--- title: "Clarke" description: "Verse Ezra 5:1. Haggai - and Zechariah — These are the same whose writings we have among the twelve minor prophets. The son of Iddo — That is, the grandso" image: "/images/missing.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezra/5" --- Verse [Ezra 5:1](../../../kjv/ezra/5/1). ***Haggai - and Zechariah*** — These are the same whose writings we have among the twelve minor prophets. ***The son of Iddo*** — That is, the *grandson* of Iddo; for Zechariah was *the son of Barachiah, the son of Iddo*. See his prophecy, [Zechariah 1:1](../../../kjv/zechariah/1/1). Verse [Ezra 5:2](../../../kjv/ezra/5/2). ***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! Verse [Ezra 5:3](../../../kjv/ezra/5/3). ***Tatnai, governor*** — He was governor of the provinces which belonged to the Persian empire on their side of the Euphrates, comprehending *Syria, Arabia Deserta, Phoenicia*, and *Samaria*. He seems to have been a mild and judicious man; and to have acted with great prudence and caution, and without any kind of *prejudice*. The manner in which he represented this to the king is a full proof of this disposition. Verse [Ezra 5:4](../../../kjv/ezra/5/4). ***What are the names*** — It is most evident that this is the *answer* of the *Jews* to the inquiry of Tatnai, [Ezra 5:3](../../../kjv/ezra/5/3), and the verse should be read thus: *Then said we unto them after this* *manner: THESE are the names of the men who make this building*. Verse [Ezra 5:5](../../../kjv/ezra/5/5). ***The eye of their God was upon the elders*** — The *watchful* *care* of God was upon the elders. They were assured of his *favour*; and they found his especial *providence* working in their behalf. Verse [Ezra 5:8](../../../kjv/ezra/5/8). ***With great stones*** — They are making a very *strong* and a very *costly* building. Verse 11. ***We are the servants of the God of heaven*** — How simple, plain, and ingenuous is this confession! They were the servants of the God of heaven. How came they then into bondage! Why, they *provoked the God of heaven - repeatedly sinned* against him, and then he gave them into the hands of their enemies. Verse 16. ***Sheshbazzar*** — Probably the military officer that conducted the people from Babylon, and had the oversight of the work; but some think that Ezra is meant. Verse [Ezra 5:17](../../../kjv/ezra/5/17). ***The - treasure house*** — גנזיא *ginzaiya*. This is a Persian word, [Persian] *gunji, a treasury*. There is a great deal of good sense and candour in this letter. Nothing of passion or prejudice appears in it. They laid before the king a fair statement without any attempt to prejudice his mind, and gave him those directions which were most likely to lead him to the truth, and to form a correct judgment on a business which, however it issued, must be of considerable importance to the state. God was in all this business; he was now giving an additional proof of his continued regard for a disobedient people, whom, though he had punished in his *justice*, he had spared in his *mercy*. ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezra/5#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Clarke's Commentary - Ezra 5"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezra/5#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezra/5","name":"Clarke's Commentary - Ezra 5","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/ezra/5#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"Verse Ezra 5:1. Haggai - and Zechariah — These are the same whose writings we have among the twelve minor prophets. 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