Ezr 5:16 | KingComments | STEP | The letter sent by the enemies gives an honest account of the work and differs from the letter in the previous chapter. The letter begins by naming the senders ( ) and the addressee ( ). The first communication is a testimony to the diligence and devotion of the builders ( ). The world sees how the believers are busy for the dwelling place of God, the church. When they see that they are committed to it, they are impressed by it. They see the zeal and prosperity. Then the senders mention what they have asked the builders and why ( ). The answer of the builders to their interrogators is also shown. That answer is a beautiful testimony of who they are: “Servants of the God of heaven and earth” ( ). It is a testimony of His supreme authority. He is not a local deity. They are in connection with the God on whom all creation depends. That consciousness ensures that they are without fear of humans. They also honestly acknowledge that they are now in the power of the nations because of their unfaithfulness and the wrath of God ( ). That unfaithfulness is also the cause of God’s surrender of His house to destruction by Nebuchadnezzar. Further they answer that they are rebuilding the house of the LORD which is called “this house” ( ). It is the same house as the one that “a great king” ( ), that is Solomon, built. It is no other house. We too may rebuild it and are encouraged to do so. The builders also appeal to the command of Cyrus ( ). Here Cyrus is called “the king of Babylon”, because Babylon was conquered by him. From there the Jews also left for Jerusalem. At their departure, Cyrus also took all the utensils that Nebuchadnezzar brought from Jerusalem to Babylon from the temple in Babylon and gave them to the Jews ( ) to be placed back in God’s temple ( ). After that they talk about the foundation of the temple and that they have built the temple “from then until now” and that the building of the house of God has not yet been completed ( ). They don’t talk about their slackening in the building so that the temple hasn’t been worked on for twenty years. The delay is a matter between them and their God. The senders conclude their letter with a request to Darius to investigate whether there really was a decree by Cyrus to “rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem” ( ). They also indicate the ‘place of search’, which is “in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon”. They conclude their letter with the request that the king have his decision sent to them as a result of the search.

‏ Ezra 5:16

Letter to Darius About the Rebuilding

The letter sent by the enemies gives an honest account of the work and differs from the letter in the previous chapter. The letter begins by naming the senders (Ezra 5:6) and the addressee (Ezra 5:7). The first communication is a testimony to the diligence and devotion of the builders (Ezra 5:8). The world sees how the believers are busy for the dwelling place of God, the church. When they see that they are committed to it, they are impressed by it. They see the zeal and prosperity.

Then the senders mention what they have asked the builders and why (Ezra 5:9-10). The answer of the builders to their interrogators is also shown. That answer is a beautiful testimony of who they are: “Servants of the God of heaven and earth” (Ezra 5:11). It is a testimony of His supreme authority. He is not a local deity. They are in connection with the God on whom all creation depends. That consciousness ensures that they are without fear of humans.

They also honestly acknowledge that they are now in the power of the nations because of their unfaithfulness and the wrath of God (Ezra 5:12). That unfaithfulness is also the cause of God’s surrender of His house to destruction by Nebuchadnezzar. Further they answer that they are rebuilding the house of the LORD which is called “this house” (Ezra 5:12-13). It is the same house as the one that “a great king” (Ezra 5:11), that is Solomon, built. It is no other house. We too may rebuild it and are encouraged to do so.

The builders also appeal to the command of Cyrus (Ezra 5:13). Here Cyrus is called “the king of Babylon”, because Babylon was conquered by him. From there the Jews also left for Jerusalem. At their departure, Cyrus also took all the utensils that Nebuchadnezzar brought from Jerusalem to Babylon from the temple in Babylon and gave them to the Jews (Ezra 5:14) to be placed back in God’s temple (Ezra 5:15).

After that they talk about the foundation of the temple and that they have built the temple “from then until now” and that the building of the house of God has not yet been completed (Ezra 5:16). They don’t talk about their slackening in the building so that the temple hasn’t been worked on for twenty years. The delay is a matter between them and their God.

The senders conclude their letter with a request to Darius to investigate whether there really was a decree by Cyrus to “rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem” (Ezra 5:17). They also indicate the ‘place of search’, which is “in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon”. They conclude their letter with the request that the king have his decision sent to them as a result of the search.