The Pulpit Commentary — Ezra — Section 72

expressed by the humnn eye, so, &c. Thus used to express the compassion of God for his suffering people in Egypt (Exod. iii. 7-10). Also, for the tears of Heze- kiah (2 Kings xx. 6). So he pitied his people in. BabJ:lon, and his eye of pity is over them here. (2) As the eye also expresses satisfaction, so the complaiaancy of God, &c. Thus favour towards the holy land (Deut. xi. 12). Towards the holy temple (1 Kings viii. 29). Towards the holy people (Pe. xxxiv. 15; Jer. xxiv. 4). What comfort to the faithful I lL To GIVE THEM WISDOM AND DISCRETION. 1. They need this in the presence of their inquisitors. (1) They are people of influence. There is" Tatnai, the governor on this side the river,!! If the " river " here be the Euphrates, then he would be over the provinces of Syria, Arabia Deserta, Phrenicia, and Samaria. If the Jordan, then still e. gree.t personage. There we.a Shethar-boznai, probably the secretary appointed by the Persian crown, as was customary, to act as a check upon the governor. There were "their companions," probably magistrates. (2) They put questions which imported mischief. By whose authority do you build (ver. 3)? Expressed again, ver. 9. Who are your leaders in this questionable business? Implied, ver. 4 (see ver. 10). 2. Their answers were guided by a watchful wisdom. (1) That they acted as the" servants of the God of heaven and earth" (see ver. 11). No authority could be higher. Query-Do we always and adequately recog- nise that authority? (2) That they claimed a prescriptive right in the temple which was originally built by one of their great kings (see ver. 11). (3) That their captivity did not forfeit them that right. For God banished them into captivity for their sin: Nebuchadnezzar was but hie servant; and God now favours their restoration (see vers. 11, 12). We should never be ashamed to avow our connection with God and his work. III. To DEFEND THEM FROM THEIR ENEMIES. 1. By moderating the opposition. (1) Their former unscrupulous foes are not mentioned (see eh. iv. 7-9). Changes in the supreme government often involve changes of provincial rulers. Possibly the judgment of God may have overtaken them. (2) The temper of these men is better. They state facts honestly. 2. By sustaining them at their work. ( 1) Tatnai proposed that, until the question of their right should be determined by Darius, the work should cease. But they saw the eye of their God, and declined (ver. 6). (2) The prophets kept this vision vividly before them. They came forth from the presence of God, having witnessed his visions and heard his words, which, under the strongest sense of the reality, they so communicated that the people saw as it were the very eye of God upon them, and went on with his work. Query- Should not ministers, as coming from the very presence of God, so deliver the gospel message that? &c. 3. By bringing good out of the evil. ( 1) The attention of Darius was thus called to the decree.of Cyrus (see ver. 17). (2) The king issued instruc- tions accordingly (eh. vi. 6-12). (3) These instructions were carried out, and the good work was carried on to its completion (eh. vi. 13-15).-J. A. M. Vera. 3-17.-Wisdom in trial. Hardly had the Jews recommenced their work, when they again found themselves subjected to a- l. TRIAL OF FAITH. "At the same time," &c. (ver. 3). Again their unfriendly neighbours came to the attack. They challenged their right to build up the walls : "Who bath commanded you to build?" "By whose authority do ye these things ? " The names of the leading men were demanded (ver. 4), with a view of sending them on to the Persian court. Pressure was evidently to be brought to bear on them to compel them to desist. Accusations would certainly be made agninst them ; ill feeling would inevitably be fostered ; prohibition would probably be issued ; und, not unlikely, there would be forfeiture of privileges if not loss of goods, perclrnnce of liberty. What, now, should they do? Should they again lay down the saw and the trowel, leave the woodwork and the walls till a more favoured time, and content themselves with using the altar they had reared, as hitherto? They were enjoying freedom in their own land, with liberty to worship the Lord according to their ancient law; perhnps they would lose everything by striving after more than they had. Should they yield to these alarms presenting themselves in the form oE pru- dence? or should they dismiss them as cowardly fears, and go on with their work,  76 THE BOOK OF EZRA. [OH. V. 3--17.