr 6:3. The height thereof threescore cubits These proportions differ from those of Solomons temple, which was but thirty cubits high, only the porch was a hundred and twenty cubits high, and but twenty cubits in breadth. Either therefore Solomons cubits were sacred cubits, which were larger than the other, and these but common cubits; or, the sixty cubits of height are meant only for the porch. And the word rendered breadth, should be rendered the extension or the length of it; it being improbable that the king should give orders about the breadth, and none about the length of it.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Cyrus’ memorandum 6:3-5
The memorandum provided details that the edict did not contain. Among these details were the dimensions of the proposed temple. It was to be twice as high and three times as wide as Solomon’s temple (Ezr 6:3; cf. 1Ki 6:2). Obviously, Cyrus intended to sponsor a temple that would excel Solomon’s and thereby bring greater glory to himself. The fact that the foundations, when completed, appeared less impressive than Solomon’s (Ezr 3:12-13), suggests that the Jews did not take full advantage of their opportunity and resources. The Persian government had committed to pay for the building (Ezr 6:4). We too often fail to take full advantage of our opportunities and resources to glorify God.