The Pulpit Commentary — Ezra — Section 63

"Zerubbabel" and "Jeshua, 11 the leaders, had been remiss and, as it were, dead to the e_nterprise 11 ; consequently, in again going on with it, had again, as it were, t.o " be_gm. This seems also the best explanation of the sin~lar way in whioh Haggai (ii. 18) and Zechariah (viii. 9) speak of the "foundation" of the Lord's house as having been " laid II at this time. This second "fom,dation II in the reign of Darius, led to so much more than the first did in that of Cyrus, ~nd pN>ved so much more worthy, therefore, of such a name in the issue, that, not unnaturally, it got almost to monopolise that name even on prophetic lips. It is thus, in another sphere, that historians speak of the Roman empire as being founded by Augustus Caasar, though in reality he only re-established in a more abiding form (as it turned out) what his predecessor, Julius Cresar, had previously founded and lost. Strictly speaking, indeed, would either of these first foundations have been e. foundation prncticaJiy if it had not been afterwards followed up and, as it were, superseded by a !'econd ? How this happy resurrection of a buried ea.use was brought a.bout in this instance is the special point now to consider. It was by the indications of Providence we shall find, in the first place; and by the voice of prophecy, in the next. ' I. The INDICATIONS of PROVIDENCE. Providence had spoken to the people, in the interim between the visit of Rehum (eh. iv. 23) and the time at which our chapter opens, in various ways. 1. In the language of hope. A change of rulers had taken place-both of chief rulers and also of subordinates. Darius instead of. Artaxerxes; Tatnai, &c. (eh. v. 3) instead of Rehum, &c. This was something of itself. When things are as bad as they can be, no change, to say the least, can be for the worse. In such a case, moreover, e. violent change, such as this which brought Darius Hystaspis to the throne in place of the usurper Pseudo-Smerdis, and which probably, therefore, affected the empire in all its provinces, was of a still more hopeful de- scription. How likely that the hand which took the previous monarch's crown should also reverse his policy I Especially as, in this instance ( and it is almost certain that some rumours of this would reach the ears of the Jews), the new king was sho"ing almost ostentatious respect to the name and memory of that Cyrus I who had been so favourable to the Jews. To men anxious to be at work again, this would have been great encouragement to begin. 2. In the language of blessing. Judging from the apparently royal luxury which some of the returned Jews were enabled to indulge in (Jer. xx:ii. 14; Haggai i. 4), the means of recommencing the work must have been somehow placed in their power. This, also, a call to do so (comp. Deut. viii. 12, 17, 18; Gal vi. 10; James iv. 17). 3. In the language of atftiction. These other calls not being attended to, there came one of a different kind. God met the people in their path of disobedience, as the angel met Balaam (Num. x:xii. 32), with signs of displeasure. The blessings he had given being mi~u.sed, he began to withdraw them. Instead of plenty there was "dearth" (Haggai 1. 11 ), to the great impoverishment (ver. 6) and sore disappointment (begin. ver. 9) of them all. See further Zech. viii. 9, 10 as to the wide extent and deep severity of this visitation ; and also as to the precise time of its occurrence, viz., just" before" the people for a second time laid the "foundations" of God's house. Putting these things together, were they not a loud constructive call to begin ? So fair an opening, such ample means, such a clear-timed judgment, what does it all mean? To this effect, at least, the Jewish elders ought, in such circumstances, to inquire (see end of Job x. 2). II. The VOICE of PROPHECY. It was the special privilege, however, of Israel to have more than "constructive II calls from God's throne. He was graciously pleased to make known his will to them by articulate speech (Deut. iv. 33; Rom. iii. 1, 2). So accordingly, it was here. Besides these silent gestures on the part of Providence, so 'to call them, there were direct verbal utterances also from the lips of those•who were authorised to speak to Israel in his name. Two such men, two of these prophets, Haggai and Zecbariah, raised up especially, as it appears, for this special <smergency, prophesied at that time_ to these returned Jews ( eh. v .. 1 ). Much importance seems attached here to this fact. These prophets prophesied to these Jews it is said "in the name of the God of Israel which was upon them." Being God'~ people-heing, in fact, the very heart and hope of God's people at that 1 By marrying, e. g., two of the daughters of Cyrus. See Wordsw:irth on vi. 10. CB. V, 1, 2.] THE BOOK OF EZRA. 67