Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 1 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Verſe 1. Then the Prophets]
HE that is now called a Prophet, was before-time called a Seer, 1 Sam. 9.9. becauſe his eyes were illightened, Num. 24.3. and he ſaw viſions of God, Ezek. 1.1. Dan. 1.17, Prophets they were afterwards called, that is, Interpreters of Gods will by his command, Exod. 7.1. Aaron thy brother ſhall be thy Prophet, that is, thine Interpreter. By the mouth of theſe holy Prophets God ſpake to his people in all ages, Luke 1.70. Yet not without ſome intermiſſions of Propheſie, as the Church complaineth, Pſal. 74.9. till that Cathimath Chazon (as the Jewes call it) the ſealing up of Propheſie, which they place betweene the Prophet Malachi, and John Baptiſt, who was more then a Prophet. The Original word Nabi, ſignifieth one that, from the inward counſel of God uttereth Oracles.
Haggai the Prophet] Who was not an Angel incarnate, as Origen and Hierom held; but a young Saint (as Epiphanius deſcribeth him) and might therefore well be an old Angel, if he lived to be old.Juvenis admodum ex Babylone profectus eſt Hicroſolymam, &c. Epiph. lib. de Proph. vit. See more of him Hag. 1.1. with the note there.
And Zechariah the ſonne of Iddo] That is, of Barachiah the ſonne of Iddo, Zech. 1.1. See the Note there. Theſe two God ſent within two moneths one of another, in the eighteenth year of the peoples returne out of Babylon; which fell out to be in the ſecond year of the reigne of Darius Hyſtaſpes, and in the three thouſand four hundred fourty and fourth year of the world, according to Funccius his Chronology. Chriſt uſually ſent his Prophets and Apoſtles by couples, for mutual comfort, and greater confirmation.
Propheſied unto the Jewes] Who had brought a judgement of ſore famine upon themſelves by their ſlackneſſe and backwardneſſe to rebuild the Houſe of God, Hag. 1.4, 6. See the Notes there;foreign. Herodot. Mat. 22.21. and learne of the Heathen Hiſtorian, to preferre Gods intereſt before thine owne, or elſe to look for his curſe. For he is a great King, and ſtands upon his ſeniority, Mal. 1.14. he will have us firſt to ſeeke his Kingdome, Matth. 6.33. and to give unto God the things that are Gods; or we ſhall hear of him, to our ſmall comfort.
In the name of the God of Iſrael] Who both authorized and enabled them: God ſendeth none whom He gifteth not. The Apoſtles alſo were Embaſſadours in the ſame name, 2 Cor. 5.20. and ſo, Collegues to the Prophets, Luke 10.16. (See 1 Pet. 1.12.) Angels admiring the matter o… their Ambaſſie, and their happy harmony.
Even unto them] Who yet were very little amended by their ſeventy years captivity. Afflictions (Gods hammers) had but beaten upon cold iron, (as it were) as appears by this Hiſtory, and by the Propheſies of Haggai and Zechariah; whom for his labour and love to their ſouls,Hoc ictu ceu didactro accepto Linus mortuus eſt. Buchol. they afterwards ſlew betwixt the Temple and the Altar, Matth. 23.35. ſerving him as Hercules did his Tutour Linus, whom, for a few ſharp words given him, he knockt on the head. Or, as their Anceſtours did the Prophet Eſay, whom they ſawed aſunder (ſaith Hierome out of the Rabbines) becauſe he had called them Princes of Sodom, and people of Gomorrah, Eſay. 1.10. This is the worlds wages to faithful Miniſters.
Verſe 2. Then roſe up Zerubbabel] Called before, Shazbazzar, the Tirſhata: Philo calleth him Barachias. Men in thoſe dayes had ſundry names; which muſt be noted, or elſe confuſion will not be avoyded; according to the notation of Zerubbabels name.Alienus à confuſione, ut quidam perhibent. It is ſaid of him, that he brought back part of the people in the ſeventeenth year of his age; that he continued Governour fifty eight years (ſome ſay many more:) and that he began to make uſe of the Miniſtery of theſe Prophets in the thirty fourth year of his life. His riſing up here implieth his forwardneſſe, ſpeed, and diligence in the work.
And Jeſhua the ſonne of Jozadak] Colleague to Zerubbabel, and foreign, as Aaron was to Moſes. This Jehoſhua or Jeſhua began his office of High-Prieſt in the yeare of the world 3428. 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, chap. 3.10. and not forbidden by the King of Perſia to be finiſhed; onelyonly he commanded them to deſiſt from building the City, chap. 4.12, 21. It was, therefore, the peoples ſloth and ſelf-ſeeking that kept back the work. See the Notes on Hag. 1.2, 4.
And with them were the Prophets of God helping them] Verbo & opere, ſaith Junius: both by word and deed. The words of the wiſe are as goades, Eccleſ. 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 peoples greater encouragement. Exemplis ſciolâ hac aetate magis aedificant Miniſtri, quàm concionibus.
Verſe 3. At the ſame time] So ſoone as ever they began but to build Gods houſe, they meet with oppoſition; which is ſtill Evangelii Genius, ſaith Calvin, the bad Angel that haunts the cauſe of God, and dogges it at the heeles. Satan, out of his inveterate envie and enmity, can in no wiſe brook the propagation of the Truth, and dilatation of Chriſts curtaines. No ſooner is Iſrael out of Egypt, but Pharaoh purſueth them. No ſooner had Ezekiah kept that ſolemne Paſſeover, but Sennacherib comes up againſt him. Eſau began to juſtle Jacob in the womb, that no time might be loſt: and when he ſet his face homewards, Laban followes him with one troop, Eſau meets him with another: both with hoſtile intentions. Dreame not of a delicacie in Gods wayes, but ſuffer hardſhip, as a good ſouldier of Jeſus Chriſt.
And their companions] Cum collegio ſuo, Jun. a company of caytives combined to do miſchief. See chap. 4.9. with the Note.
Who hath commanded you to build this houſe?] Their owne houſes they builded, and were never once queſtioned. All the while our Saviour lay in his fathers ſhop, and medled onelyonly with carpenters chips, the Devil and his impes never troubled him: but when he was entering upon his Miniſtery, he is ſharply aſſaulted in the Wilderneſſe. And when he took upon him to purge the Temple, and better informe the people, preſently the Grandees came upon him as he was teaching, and ſaid, By what authority doeſt thou theſe things? and who gave thee this authority? Matth. 21.23. Like unto theſe were the queſtions put by the Papiſts to thoſe noble Reformers, Luther, Zuinglius, &c. Farellus was, at his firſt coming to Geneva, more harſhly handled, and by the Biſhop and his Clerks thus accoaſted: Quid tu, diabole nequiſſime, ad hanc civitatem perturbandam acceſſiſti? What a Divel makeſt thou here, to make this diſturbance, &c. and ſo was driven out of that City,Scultet. Anual. where afterwards he wrought a glorious Reformation.
Verſe 4. Then ſaid we unto them] We (Tatnai, Shether-Boznai and their companions) thus ſaid, and thus enquired: ſee verſe 16. and be ſenſible, how wicked men conceive miſchief, and bring forth iniquity, and their belly prepareth deceit, Job 15.35. Not their heads onelyonly are hammering it, but their bellies are hatching it: they take a kinde of contemplative kinde of pleaſure in their wily projects, as the Epicure doth in his dainties, he delights to be acting them over a forehand.
What are the names of the men] They that are minded to do miſchief unto others, will do what they can to know their names. I have heard of one (ſaith Maſter Fox) who being ſent to the Chriſtian Congregation in Queene Maries dayes in London to take their names, and to eſpy their doings, yet in being amongſt them was converted,Acts & Mon. fol. 1881. and cried them all mercy. Tremellius readeth this text otherwiſe, Then anſwered we them thus, and [told them] what were the names of the men, who builded this building. He meaneth, as I conceive, We were not aſhamed or afraid to make them a round and ready anſwer; and to give them the names of our chieftains, Zerubbabel, Jeſhuae, Haggai, Zechariah, &c. This was better then that of thoſe cold friends to Religion, 1 Kings 18.11. who (when the Prophet had ſaid, If the Lord be God, follow him) held their peace, and thought it good policy to reſerve themſelves. Better alſo then that of the bondſlaves of Antichriſt, who receive his mark in their hand, the which they may, as occaſion ſerveth, cover or diſcover. Rev. 13.16. The ſervants of the God of heaven and earth (ſuch as were theſe in this Chapter, verſe 11.) receive his mark in their foreheads, where it may be ſeene and read of all,Hom. de 2. Martyr. Rev. 7.3. The Primitive Chriſtians were called in deriſion Confitentes: and Chryſoſtome ſaith of them, that they would not be kept from viſiting the Martyrs in priſon, tametſi multis tesroribus, &c. though they were much threatened, and puniſhed for ſo doing.
Verſe 5. But the eye of their God was upon the Elders] Not the eye of his general providence onelyonly (which like unto a well-drawne picture vieweth every one that cometh in to a roome) but the eye of his ſpecial grace and favour, Pſal. 34.15. He looked upon them; as afterwards the Sonne of man ſtood and looked upon Saint Steven combating with his cruel perſecutors, and clapt him on the ſhoulders, as it were, ſaying, Cheare up, Vincenti dab…, &c. Acts. 7.56. They alſo looked up to him, and were lightened: and their faces were not aſhamed, Pſal. 34.5. Yea, they were ſteeled, as it were, and made more mettle-full: like as Moſes and Micaiah when they had once ſeene God in his favour, they cared not for the menaces of angry Monarchs.
That they could not cauſe them to ceaſe] Saints dare undertake and undergo any thing for the glory of their God. The heavens ſhall ſooner fall then I will go againſt my conſcience, ſaid that Martyr. In nothing be terrified by your adverſaries, Phil. 1.28.
Till the matter came to Darius] Nor then neither; for he encouraged and furthered them, chap. 6.
And then they returned anſwer] Or, Then anſwer was returned from the Court, and the Jewes had a ſufficient authority for what they did.
Verſe 6. The Apharſachites] That is, Perſians, ſent as deputies by the King of Perſia, to ſee the peace kept, and good orders obſerved.
Verſe 7. All peace] See the Note on chap. 4.17. Peace is a complexive mercy — Pacem te poſcimus omnes. It is well with Bees, when they make a noiſe in their Hive: but with men, when they are at quiet in their hearts, in their houſes, and in the publike.
Verſe 8. To the houſe of the great God] So they ſtile him, becauſe the Jewes called and counted him ſo. The Lord your God, ſaith Moſes, is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty and a terrible, &c. Deut. 10.17. He is Fortiſſimus Maximus, as Tremellius there renders it: yea, he is a degree above the ſuperlative. Not onelyonly is God great as here, greater, Job 33.12. Greateſt, Pſal. 95.3. but Greatneſſe it ſelf, Pſal. 145.3. and to him all other Gods (whether Deputed or Reputed) are but deaſtri, deunculi, diim inorum gentium, petty deities, poor buſineſſes.
Verſe 9. Who commanded you] Chald. Who hath made you a Decree? See the Note on verſe 3.
Verſe 10. We asked their names alſo] See verſe 4.
That were the chief of them] For the rude multitude follow as they are led. And as in a beaſt, the whole body goeth after the head, ſo do moſt people after their Rulers and Ringleaders: hence that ſeverity of God, Num. 25.4. Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord againſt the Sunne.
Ver. 11. We are the ſervants of the God of heaven] And in that reſpect, higher then all the Kings on the earth, Pſal. 89.27. (for all his ſervants are ſons, heirs of God, and coheirs with Chriſt, Rom. 8.17.) who have held it no ſmall honour to be called his vaſſals. See how bold theſe … men beare themſelves upon this relation to the God of heaven and earth, and how couragiouſly they ſtand to their work, and ſtout it out with their adverſaries. See Prov. 28.1. with the Note.
Theſe many years ago] Five hundred at leaſt.
Verſe 12. But after that our fathers had provoked] Sinne is the make-bate that ſets heaven and earth at oddes, and hurleth confuſion over the whole creation, Eſay 59.2. Num. 11.31. there were more remarkable expreſſions of Gods anger upon mans ſinne in the dead body of a man, then of a beaſt: One made uncleane but till the evening; the other for ſeven dayes.
He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar] This is ſtill the property of ſinne unpardoned, to raiſe the Poſſe comitatus, all the armies of God againſt the ſinner.
Verſe 13. But in the firſt year of Cyrus] See chap. 1. verſe 1. with the Notes.
Verſe 14. The Temple of Babylon] For there alſo was a Temple built for Bel. Faciunt & veſpae favos: ſimis imitantur homines. The Devil will needs be Gods Ape, and affecteth to be ſemblably worſhipped.
Verſe 15. Take theſe veſſels, go, carry them] Go thy ſelf in perſon; and ſee that all things be well carried there: This pleaſed Zerubbabel well; it confined him to live in that element where he would live: as if one ſhould be confined to Paradiſe.
Verſe 16. Then came the ſame Sheſhbazzar] All this is truly and fairly related (as was likewiſe that of Doeg to Saul, againſt Ahimelech) but with no good intent. Now to ſpeak the truth, not for any love to the truth, nor for reſpect to juſtice, nor for the bettering of the hearer, or of the offendor; but onelyonly to incenſe the one, and prejudice the other: this is plaine ſlandering.
And yet it is not finiſhed] And all by reaſon of ſuch ill-conditioned perſons as your ſelves, who retarded it.
Verſe 17. Now therefore if it ſeeme good] Verba byſſina.
Whether it be ſo] They ſuppoſed it was nothing ſo, and hoped that theſe Jewes would be found falſaries; but it fell out farre otherwiſe: like as Saint Pauls perſecutions at Rome fell out rather unto the furtherance of the Goſpel, then elſe, Phil. 1.12.