Ezra 5:2

Ezr 5:2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which [is] at Jerusalem: and with them [were] the prophets of God helping them.

Ver. 2. Then rose up Zerubbabel] Called before Sheshbazzar, the Tirshata. Philo calleth him Barachias. Men in those days had sundry names; which must be noted, or else confusion will not be avoided; according to the notation of Zerubbabel’s name, Alienus a confusione, ut quidam perhibent. It is said of him, that he brought back some of the people in the seventeenth year of his age; that he continued governor fifty-eight years (some say many more), and that he began to make use of the ministry of these prophets in the thirty-fourth year of his life. His rising up here implieth his forwardness, speed, and diligence in the work.

And Jeshua the son of Jozadak] Colleague to Zerubbabel and συμπαραστατης, as Aaron was to Moses. This Johoshua or Jeshua began his office of high priest in 536 BC, and held it thirty-six years, eight whereof were spent in an embassage to Darius, king of Persia, say historians.

And began to build the house of God] i. e. They went on with the building begun before, Ezr 3:10, and not forbidden by the king of Persia to be finished; only he commanded them to desist from building the city, Ezr 4:12; Ezr 4:21. It was therefore the people’s sloth and self-seeking that kept back the work. See the notes on Hag 1:2; Hag 1:4. {See Trapp on "Hag 1:2"} {See Trapp on "Hag 1:4"}

And with them were the prophets of God helping them] Verbo et opere, saith Junius; both by word and deed. "The words of the wise are as goads," Ecc 12:11, pricking men forward to duty; and especially when themselves set sides and shoulders to the work, as haply these prophets did, for the people’s greater encouragement, Exemplis sciola hac aetate magis aedificant ministri, quam concionibus.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Ezr 5:2. Then rose up Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and began to build the house — It had been begun to be built long before, but from the first had gone on very slowly, and afterward had been quite intermitted, till those great men, excited by the prophets, set the work forward again. With them were the prophets of God helping them — Encouraging them by their presence, and by assuring them that God would be with them to protect them from their enemies, and give them success. It is supposed the work had been stopped about fifteen years. The first chapter of Haggai is the best comment on these two verses.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

5:2 The Jewish leaders had not led by faith (see Hag 1:1, 12). Now God’s Spirit stirred them up (Hag 1:14), and they obeyed by getting to work. • Zerubbabel and Jeshua figure prominently in the books of Haggai and Zechariah.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Which encouraged them to go forward, and accused them that they were more careful to build their own houses, than zealous to build the Temple of God.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Then rose up Zerubbabel . . . and Jeshua . . . began to build the house of God--The strong appeals and animating exhortations of these prophets gave a new impulse to the building of the temple. It was in the second year of the reign of Darius Hystaspes that the work, after a long interruption, was resumed.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 2. Then rose up Zerubbabel] Here we find three classes of men joining in the sacred work: Zerubbabel the civil governor; Jeshua the high priest or ecclesiastical governor; and Haggai and Zechariah the prophets. How glorious it is when we see the civil government joining with the sacerdotal and prophetic for the establishment and extension of true religion!

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(2) Then rose up.—This does not intimate that they had become indifferent. But the voice of prophecy inspirited them to go on without formal permission of Darius, who was known secretly to favour them already.

The prophets of God helping them.—In these two prophets we can read the invigorating sayings that encouraged the people almost from day to day and from stage to stage of their work.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2. Zerubbabel—Jeshua] see notes on Ezr_3:1; Ezr_3:8, Ezr_4:3.

began to build] The building had been begun in the second year of Cyrus, 537–6 (chap. Ezr_3:8; Ezr_3:10, Ezr_5:16). The work was now recommenced. The voice of the prophets supplied the needed encouragement. The effect of Haggai’s witness is described in Hag_1:12-14.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak,.... Whose spirits were stirred up and quickened by the ministry of the prophets, the Lord accompanying it by his Spirit, Hag 1:12,

and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; to go on with the building of it; for they had laid the foundation before, and perhaps had carried it up to some little height, at least, before they ceased from it, Ezr 3:10

and with them were the prophets of God helping them; with words of counsel, comfort, and exhortation, directing and encouraging them, and promising them protection and success: these are the prophets before named.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Began to build - i. e., “made a second beginning” - recommenced the uncompleted work.

Helping them - By infusing zeal into the people (see Hag 1:12).

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Them. Aggeus had rebuked the people for building houses for themselves, while they neglected the temple. The work was hereupon resumed without any fresh order from the king; as the edicts of the usurper, Oropastes, were considered as null, and the Jews only answer the governor, that they had been authorized by Cyrus, ver. 13, 17. Josephus, and 3 Esdras iii., and iv. 47., assert that Darius had given leave. (Calmet) (Menochius)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Encouraging the people to work by their presence, and assurance of success.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

2. Then rose up — It seems from Hag_1:2, that the people had become discouraged at the opposition they met in rebuilding the temple, and after being hindered by royal authority, they concluded that the time for rebuilding the Lord’s house had not yet come. But when the Magian usurper was deposed, and Darius began to restore the Zoroastrian temples and worship, of which he speaks in his great Behistun inscription, the prophets discerned that things had changed, and the people should feel encouraged to resume their work again.

The prophets… helping them — Urging and inspiring them to action by such exhortations and appeals as are found in the first chapter of Haggai.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then rose up Zerubbabel and Jeshua. Haggai"s preaching was especially addressed to these two leaders, (Hag_1:1) and their spirit was especially "stirred up" (ibid. ver. 14) by his preaching. The prophets of God Haggai and Zechariah were with them, throughout their work, helping them; and that in various ways.

1. By direct command to the people up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house"; (Hag_1:8)

2. By warnings of mine house that is waste therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit" (ibid. vers. 9, 10);

3. By exhortations strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be ye strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work"; (Hag_2:4) and

4. By encouraging prophecy hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it"; (Zec_4:9) and "the glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former, saith the Lord of Hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of Hosts". (Hag_2:9) By these and similar means the two prophets aroused a spirit of enthusiasm, which caused the work to make rapid progress, and was an invaluable assistance.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Helping - Encouraging the people to work by their presence, and assurance of success. It is supposed, the work had stopt about fifteen years. The first chapter of Haggai is the best comment on these two verses.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Then [as translated,] then.

and commenced They began to build the House of the Holy One, blessed be He, which is in Jerusalem, and with them were the prophets of the Holy One, blessed be He, helping and assisting them.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.