Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · Ezra · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
THe Epistle of Thainai and his Colleagues comming to King Darius, search was made in the Annals, and it was found, that Cyrus ordained the rebuilding of the Lords house, and therefore King Darius giveth a charge to Thainai, &c. that they interrupt them not, but further them by supplying necessaries out of the Kings Revenues there, threatning such, as did otherwise with destruction, and imprecating all enemies to this work, or demolishers of it again, after it should be built. Besides this, Josephus sayth, that there was another Epistle written Iosephus.by the Samaritans, wherein they sought to move him against this building, by recounting the prohibition of Cambyses, his predecessour: but seeing nothing is sayd hereof in the sacred History, I passe this over. Darius having given such incouragement to this Work, it went forward with all speed, till it was finished according to the will of God, at the prophesying of Haggai and Zachariah, as Cyrus Vers. 14.had appointed, and Darius and Artaxerxes, and it was finished the third day of the monethmonth Adar, the sixth yeare of Darius. Hereby Artaxerxes is to be Vers. 15.understood the son of Darius, called Artaxerxes, so Josephus, who will have Xerxes Iosephus.and Artaxerxes all one. But the truth is, Xerxes was the son of Darius, and reigned next after him, and then came Artaxerxes to the Crown two and twenty years after the Reign of Darius ended, but his name is here put downe together with Cyrus and Darius, by way of preoccupation, that wee might have at one view all the Contributors of the Persian Kings to the Temple together, and the name of Cyrus by capitulation. And this Artaxerxes to distinguish him from the other, hath amongst Historians the name of Artax. Longimani. And Funccius Funccii Chronol.sayth, that this Darius Histaspis was otherwise called Ahashuerus, and was the husband of Hester, to the confirmation of which maketh also that which is written of his Feast, and his 127 Provinces, 3 Esdras 3. the same being said of Ahashuerus, Hester 1. but some others hold Artaxerxes Longimanus to have bin that Ahashuerus. The monethmonth Adar was the twelfth monethmonth, answering for the most part to our February, so Junius, and that rightly, but whereas by Artaxerxes here Iunius.spoken of, he understandeth Artaxerxes Mnemon, the son of Darius Nothus, hee greatly erreth, seeing betwixt him and this Darius were three Kings, as hee himself granteth. Xerxes, Artax. Longimani, and Darius Nothus, the first reigning 22, the second 40, according to Funccius, 44, the third 26. unto which if 36 be added, which was the time of the Reigne of Darius Histaspis, nine of Cambyses, and nine of Cyrus, of how long a time must the building and adorning of the Temple be with such vessels, as were to be used therein? (for more vessels were by this King given to the house of the Lord, chap. 7. 19. Verily above 140 yeeres, which is improbable, and all the time of three Kings being 88 years must be granted to be passed over in silence. R. Solomon, sayth Lyra, will have Darius and Artaxerxes one and the same man, affirming, that all Persian Kings were called by the name, as the Egyptians of Pharaob. The time then of building the Temple after this setting to the worke againe was but foure yeares, and some odde moneths, and from the beginning about 24 yeares. Whereas John 2. 20. it is sayd 46 yeares was this Temple in building, see the resolution there. And it might haply be a common errour arising from the ignorance of the yeares, that these severall Kings reigned especially, if the first year of Cyrus his Reign, when hee provided for the building of the Temple, were taken for the first of his Reign over Persia: for so unto his Reigne of 30 years more then nine years of Artaxerxes being added, (for some say, that he reigned more) and six of Darius the totall will amount to 46 at the least, when the building of the Temple was set upon again at the prophesying of Haggai, and it is to be noted, that this work brought with it a temporall blessing of great fruitfulnesse. For to shew this Hag. 2. 11. in the ninth monethmonth, which was three moneths after they began to build, and answers to our November in part, and in part to October, when the Grapes and Olives being all gathered, they used to make their Wine and Oyle, they are bidden to consider what scarcity they had before, as is also spoken, chap. 1. and what plenty now, Vers. 15, 16, 19. to be incouraged to go on in so godly a work, in hope of the like blessing to continue still upon them: affirming, that the sacrifices, which they offered before, were not offered to him, whilst the building of the Temple lay neglected. A notable ground of looking for a blessing in worldly things then only: Note. when the edification of the Church in anyland, and what conduceth most hereunto is attended first and chiefly, for till this be done, there is no expectation of prosperity in any thing.
The building of the Temple being perfected, they proceeded to the Dedication Vers. 16.with sacrifices of all sorts. But because between this worke begun, and the time of finishing there hapned a revolt of Babylon from Darius, which was againe recovered by the most admirable stratagem that ever was devised, I cannot but insert it, before I proceed further to tell of the Jews great solemnity. Darus having brought mighty forces against Babylon, was shot at from the Walls, and derided by them saying. That he might go away and come again, when a Mule had foaled, to win Babylon. But when he had continued his siege 20 moneths, there was one Prince vvith him called Zopyrus, one of the seven that killed Smerdes the Usurper before spoken of; who had a Mule that foaled, of vvhichwhich being certified by his servants, he vvent to see it, and recounting the vvords of the Babylonians, hee gathered hereby, that the time vvas novv come to vvinne Babylon, and that he must be the man, by vvhose policy, vvherefore taking a knife, hee slit up his ovvn nosthrils, and cut off his ovvn eares, and so all bloudy presented himself to Darius, to vvhom being amazed, at the sight he opened his stratagem, viz. that he vvould go as a Run-avvay to the Wals of Babylon, and being taken, hee vvould handle the matter so, that he might get credit amongst them, and have the government of their Army committed unto him, and then hee vvould have the King ten dayes after to assault one of the gates of the City vvith a thousand of his meanest souldiers, and a fevv days after another gate with 2000, & after that another gate with 4000, at vvhichwhich last time he should place his Army under the Walls at tvvo other gates, vvhere he vvould let them in. Then he sled vvithout delay to the Babylonians, vvhere being taken by the Watch and brought in, he exclaimed upon Darius, saying, That because hee persvvaded him to rayse his siege and not to teare time in abiding before a City invincible any longer, hee thus misused him, for vvhichwhich, if they would harken to him, he would both be revenged upon him, and help them to a famous victory over him, seeing he knew all his counsels. Hereupon they began to be somwhat moved, and at the day by him appointed, furnished him with an Army to defend the first gate before mentioned, wherein he behaved himselfe so, that he slew 1000 men, at the next time, at another gate 2000, then 4000, whereby he came to be the onelyonly man in authority in the City, and was extolled of all, till the day being come that he had appointed with Darius, hee set open those two gates, which he had promised, and so Babylon was taken the second time, and Zopyrus was rewarded with that City during his life, enjoying it free, and with many other honours. Thus Herodotus and Justmus, Herodotus. Iustinus.who also tell of another war made by him against the Sythians, about the fifth year of his reigne, to which he prepared 700000 men, and 600 ships, but returned with great losse of men and dishonour, both because he needlesly put himselfe into this war, as may be conceived, and did a most cruell act at his enterance upon it against an old man, whose three sonnes, he having taken to serve him in this war, he was by their father sued unto, out of commiseration to his old age, to let one of them stay with him for his comfort. The King replyed as if he had been moved, that none of them should goe with him, but thereupon he immediately commanded their Captain to slay them all three. Wherefore when he was come to Scythia, and they continued not certain in any place, but flitted from one to another, he thinking that they fled from him, sent to their King either to stand his ground and to give him battail, or else in acknowledgement of subjection, send him some of his earth and water. The Scythian King replyed, that he removed not from place to place, for fear of him, but according to their Countrey manner, who used not to stay long in a place, but he wished him to depart out of his Countrey, or else he should shortly receive a present from him, whereby he should know his minde, and accordingly he sent unto him, a Bird, a Mouse, and a Frog, and five Arrows, which were by Gobrias a Prince with him, thus interpreted: Unlesse they did presently flee away as a Bird, or creepe into holes as a Mouse, or get them on to the water as a Frog, he would with his Scythian Archers, utterly destroy his whole Army. This being heard he hastened away, heving lost for want of provision, about 80000 men. But to return to the Dedication Vers. 16.of the Temple, they could not but do this with exceeding great joy, because it had lyen so long demolished, and was rebuilt with so great difficulty, and so much opposition, wherefore, notwithstanding their great cost in building, they all joyned as one man, now in making a solemne Dedication, by abundance of sacrifices, as they were able: and it is said, ver. 18. that the Priests and Levites Vers. 18.were distinguished, as was written in the Law of Moses, which is so said, because Numbers 3 and 4, they are distinguished by their families, but more exactly, 1 Chron. 24. into 24 courses, whereof one served every week, and each one at his Iunius.weeks end, was free to goe about his own affairs, untill his week came again. After the Dedication, followed the Passeover, within little more then one monethmonth, and therefore it is here also commemorated: for the third day of the last monethmonth, the Temple being finished, the Dedication was made, and the time of the Passeover followed the next monethmonth, being the first of the yeare, the 14 day, and Vers. 19.they had a care in this also, to doe according to the Law, the Levites killing the Paschall Sacrifices, and the cleane onelyonly eating thereof, and that both Jews and Gentiles that cleaved to them, for so it was ordained, Exod. 12. 48. Numb. 9. 14. Vers. 21.whereas, ver. 22. in concluding this History it is said, God hath made them Vers. 22. Iunius.rejoyce, and turned the heart of the King of Assyria towards them. Junius taketh occasion hence to confirme his exposition touching Artaxerxes, upon ver. 14. that he was Artaxerxes Mnemon, and not Longimani, the next unto Darius but one, because he might well be called the King of Assyria, for so much as his father Darius Nothus made him King in his own life time, and he reigned many years together with him, the Kingdom being divided between them, Assyria to Artaxerxes, and Persia to his father Darius. But how could this be a cause of their present rejoycing in the time of Darius Histaspis, when as hee reigned not so by the favour of his father, till certain Generations after? The resolution therefore of Lyra is better. Darius is meant by the King of Assyria here, and hee is Lyra.thus called, because Assyria a Kingdome famous of old was under his Dominion, so that hee might be called King of Persia, or King of Assyria, as the French King, King of Navarre. Touching any thing else done in the Reigne of this Darius the sacred History sayth nothing, but Herodotus noteth, Herodotus.how a foundation of warre with the Grecians was now layd, whereby in time the Monarchy of the Persians was overthrowne. There was one Histieus, Prince of the Milesians, who having done a good office for Darius in his return from Scythia, by keeping the bridge of Istrus for him with his Army to passeover, was therefore bidden by the King to ask what he would and it should be granted him. He therefore asked a place neer Hellespont, called Mercinus, where he might build a City, and this being granted, hastned away about the Building. But Megabysus a great Commander under Darius, being returned from his Wars, in which he had employed him, advised the King, that if Histieus went forward in that Work, it would in time prove dangerous to the Persian State, because he was an industrious man, and the people thereabouts were rich, and well furnished with shipping, wherefore by his perswasion Darius sent for him under a pretence of love, to have him as a most faithfull friend and Counsellour about him. But Histieus returning to the King, left Aristagoras his Kinsman to govern in his stead, and after a while, secretly stirred him up to rebellion, signifying his minde upon the head of a man, whom he sent unto him so characterized, that he might understand his meaning. Aristagoras hereupon sought to stir up the Lacedemonians, but being by him rejected, he went to the Athenians, and prevailed with them, and the Ionians, peoples of Greece, so far that they joyning went against Sardis. Darius hearing of it, sent forces against them, and compelled them to return home, but yet they ceassed not to fight against his people in other parts, till that with a great Army he overcame Aristagoras at Miletum, and he fleeing into Thracia, was slain there. And to Histieus the King relating, how his people had dealt with him, he said, that all this had happened through his absence, wherefore, he desired of him, that he might be sent unto them again, and being gone, turned Captain of the Rebels. But after many battails fought, at length he was overcome by Harpagus a Persian, at Lesbos, and a great part of his Army slain, and he being taken was hanged, and his head being cut off sent to Susis to Darius, being poudered with salt, at the sight whereof he being offended, chid the actors, because they brought him not alive to his sight, and commanded the head to be washed and buried, as being the head of a friend, that had formerly deserved Note. well of the Persians. By these examples we may see the end of such as are the authors of rebellion, vengeance at the last befals them to the cutting of them off, according to their demerits.
After this Mardonius a kinsman of Darius was sent out with a mighty Army against the Athemans, thinking also to subdue all Grecia, but his Sea forces being destroyed to the number of 20000 by an extraordinary tempest, and his ships broken and battered, and he himselfe being in a fight by land wounded, hee returned into Asia. But certain years after this, Darius being perswaded by one Hippias, the son of Pisistratus that fled from Athens to him, and put in minde by a servant daily of the wrongs done him by the Athenians at Sardis, whom hee had caused ever since to say these words once a day with a loud voyce unto him. O here! memento Athemensium, raysed a great Army, whereof, removing Mardonius for his former ill successe, hee made Daris and Artaphernes Leaders, commanding them to go against Eretria and Athens, and to bring them bound unto him. Then in a short time they subdued Eretria, being after six dayes fight betrayed unto them by two chief men of the City. After this they sayled to Attica, and there being guided by Hippias to Marathon, a place most fit for horsmen, the Athenians came out thither to encounter with them, not being together with their assistants above 11000 men, under the conduct of ten chief Captaines, whereof Miltiades was one, but their enemies were according to some 600000, according to others; 300000. The Athenians sent to the Lacedemonians for helpe, but they came not to ayd them, till after the Battell ended, out of their stitious use not to go forth to battell, till the full Moon. The Athenian Captains at the first considering, how much they were overmatcht in number, were divided in their opinions, some being for sight, and some against it. But Miltiades, who was for giving battell to them prevailing, the government of the Army being committed to him, after some rites performed to their gods, hasted forth to meet the Persions who derided their rash attempt, as making none other account, but that they should easily overcome such an handfull of men. But the Athenians although beaten before, the Persians in the middle Battell prevailed in both the Wings, and having put those to flight, that fought in the Wings of the Persian Army, contracted themselves into the middle and fought so valiantly, that at length they put their enemies in the middle Battell to flight also, and so pursued them to their ships, burning many of them. In this Battell fell scarce 200 of the Athenian Army, of the Persians 6300, according to Justine, 200000, Daris also, one of the chief Captains was slain, and Hippias, the Run-away, who was the instigator to this War. Pausanias also sayth, that in the fight there was seen a man in a Countrey habit with a ploughstaff, beating down many of the Barbarians, and then vanisht, which they accounted help sent unto them from their gods. Darius hearing of this overthrow of his Army was more inraged against Athens, and Greece, and therefore prepared far greater forces, intending to go thither in person. The Egyptians also revolted from him at that time, whom he meant to subdue in the way. But his forces being in three or foure years prepared, hee dyed, having before his death declared his sonne Xerxes King. For he being aged, and intending so long and dangerous a Voyage, his sonnes fearing least he should dye, before his return, and that then contention would arise about the Kingdome, desired him before his going to appoint one of them King after him. For he had two Broods one of three sonnes, before he was King, and another of foure, after by Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus. The first-born of the three was Artabazanes, the first of the foure Xerxes, the one pleaded his Birth-right, the other the Nobility of his Mother, and afterwards, that he was born to him, when hee was a King, the other when he was a private man, whereupon Darius made Xerxes King, and it being done, the eldest Brother did so acquiesse in his Fathers sentence, as Justine noteth, that there was Iustin.no diminution of love by this means made between them, but the one did prosecute the other with as much kindnesse as ever before, an example to shame many Note. Christians, who are at continuall deadly feud one against another not for a mighty kingdom, as that was, but for a petty Patrimony, after sentence given against one of them. Xerxes being thus made king in the second yeare of his Reign, began to prepare a mighty Army to go against the Athenians, and all Greece, in which preparation, before all things were ready, he spent five years & then set forth, first, to Sardis, then to Hellespont, where the passage out of Asia into Europe was narrowest, viz. but 12 furlongs. His Aruny consisted of 2300000 and more, accordding to Herodotus, and his ships were 600, with his company hee filled both Sea and Land, and where they came, they are sayd to have drunk up whole Rivers. At Sardis he was entertained by one Pythius a Sardian, and after abundance bestowed in entertayning him and his company, hee told him, that hearing of his preparation to passe into Europe to Warre, hee had prepared a summe of money, which he would give unto him, and being asked how much it was, he answered 2000 talents of silver, and 4400000 pieces of Gold, wanting 7000. Xerxes replying, but what wilt thou live upon? if thou givest all this away, he answered, his Slaves and his Vineyards would suffice for his mayntenance. Then Xerxes being delighted with the answer, not onelyonly refused to take it, but commanded, that 7000 pieces of gold should be given him to make his gold up an even sum, which was done accordingly. But afterwards, before he was gone over Hellespont, the old man trusting to the favour which he thought now he had with him, intreated him to leave one of his five sonnes, which he had in his Army, at home with him for his comfort: the Tyrant was so inraged, that he rated him for being so bold to make such a demand, and commanded that sonne of his, whom he desired, to be forthwith cut in sunder, and to be laid one part of his body on the one side of the way, and the other on the other, where the Armie was to passe, to deter all others from the like attempt. Then he comming to Hellespont, caused a bridge of Boats to be made over the water, but being made, it was soon broken again, by the violence of the waves, for which he being wroth, put the overseers of the work to death, and out of his pridecaused Hellespont to be beaten with 300 stripes. After this he set upon the same work again, and it being finished, passed over with his whole Armie, having first offered a drinke offering, out of a golden viall, and cast it into the sea to pacifie Hellespont again, which he had before chastened. Being gotten over, he came with his Army to Tempe, where was a streight passage between the great mountains Olympus and Ossa, in which had been placed 10000 Grecians from divers parrs, a little before, to stop his passage, but being afraid of his huge Army, they were now gone, having first sent unto him earth and water, as the manner of the Persians was to require in token of subjection, wherefore all Thessaly, where this straight was presently yeelded unto him. But as he was to passe further into Greece, there was another way straiter then the former, to keepe which, Leonidas with 300 Lacedemonians came, and 5900 other Grecians. The King set his Medes first to fight with them, but they being slain by the Greeks, his Cassians sought next with them, and lastly, they being slain also, the most choice men of his Persians, and when the darknesse of the night parted them for that day, they fought again with them next day, but with such ill successe, that the King despaired of winning the passage, till that by a certain Thracian he was told of another way over the mountains, by which he would lead his men, that they might come upon the backs of their enemies, to which he harkned, and next night sent 10000 of his valiant Persians that way. But the same night, Leonidas having exhorted his men, they took and refreshed themselves with meat, and went together into the Kings Camp, and slew very many, seeking for Xerxes, till the arising of the day, at which the Persians, seeing how few they were, set upon them and slew them all. After this he went on without resistance by land, great Cities and Towns being forsaken for fear of him, and all the best things carryed out of their ships at sea, of vvhichwhich they had 200 and upward. His Navie therefore set upon them, but partly by a great Tempest, many of his ships were broken, and partly by the valour of the Grecians, vvho that time got the victory. Then the King himselfe leaving the Land, renued his forces, and vvent to sea in person, but vvith as ill successe, for his Forces vvere again overthrovvn, vvhichwhich strook such terrour into him, least the Grecian ships should hasten to Hellespont. and stop his passage home, that he forthvvith fled avvay alone, leaving the government of his vvhole Armie to his Uncle Mardonius. Then Mardonius preparing his forces by Land, first, vvent and took Athens, vvhichwhich he might easily doe, because it vvas left by the inhabitants, and sent to the Athenians, vvhom he knevv to be most valiant, to try if by any means, or promise of great gifts he could dravv them to be associates vvith the Persians, but they denying, he fired their City, and vvent to fight against them, and the other Grecians, vvho vvere novv gathered together to the number of 110000, to fight for their Countrey at the City Pleteas. Here either Army deferring a time to come over a River to the other, because their Wizards on both sides, had forbidden it, as a signe of ill luck, at length, Mardonius, impatient of further delay, vvent over, and vvas overcome and slain, neither vvere any of the vvhole Army, which could be taken spared from death. And thus the rich Tents and spoyls of the Persians came into the hands of the Grecians, wherein were abundance of silver and Golden vessels, and tables and tressels of Silver and Gold with other riches inestimable. Peusanias the King forbad all men to take any of the spoyles, till part had been taken out to send to the Temples of their gods, then he caused a Supper to be prepared most sumptuously set forth according to the Persian manner, and another most frugall after the Grecian, to which he brought the Nobles and sayd, What fools were the Persians, when they lived in such abundance, to come into Greece to lose their lives in getting more? and having commended frugall living, and spoken against excesse, he parted the spoyls to each one according to his demerits, and the Athenians with their parts, fell to re-building of their ruined City, and finisht it in a short time. Xerxes being thus repulsed out of Greece, attempted War against those parts no more, but growing slothfull and contemptible was at length slaine by Artabanus Captain of his Cuard in his Bed, thinking by his owne greatnesse, and the help of his seven sons to obtein the Kingdome. Therefore, when hee had slain Xerxes, he hastned cunningly to his younger son Artaxerxes, and told him, that his elder Brother Darius had slain his Father, that he might the sooner come to the Crown, perswading him to revenge it, offering the helpe of the Guard to do it, that he might thus with one work both revenge his Fathers death, and also obteine the Kingdome. Artaxerxes, hereupon, hasteneth with the Guard and doth execution upon his brother, then Artabanus thinking, that none now stood in his way but Artaxerxes to hinder him from the Kingdome, strook at him and wounded him, yet so lightly, that he returning upon the Traytour againe, ran him through and slew him. And then was he King, having the name of Longimanus, because one hand was larger then another, insomuch, that with it he could touch his knees standing upright.