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 a helping them.
(a) Who encouraged them to go forward, and cursed them because they were more careful to build their own houses, than zealous to build the temple of God. 5:4 b Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?
5:5 But the c eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this [matter].
(b) That is, the enemies asked this, as in ( Ezra 5:10 ).
(c) His favour and the spirit of strength. 5:11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a d great king of Israel builded and set up.
(d) That is, Solomon. 5:13 But in the e first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon [the same] king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
5:14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that [was] in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto [one], whose name [was] f Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
5:17 Now therefore, if [it seem] good to the king, let there be search made in the kings g treasure house, which [is] there at Babylon, whether it be [so], that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
(f) Read ( Ezra 1:8 ).
(g) Meaning in the library or places where lay the register or record of times.